Poker Hand Rankings With Examples
A strongest-to-weakest Hold’em hand chart with examples, tie rules, kickers, the wheel straight, and common beginner mistakes.
Hand rankings from strongest to weakest
| Rank | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Royal flush | A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ | Ace-high straight flush |
| Straight flush | 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥ | Five consecutive cards, one suit |
| Four of a kind | K♣ K♦ K♥ K♠ 4♣ | Four equal ranks |
| Full house | Q♣ Q♦ Q♠ 7♥ 7♣ | Three of a kind plus a pair |
| Flush | A♦ J♦ 8♦ 4♦ 2♦ | Five cards, one suit |
| Straight | 10♣ 9♦ 8♠ 7♣ 6♥ | Five consecutive ranks |
| Three of a kind | 8♣ 8♦ 8♠ K♥ 3♣ | Three equal ranks |
| Two pair | A♣ A♥ 5♦ 5♠ 9♣ | Two separate pairs |
| One pair | J♣ J♦ A♠ 8♥ 3♣ | Two equal ranks |
| High card | A♣ J♦ 9♠ 6♥ 2♣ | No made combination |
Only the best five cards count
Hold’em gives each player seven available cards: two private and five community. Compare the strongest possible five-card combination. Unused cards do not break a tie.
Resolve ties category by category
- Compare the main made rank first.
- For two pair, compare the higher pair, then lower pair, then kicker.
- For flushes and high-card hands, compare the highest unequal card, then the next.
- Suits do not break standard Hold’em ties.
- Equal five-card values split the eligible pot; side pots are evaluated separately.
The ace can be low in one straight
A-2-3-4-5 is a five-high straight, often called the wheel. The ace cannot wrap around: Q-K-A-2-3 is not a straight.
A ranking chart is not a betting plan
A strong category can still lose to a stronger one, and draws may fail. The value of a decision depends on ranges, pot size, position, stack depth, and future action.
Knowing the hand order does not predict short-run results or justify higher stakes. Practice the chart without money first, then keep any cash session inside limits set before the cards are dealt.
Frequently asked questions
Does a flush beat a full house?
No. A full house ranks above a flush in standard Hold’em.
Does three pair count?
No. Use the best two pairs and the highest remaining kicker.
Can the board play?
Yes. If the board is every player’s best five-card hand, eligible players tie.
Does an ace always play high?
No. It can be low only in the A-2-3-4-5 straight.
Sources and scope
Product statements were checked against the BOOF repository, live public endpoints, and the launch claims register on 2026-09-06. External references support general rules or safety guidance; they do not endorse BOOF.