Poker hand rankings: a printable beginner reference
In Texas Hold'em, your hand is the best five-card combination from your two private cards and the five community cards. You can use both, one or neither of your private cards. The table runs from strongest to weakest; a royal flush is the highest possible straight flush.
| Rank | Hand | Example | What counts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal flush | A, K, Q, J, 10 of hearts | The ace-high straight flush. |
| 2 | Straight flush | 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 of clubs | Five consecutive cards of one suit. |
| 3 | Four of a kind | Four queens and a 7 | Four cards of one rank, plus a kicker. |
| 4 | Full house | Three jacks and two 4s | Three of one rank and two of another. |
| 5 | Flush | A, J, 8, 6, 2 of spades | Five of one suit, not consecutive. |
| 6 | Straight | 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 in mixed suits | Five consecutive ranks. |
| 7 | Three of a kind | Three 8s, a king and a 2 | Three cards of one rank. |
| 8 | Two pair | Two aces, two 6s and a 9 | Two different pairs, plus a kicker. |
| 9 | One pair | Two kings, a jack, an 8 and a 3 | Two cards of one rank. |
| 10 | High card | A, J, 8, 6, 3 in mixed suits | None of the combinations above. |
How do kickers and ties work?
First compare the hand category. Within the same category, compare the relevant ranks. For one pair, the higher pair wins; if the pairs match, compare the remaining cards, highest first. With two pair, compare the higher pair, then the lower pair, then the fifth card. With a full house, compare the three-of-a-kind rank before the pair.
For example, A-A-K-9-4 beats A-A-Q-J-10 because the king is the first different kicker. The ranks of all five cards matter, but a sixth or seventh card never breaks a tie. If the best five cards are identical in rank, the players split the pot. Suits have no ranking for deciding a Hold'em winner.
Can an ace be low?
Yes. A-2-3-4-5 is a five-high straight, often called a wheel. An ace can also be high in 10-J-Q-K-A. It cannot wrap around: Q-K-A-2-3 is not a straight.
What if the best hand is on the board?
If the board is A-K-Q-J-10 in mixed suits, everyone still in the hand has the same ace-high straight unless their private cards allow a stronger hand, such as a flush. Holding a pair does not improve that straight. Always build the best five-card hand before comparing players.
Common beginner mistakes
- A flush beats a straight, and a full house beats a flush.
- Three pairs is not a separate hand. Use the best two pairs and the best available fifth card.
- Three of a kind on the board is shared. Your private cards can supply kickers or improve it to a full house or quads.
- Two suited private cards are not a flush. You need five cards of that suit among the seven available.
Practise naming your best five cards at each showdown before reading the result. Then review when folding can make sense: knowing your hand's name is different from knowing how it performs against an opponent's range.