By James Hartley | Last updated: April 2, 2026
James Hartley is a professional player with 10+ years at live casino tables and a specialist in poker fundamentals and applied game theory.
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Poker Hand Rankings: Complete Guide with Tiebreakers
Knowing poker hand rankings is non-negotiable. Every decision at a live poker table — whether to bet, call, raise, or fold — depends on understanding what you have, what your opponent might have, and how those hands compare. This guide covers every hand from Royal Flush to High Card with examples, probability, and complete tiebreaker rules.
The 10 Poker Hands Ranked
1. Royal Flush
The rarest and strongest hand in poker.
Five highest cards of the same suit: A-K-Q-J-10, all the same suit.
- A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠
- A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ 10♥
Probability (5-card hand): 0.000154% — approximately 1 in 649,740
Tiebreaker: All Royal Flushes are equal — suits don’t rank in Texas Hold’em. If two players both make a Royal Flush (possible when community cards make it), the pot is split.
2. Straight Flush
Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
- 5♦ 6♦ 7♦ 8♦ 9♦ (Nine-high straight flush)
- J♣ Q♣ K♣ A♣ 2♣ — This is NOT a straight flush (Ace wraps are not allowed in straights)
Probability: 0.00139% — approximately 1 in 72,193
Tiebreaker: Higher top card wins. 9-high straight flush beats 7-high straight flush. The Royal Flush (Ace-high) is technically a special case of straight flush.
3. Four of a Kind (Quads)
Four cards of the same rank plus any fifth card.
- K♠ K♥ K♦ K♣ 7♠ (Four Kings)
- 3♠ 3♥ 3♦ 3♣ A♠ (Four 3s)
Probability: 0.0240% — approximately 1 in 4,165
Tiebreaker: Higher four-of-a-kind rank wins. Four Kings beats Four Queens. If the board provides quads (rare in Texas Hold’em), the fifth card (kicker) determines the winner.
4. Full House
Three cards of one rank plus two cards of another rank.
- J♠ J♥ J♦ 9♣ 9♠ (Jacks full of Nines)
- A♠ A♥ A♦ 2♣ 2♠ (Aces full of Twos)
Probability: 0.144%
Tiebreaker: The three-of-a-kind rank is compared first. Jacks full of 2s (JJJ22) beats Tens full of Aces (TTTAA) — the three Jacks beat three Tens regardless of the pair. If three-of-a-kind is the same rank (only possible in Texas Hold’em using community cards), the pair rank is compared.
5. Flush
Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence.
- A♦ K♦ 9♦ 5♦ 2♦ (Ace-high diamond flush)
- Q♥ J♥ 8♥ 6♥ 3♥ (Queen-high heart flush)
Probability: 0.197%
Tiebreaker: Compare highest card first, then second highest, and so on. A♦ K♦ 9♦ 5♦ 2♦ beats A♦ K♦ 9♦ 5♦ 3♦ because 3 > 2 on the fifth card. Suits never determine flush winner.
6. Straight
Five consecutive cards of mixed suits.
- 7♠ 8♥ 9♦ 10♣ J♠ (Jack-high straight)
- A♠ 2♥ 3♦ 4♣ 5♠ (Five-high straight / “The Wheel” — Ace used as low card)
Probability: 0.392%
Special rule: Ace can be used as a low card (A-2-3-4-5, the Wheel) or high card (10-J-Q-K-A). It cannot be used as a mid-card — Q-K-A-2-3 is not a straight.
Tiebreaker: Higher top card wins. J-high straight (7-8-9-10-J) beats 9-high straight (5-6-7-8-9). The Wheel (A-2-3-4-5) is the lowest straight.
7. Three of a Kind (Trips or Set)
Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank.
- 8♠ 8♥ 8♦ K♣ J♠ (Three 8s)
Set vs. Trips (Texas Hold’em terminology):
- Set: You hold a pocket pair that hits a matching board card (e.g., you hold 8♠8♥, board shows 8♦). Three of a kind using your two hole cards.
- Trips: Board shows a pair, you hold a card matching it (e.g., board shows 8♠8♥8♦, you hold K♠). One hole card contributes.
Sets are stronger strategically — they’re hidden from opponents. Trips are more obvious from the board.
Probability: 2.11%
Tiebreaker: Higher three-of-a-kind rank wins. Three Aces beat Three Kings. If three-of-a-kind is equal (board trips), highest kicker determines winner.
8. Two Pair
Two cards of one rank plus two cards of another rank.
- A♠ A♦ J♥ J♣ K♠ (Aces and Jacks)
- 9♠ 9♦ 7♥ 7♣ Q♠ (Nines and Sevens)
Probability: 4.75%
Tiebreaker:
- Compare the higher pair first: AA7722 beats KKQQ99
- If higher pairs match: compare lower pair: AAJJK beats AATTT
- If both pairs match: compare the kicker (fifth card): AAJJA beats AAJJ9
9. One Pair
Two cards of the same rank plus three other cards.
