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Poker Hand Rankings: The Complete Order Explained

Here are the ten standard poker hand rankings from best to worst, and what actually breaks a tie when two players hold the same type of hand.

Royal flush

A, K, Q, J, and 10, all of the same suit. The best possible hand in standard poker, and essentially just the highest-ranking straight flush.

Straight flush

Five cards of the same suit in sequential order (for example 5-6-7-8-9 of hearts). Ranked by the highest card in the sequence when two players both hold one.

Four of a kind

Four cards of the same rank, plus one unrelated card. Also called "quads." Ties between two four-of-a-kind hands are broken by comparing the fifth, unrelated card.

Full house

Three cards of one rank plus two cards of another rank (for example three 8s and two 4s). Ties are broken first by the three-of-a-kind portion, then the pair.

Flush

Five cards of the same suit that are not in sequence. Ties are broken by comparing the highest card, then the next-highest, and so on.

Straight

Five cards in sequential order but not all the same suit (for example 4-5-6-7-8 of mixed suits). An ace can count as either high or low, but not both in the same straight.

Three of a kind

Three cards of the same rank plus two unrelated cards. Also called "trips" or a "set" depending on how the cards are formed.

Two pair

Two cards of one rank and two cards of another rank, plus one unrelated card. Ties are broken by the higher pair first, then the lower pair, then the last card.

One pair

Two cards of the same rank plus three unrelated cards. The most common hand type in most poker variants.

High card

When no other hand type applies, the hand is ranked by its highest single card, then the next-highest, and so on down the line.

Why rarer hands rank higher

Poker hand rankings are not arbitrary β€” they follow directly from probability. A royal flush is the rarest possible hand in a standard 52-card deck, while a single pair is comparatively common, and every ranking in between follows the same logic: the harder a hand is to make, the higher it ranks.

These rankings assume no wild cards

Standard hand rankings assume a straight 52-card deck with no jokers or wild cards. Home games that use wild cards, and some casino variants like lowball or short-deck poker, can use different or even reversed rankings, so it is worth confirming the house rules before playing an unfamiliar variant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does suit matter when comparing two flushes or straights?

No. Standard poker does not rank suits against each other β€” a flush in spades ties with a flush in hearts if the card ranks are otherwise identical, which can result in a split pot.

What happens when two players have the exact same hand?

If every card rank matches exactly after comparing kickers, the hand is a tie and the pot is typically split evenly between the tied players.