Poker Hand Rankings: Order from Royal Flush to High Card

Every poker hand belongs to exactly one of ten categories. From a royal flush down to high card, the rank order never changes—whether you are playing Texas Hold’em, Omaha, or a home-game dealer’s choice round. Learn the ladder once and you will never again pause at showdown wondering whether a flush beats a straight.

Tap or click the cheat sheet below to download and print it—keep it by the table or save it on your phone for quick reference at showdown.

The ten hands, best to worst

Below is the standard ranking used in Texas Hold’em and most casino poker. When two players hold the same category—two flushes, for example—compare the highest cards within that hand, then kickers if needed.

1. Royal Flush

A, K, Q, J, 10 — all the same suit. The best possible hand.

2. Straight Flush

Five consecutive cards of the same suit, such as 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥. Highest card in the straight wins ties.

3. Four of a Kind

Four cards of one rank. The fifth card is the kicker.

4. Full House

Three of a kind plus a pair. Compare the three-of-a-kind first when two full houses collide.

5. Flush

Any five cards of the same suit, not in sequence. Compare highest cards in order.

6. Straight

Five consecutive cards of mixed suits. Ace plays high (A-K-Q-J-10) or low (5-4-3-2-A).

7. Three of a Kind

Three cards of the same rank—trips or a set. Kickers break ties.

8. Two Pair

Two different pairs plus a fifth card. Compare the higher pair first, then the lower pair, then the kicker.

9. One Pair

Two cards of the same rank with three unrelated side cards.

10. High Card

No pair, no straight, no flush—just the highest card in the five-card hand.

Hold’em reminder: best five of seven

In Texas Hold’em your hand is always the best five-card combination from your two hole cards and five community cards. For hosting tips, see our guide to hosting a poker night.

Hosting a home game? Print the cheat sheet above and pair it with a fresh deck of 575 Playing Cards so every shuffle feels fair and every showdown is settled quickly.