- K♠ K♦ Q♥ 9♣ 4♠ (Pair of Kings)
- 3♠ 3♦ A♥ J♣ 8♠ (Pair of 3s)
Probability: 42.3%
Tiebreaker:
- Pair rank: pair of Aces beats pair of Kings
- First kicker: KK A 9 4 beats KK Q 9 4 (Ace kicker beats Queen kicker)
- Second kicker: KK A J 4 beats KK A 9 4
- Third kicker: KK A J 8 beats KK A J 4
10. High Card
No matching cards, no sequence, no flush.
- A♠ J♦ 9♣ 6♥ 2♠ (Ace-high)
- K♠ Q♦ 8♣ 5♥ 3♠ (King-high)
Probability: 50.1% — the most common outcome in 5-card hand distributions
Tiebreaker: Compare highest card first, then descending. A J 9 6 4 beats A J 9 6 2. Suits are irrelevant.
Complete Hand Rankings Probability Table
| Hand | 5-Card Probability | Texas Hold’em (7-card) |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 0.000154% | 0.0032% |
| Straight Flush | 0.00139% | 0.0279% |
| Four of a Kind | 0.0240% | 0.168% |
| Full House | 0.144% | 2.60% |
| Flush | 0.197% | 3.03% |
| Straight | 0.392% | 4.62% |
| Three of a Kind | 2.11% | 4.83% |
| Two Pair | 4.75% | 23.5% |
| One Pair | 42.3% | 43.8% |
| High Card | 50.1% | 17.4% |
Texas Hold’em probability based on best 5-card hand from 7 cards (2 hole + 5 community).
Note: High Card is less common in Texas Hold’em (17.4%) than in pure 5-card because 7 cards make pairs far more likely.
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Texas Hold’em Specific: Best Hand from 7 Cards
In Texas Hold’em, you use the best 5 of 7 available cards (2 hole cards + 5 community). This creates important nuances:
Using Zero, One, or Two Hole Cards
You must use exactly 5 cards from the combined 7 available — any combination. Common scenarios:
Board plays better: If the board shows A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ (Royal Flush), every player at the table has a Royal Flush. The pot splits — your hole cards are irrelevant.
One hole card used: You hold K♠ 2♦. Board: A♠ K♦ Q♥ J♣ 10♥. Your best hand uses K♠ from your hole cards plus AQJT from the board = Ace-high straight. The 2♦ is irrelevant.
Both hole cards dominate: You hold A♦ A♣. Board: A♠ K♦ Q♥ 2♣ 7♠. You have three Aces (set) using both hole cards.
Suits in Poker
Suits (spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs) are equal in poker. There is no suit ranking in Texas Hold’em. Suits matter only for determining:
- Flushes (5 cards of same suit)
- Straight Flushes (5 consecutive same-suit cards)
When two flushes are compared, suits don’t matter — only card ranks within the flush.
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Common Hand Ranking Mistakes
Confusing flush vs. straight priority: Flush beats Straight. Many newer players get this backwards.
Missing the Wheel: A-2-3-4-5 is a valid straight (the lowest). Ace can be low.
Full House tiebreaker: It’s the THREE-of-a-kind rank that matters first, not the pair. JJJTTT beats QQQKK — no wait: QQQ beats JJJ. Three Queens full of Kings beats Three Jacks full of Tens.
Two Pair comparisons: Compare HIGHEST pair first. AAKK2 beats KKQQJ because AA beats KK at the first pair comparison.
Kicker mistakes: If you both have a pair of Kings, don’t forget to compare all three kickers. KK A J 9 ties KK A J 9 exactly. KK A J 9 beats KK A J 8.
FAQ: Poker Hand Rankings
What beats a Full House? Four of a Kind, Straight Flush, and Royal Flush all beat a Full House.
Does a Flush beat a Straight? Yes. Flush (5 same suit) beats Straight (5 consecutive cards) in standard poker hand rankings.
Can an Ace be used as a low card? Yes. In the Wheel (A-2-3-4-5), Ace counts as 1 (low). In all other straights and non-straight hands, Ace is the highest card.
What is the kicker in poker? The kicker is the highest unpaired card used to break ties between hands of the same rank. Example: KK A 9 5 vs. KK Q 9 5 — Ace kicker beats Queen kicker.
Can two players have the same hand? Yes. Both players can make the same hand using community cards and hole cards. Compare using tiebreaker rules — if entirely tied (identical 5 cards including kickers), split the pot.
What is the probability of being dealt pocket Aces? 1/221 = approximately 0.45% per hand. At a 9-player table, someone is dealt AA roughly every 25 hands.
Does suit order matter in poker? No. Spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs are equal. Suits only determine flushes — they don’t rank against each other.
What is the difference between a set and trips? Both are three-of-a-kind. “Set” = pocket pair + matching board card (uses both hole cards). “Trips” = board pair + matching hole card (uses one hole card). Sets are harder for opponents to identify.
Ready to Play?
With hand rankings mastered, the next step is learning how to play those hands correctly. See our position strategy guide to understand how your seat at the table affects which hands are worth playing, and our complete live poker strategy guide for the full framework.
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