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Home > Rules > Hand Ranking Chart

Poker Rules - Hand Rankings (Poker Hands)

A poker hand consists of 5 playing cards. Poker hands fall into one of several categories, such as flush, straight, or two pair. The player whose hand is in the higher category wins. If two players have hands in the same category, the tie is broken usually by who has higher cards. Below is a table of the hand categories, highest to lowest.

Poker Hand Ranking - Listed from Highest to Lowest

Royal Flush Royal Flush
The five highest cards, the 10 through the Ace, all five of the same suit.
A royal flush is actually an ace-high straight flush. Which suit it is doesn't matter in poker. Two people with royal flushes would tie.
Straight Flush Straight Flush
Any five cards of the same suit in consecutive numerical order.
Our example shows a five-high straight flush.
Four of a Kind Four of a Kind
Four cards of the same denomination. Our example shows four jacks with a deuce kicker.
Full House Full House
Any three cards of the same denomination, plus any pair of a different denomination. Ties are broken first by the three of a kind, then the pair. Our example shows sevens full of threes.
Flush
Any five non-consecutive cards of the same suit. Our example shows
a queen-high diamond flush.
Straight Straight
Any five consecutive cards of mixed suits. Ace can be high or low.
Our example shows a six-to-ten straight.
Three of a Kind Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same denomination. Our example displays three of
a kind, fours.
Two Pair Two Pair
Any two cards of the same denomination, plus any other two cards
of the same denomination. If both hands have the same high pair,
the second pair wins. If both pairs tie, the high card wins. Our example
shows two pair, eights and fives.
Pair Pair
Any two cards of the same denomination. Our example displays a pair
of nines. In a tie, the high card wins.
High Card High Card
If no other hand is achieved, the highest card held wins. In our example, the king of hearts is the high card.

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