Poker hand rankings

A reference for Texas Hold'em. Your hand is the best 5 cards out of seven: your two and the five on the board. The combinations below run from strongest to weakest; the cards forming the combination are highlighted in gold.

01
Royal Flush Royal Flush
A♠♠A♠K♠♠K♠Q♠♠Q♠J♠♠J♠10♠♠10♠
Ace, king, queen, jack and ten of the same suit. The strongest hand in poker.
If combinations are equal
Two royal flushes are only possible on the board — then the pot is split.
Probability of making it by the river
0.0032%
Typical mistake
Confusing it with a regular ace-high straight: without the same suit it's only a straight.
02
Straight Flush Straight Flush
9♥♥9♥8♥♥8♥7♥♥7♥6♥♥6♥5♥♥5♥
Five cards in sequence, all of the same suit.
If combinations are equal
The straight flush with the higher top card wins.
Probability of making it by the river
0.0279%
Typical mistake
Thinking A-2-3-4-5 of one suit beats 6-7-8-9-10. In fact it's the lowest straight flush.
03
Four of a Kind Four of a Kind
Q♣♣Q♣Q♦♦Q♦Q♥♥Q♥Q♠♠Q♠4♦♦4♦
Four cards of the same rank plus any fifth card (the kicker).
If combinations are equal
The higher four of a kind wins. If the four of a kind is on the board, the kicker decides.
Probability of making it by the river
0.168%
Typical mistake
Forgetting the kicker when all four cards are on the board.
04
Full House Full House
J♠♠J♠J♥♥J♥J♦♦J♦7♣♣7♣7♠♠7♠
Three of a kind and a pair at the same time.
If combinations are equal
Compare the three of a kind first, then the pair. Jacks with sevens beat tens with aces.
Probability of making it by the river
2.60%
Typical mistake
Comparing full houses by the pair instead of the three of a kind.
05
Flush Flush
A♦♦A♦J♦♦J♦9♦♦9♦6♦♦6♦2♦♦2♦
Five cards of the same suit, not necessarily in sequence.
If combinations are equal
Compare cards one by one from the highest: A-J-9 is stronger than A-J-8.
Probability of making it by the river
3.03%
Typical mistake
Thinking one suit is stronger than another. Suits are equal.
06
Straight Straight
10♣♣10♣9♦♦9♦8♠♠8♠7♥♥7♥6♣♣6♣
Five cards in sequence of any suits. The ace can be both the highest and the lowest card.
If combinations are equal
The straight with the higher top card wins. Identical straights split the pot.
Probability of making it by the river
4.62%
Typical mistake
Building "around the corner": Q-K-A-2-3 is not a straight.
07
Three of a Kind (set or trips) Three of a Kind
8♠♠8♠8♥♥8♥8♦♦8♦K♣♣K♣3♠♠3♠
Three cards of the same rank. A set is when you have a pocket pair and the third card is on the board; trips is when the pair is on the board and one card is in your hand.
If combinations are equal
The higher three of a kind wins, then the two kickers.
Probability of making it by the river
4.83%
Typical mistake
Underestimating the kicker with trips: an opponent with the same three of a kind and a higher kicker wins.
08
Two Pair Two Pair
K♥♥K♥K♠♠K♠5♣♣5♣5♦♦5♦9♠♠9♠
Two pairs of different ranks plus a kicker.
If combinations are equal
First the higher pair, then the lower pair, then the kicker.
Probability of making it by the river
23.5%
Typical mistake
Counting three pairs: in a five-card hand only the two highest pairs play.
09
One Pair One Pair
A♣♣A♣A♥♥A♥Q♠♠Q♠7♦♦7♦4♣♣4♣
Two cards of the same rank plus three kickers.
If combinations are equal
The higher pair wins, then kickers in order.
Probability of making it by the river
43.8%
Typical mistake
Overvaluing a weak pair when the board has three cards of one suit or four in sequence.
10
High Card High Card
A♠♠A♠J♦♦J♦8♣♣8♣5♥♥5♥2♠♠2♠
No combination at all — the hand is valued by its highest card.
If combinations are equal
Compare cards one by one from the highest to the fifth.
Probability of making it by the river
17.4%
Typical mistake
Playing "ace-high" as a strong hand at showdown against an active opponent.

Probabilities are the share of hands where, out of seven cards (your 2 + 5 on the board), this combination is the best.

General rules

Suits are equal: there is no higher suit in hold'em. A spade flush does not beat a heart flush — card ranks are compared.
Exactly five cards count. The sixth and seventh cards never affect the result.
The ace is the highest card, but in the A-2-3-4-5 straight (the "wheel") it plays as a one.
If players' best five cards are identical, the pot is split equally.

Typical beginner mistakes

A-2-3-4-5 (the "wheel") is also a straight: the ace plays as a one here.
A straight cannot "wrap around" the ace: Q-K-A-2-3 or K-A-2-3-4 is not a straight.
If the best combination lies entirely on the board and your cards don't improve it, everyone ties — the pot is split.

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