Every form of poker is built on the same hand hierarchy. Memorising it is the first thing you should do before playing a single hand for money. Here is the full ranking, strongest to weakest.
| # | Hand | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Flush | A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ T♠ | Ten-to-Ace, all one suit. The unbeatable nuts. |
| 2 | Straight Flush | 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥ 4♥ | Five in sequence, all one suit. |
| 3 | Four of a Kind | Q♣ Q♦ Q♥ Q♠ 3♦ | All four cards of one rank. |
| 4 | Full House | J♠ J♦ J♣ 9♥ 9♠ | Three of a kind plus a pair. |
| 5 | Flush | A♦ J♦ 8♦ 5♦ 2♦ | Five of one suit, not in sequence. |
| 6 | Straight | 9♣ 8♦ 7♠ 6♥ 5♣ | Five in sequence, mixed suits. |
| 7 | Three of a Kind | 7♠ 7♦ 7♣ K♥ 2♠ | Three cards of one rank. |
| 8 | Two Pair | A♠ A♦ 6♣ 6♥ 9♠ | Two different pairs. |
| 9 | One Pair | T♠ T♦ K♣ 7♥ 3♠ | Two cards of one rank. |
| 10 | High Card | A♠ J♦ 8♣ 5♥ 2♠ | No combination; highest card plays. |
Kickers and ties
When two players hold the same category, the kicker — the highest non-paired card — decides the winner. If you both hold a pair of Kings, the player with the higher fifth card wins. If all five cards match in rank, the pot is split.
The wheel
An Ace can play low to make the smallest straight, 5-4-3-2-A (the "wheel"). It cannot wrap around the top (Q-K-A-2-3 is not a straight).
Practice tip
Claim a no-deposit or welcome bonus and play a few low-stakes tournaments to lock these in. Recognising your hand instantly is muscle memory you build fast at the tables.
Put it into practice
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