Poker hand rankings
Card names and suits
T stands for ten. Cards show “10,” while hand and range notation often uses “T.” A two is also called a deuce.
The four suits
No suit is stronger than another.
An ace is high in A-K-Q-J-T and low in the five-high straight A-2-3-4-5. A straight cannot wrap around K-A-2.
Hand rankings at a glance
Strongest first · tap for details- 1Royal flushA, K, Q, J and T (10) of one suit.AKQJ10
- 2Straight flushFive consecutive ranks of one suit.98765
- 3Four of a kindFour cards of one rank, also called quads.QQQQ2
- 4Full houseThree cards of one rank plus two of another.JJJ88
- 5FlushFive cards of one suit.AJ852
- 6StraightFive consecutive ranks, regardless of suit.98765
- 7Three of a kindThree cards of one rank.777K2
- 8Two pairTwo separate pairs.KK449
- 9One pairTwo cards of one rank.AAQ83
- 10High cardNone of the stronger categories is made.AJ962
Frequencies use all 133,784,560 equally likely seven-card combinations. They describe the best five-card category, not your chance of winning or the probability after particular cards are known.
Royal flush
A, K, Q, J and T (10) of one suit.
About the royal flush
The highest possible straight flush.
Straight flush
Five consecutive ranks of one suit.
Comparing hands in this category
Compare the highest card in the straight.
Four of a kind
Four cards of one rank, also called quads.
Comparing hands in this category
Compare the four-of-a-kind rank. If the board gives both players the same quads, compare the remaining card—the kicker.
Full house
Three cards of one rank plus two of another.
Comparing hands in this category
Compare the three-of-a-kind rank first, then the pair if necessary.
Flush
Five cards of one suit.
Comparing hands in this category
Compare ranks from highest to lowest. Suits themselves do not break ties.
Straight
Five consecutive ranks, regardless of suit.
Comparing hands in this category
Compare the highest rank. An ace is usually high, but can also sit below 2 in A-2-3-4-5. That is a five-high straight, the lowest straight. A straight cannot wrap around the ace, as in Q-K-A-2-3.
Three of a kind
Three cards of one rank.
Comparing hands in this category
Compare the three-of-a-kind rank first, then the kickers from highest to lowest.
A set uses both cards of a pocket pair with one matching board card. Trips use one private card with a pair on the board. Both are three of a kind; the names alone do not determine strength. Trips are often easier for opponents to recognize because the board is paired, while a set is more concealed. That can create opportunities to win more from top pair or two pair.
Two pair
Two separate pairs.
Comparing hands in this category
Compare the higher pair, then the lower pair, then the remaining kicker.
One pair
Two cards of one rank.
Comparing hands in this category
Compare the pair first, then the remaining three cards from highest to lowest.
High card
None of the stronger categories is made.
Comparing hands in this category
Compare all five cards from highest to lowest.
Pocket pairs
Two hole cards of the same rank form a pocket pair: AA is pocket aces, KK is pocket kings, QQ is pocket queens, JJ is pocket jacks and TT is pocket tens. The same idea applies to nines through deuces.
Use the strongest five cards
Hold’em uses the best five cards from your two hole cards and the five-card board. You may use both, one or neither hole card. Suits do not rank above one another.
When categories match, compare the ranks that form the hand, then any remaining kickers in descending order. For two pair, compare the higher pair, lower pair, then kicker. For a full house, compare the three-of-a-kind rank first.
An ace can be high in A-K-Q-J-10 or low in 5-4-3-2-A, but a straight cannot wrap around K-A-2. If the best five cards tie exactly, split the pot; an unused sixth card cannot break the tie.