Close

How to Play

Software
Texas Hold'em
Short Deck Rules
Hand Rankings
Short Deck Rankings
Poker School
Other Games

Official Poker Hand Rankings

A poker hand consists of five cards, which fall into several categories. Below is the complete list of poker hands, from highest to lowest. Please note that Short Deck hand rankings are slightly different, and can be found here.

  1. Royal flush

    2. A royal flush is an ace high straight flush. For example, A-K-Q-J-10 all of diamonds.

  2. Straight flush

    3. A straight flush is a five-card straight, all in the same suit. For example, 7-6-5-4-3 all of spades.

  3. Four of a kind

    4. Four of a kind, or quads, are four cards of equal value. For example, four jacks.

  4. Full house

    5. A full house contains a set (3) of cards of one value and a pair of another value. For example, Q-Q-Q-2-2.

  5. Flush

    6. A flush is any 5 cards, all of the same suit. For example, K-Q-9-6-3 all of diamonds.

  6. Straight

    7. Five cards of sequential value. Every possible straight will contain either a 5 or a 10. For example, 7-6-5-4-3 with different suits.

  7. Three of a kind

    8. Three cards of the same value. For example, three aces.

  8. Two pairs

    9. This is two cards of one value and another two cards of another value. For example, two jacks and two 8s.

  9. Pair

    10. One pair is two cards of the same rank. For example, two queens.

  10. High card

    11. The hand with the highest card(s) wins. If two or more players hold the highest card, a kicker comes into play (see below).

Official poker rankings: ties and kickers

Poker is all about making the best five-card poker hand from the seven cards available (five community cards plus your own two hole cards). That means in the event of a tie with four of a kind, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, or high card, a side card, or 'kicker', comes into play to decide who wins the pot.

For example:

Player A's best five cards

Player B's best five cards

Player A wins the hand with Q kicker.

With a three of a kind, one pair or high card tie, a second, third or even fourth kicker could come into play to decide the pot. If the kickers can’t decide one overall winner, those players involved are just going to have to share the pot.