Casino rules
poker hands
Poker hand rankings from highest to lowest
A poker hand is five cards, and the hands rank from highest to lowest as: royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair and high card. The rarer the hand, the higher it ranks — and the higher hand always wins the showdown.
These rankings are the same across almost every poker variant, from Texas Hold'em to video poker, so learning them once covers them all. Below is each hand with an example; then see how they're used in poker rules.
The hand rankings, highest to lowest
| Rank | Hand | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal flush | A-K-Q-J-10, all the same suit. The best possible hand. |
| 2 | Straight flush | Five cards in sequence, all one suit (e.g. 6-7-8-9-10 of hearts). |
| 3 | Four of a kind | Four cards of the same rank (e.g. four kings). |
| 4 | Full house | Three of a kind plus a pair (e.g. three 8s and two 4s). |
| 5 | Flush | Any five cards of the same suit, not in sequence. |
| 6 | Straight | Five cards in sequence of mixed suits (e.g. 5-6-7-8-9). |
| 7 | Three of a kind | Three cards of the same rank. |
| 8 | Two pair | Two cards of one rank and two of another. |
| 9 | One pair | Two cards of the same rank. |
| 10 | High card | When you make none of the above, your highest card plays. |
How ties are broken
When two players hold the same type of hand, the higher cards decide. Two players with a flush? The one with the highest card in the flush wins. Two players with one pair? The higher pair wins, and if the pairs match, the highest side card ("kicker") breaks the tie. Suits have no ranking value in standard poker.
An ace is usually the highest card, but it can also act as the low end of a 5-high straight (A-2-3-4-5, the "wheel"). If you're brand new, our guide to how to play poker shows the hands in action.
Why the rankings matter
Everything in poker — betting, bluffing, deciding whether to stay in a hand — flows from knowing which five-card hands beat which. The rankings also apply to casino poker games played against the house, such as Casino Hold'em and pai gow poker, so they are worth memorising once and for all.
How to read a poker hand, step by step
- Take your five best cards In most games you make the best five-card hand available to you.
- Check for a flush or straight Same suit is a flush; five in a row is a straight; both together is a straight flush.
- Check for matching ranks Four, three or pairs of matching cards form quads, trips, full house, two pair or a pair.
- Fall back to high card With no combination, your highest single card is your hand.
- Compare at showdown The higher-ranked hand wins; equal hands are split by the highest cards.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest hand in poker?
The royal flush — A-K-Q-J-10 all of the same suit. It is the top of the straight-flush category and the best possible poker hand.
Does a flush beat a straight?
Yes. A flush (five cards of one suit) ranks above a straight (five cards in sequence of mixed suits). A straight flush beats both.
What breaks a tie in poker?
The higher cards. With the same type of hand, the highest-ranked cards win, and a side card (kicker) breaks a tie between equal pairs. Suits do not break ties in standard poker.