Learning to Play - Poker Hand Rankings

On this page we have compiled a list of the various hands in poker, and ranked them according to value. These card combinations are valid in popular poker variations such as Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Draw and Stud. If you are new to poker it might be a good idea to keep this page open in the background during your first few games, just in case your memory needs a bit of jogging.

Royal Flush
The five highest cards in the deck, in sequence and of the same suit. A Royal Flush is the rarest hand in poker.

Straight Flush
Five cards in sequence and of the same suit. If two players have a straight flush, the person with the highest card wins the pot. Please note, that in the example on the left of the page the ace ranks as the lowest card.

Four of a Kind
Four cards of the same rank. If two players have four of a kind, the value of the cards decides. If two players share the same four of a kind, the fifth card will decide who wins the pot.

Full House
A combination of three of a kind and a pair. If two players have a full house, the value of the three of a kind decides who wins the pot. If two people share that three of a kind, the value of the pair will decide who wins.

Flush
Five cards of the same suit. If two players have a flush, the highest ranking card of each is compared to determine the winner. If both hands have the same highest card, then the second-highest ranking card is compared, and so on until a difference is found.

Straight
Five cards of sequential rank. If two players have a straight, the hands are ranked by comparing the highest card of each. Two straights with the same high card are of equal value.

Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same rank. Higher-valued three of a kind defeat lower-valued three of a kind. If two hands contain threes of a kind of the same value, the highest of the other two cards are compared to decide the pot.

Two Pair
A hand consisting of two pairs. If two players have two pairs, the highest ranking pair decides who wins. If both hands have the same "top pair", then the second pair of each is compared. Finally, if both hands have the same two pairs, the fifth card is used to determine the winner

A Pair
Two cards of the same rank. Higher ranking pairs defeat lower ranking pairs; if two hands have the same pair, the non-paired cards are compared in descending order to determine the winner.

High Card
The highest card in a hand with no combination. Two such hands are ranked by comparing the highest ranking card. If those are equal, then the next highest card from each hand is compared, and so on until a difference is found.