Understanding poker hand rankings is essential for success at the tables. Whether you’re playing Texas Hold’em, Omaha, or another variant, knowing which hands beat others helps you make the right decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
In this guide, we present all 10 official poker hands, ranked from strongest to weakest. You’ll also find a quick-reference chart and links to in-depth explanations of each hand. Let’s master poker hands step by step.
Poker Hands Ranked from Highest to Lowest
Here is the complete list of poker hands ranked by strength:
1. Royal Flush
Definition: A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ — the top five cards of the same suit
Strength: The strongest and rarest poker hand
2. Straight Flush
Definition: Five sequential cards of the same suit (e.g., 9♣ 8♣ 7♣ 6♣ 5♣)
Strength: Second only to a Royal Flush
3. Four of a Kind (Quads)
Definition: Four cards of the same rank (e.g., J♦ J♣ J♥ J♠ + 7♣)
Strength: A dominant hand in most situations
4. Full House
Definition: Three of a kind + a pair (e.g., Q♣ Q♥ Q♠ + 5♦ 5♠)
Strength: Very strong hand, especially post-flop
5. Flush
Definition: Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence (e.g., K♣ 10♣ 8♣ 4♣ 2♣)
Strength: Beats a straight but loses to a Full House
6. Straight
Definition: Five sequential cards of any suits (e.g., 10♦ 9♠ 8♣ 7♥ 6♣)
Note: Ace can be high (A-K-Q-J-10) or low (A-2-3-4-5)
7. Three of a Kind (Trips or Set)
Definition: Three cards of the same rank (e.g., 6♠ 6♦ 6♣ + 9♣ 2♥)
8. Two Pair
Definition: Two different pairs plus one kicker (e.g., A♥ A♣ + 9♦ 9♠ + 3♣)
9. One Pair
Definition: Two cards of the same rank plus three kickers (e.g., J♠ J♥ + 7♦ 4♣ 2♠)
10. High Card
Definition: No pair, no sequence, and no matching suits
Example: A♣ 10♦ 7♠ 4♥ 2♣ — “Ace High”
Quick Poker Hand Ranking Chart
| Rank | Hand Name | Example | Beats |
| 1 | Royal Flush | A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ | All hands |
| 2 | Straight Flush | 9♣ 8♣ 7♣ 6♣ 5♣ | Four of a Kind, etc. |
| 3 | Four of a Kind | J♦ J♣ J♥ J♠ + 7♣ | Full House and lower |
| 4 | Full House | Q♣ Q♥ Q♠ + 5♦ 5♠ | Flush and lower |
| 5 | Flush | K♣ 10♣ 8♣ 4♣ 2♣ | Straight and lower |
| 6 | Straight | 10♦ 9♠ 8♣ 7♥ 6♣ | Three of a Kind, etc. |
| 7 | Three of a Kind | 6♠ 6♦ 6♣ + 9♣ 2♥ | Two Pair and lower |
| 8 | Two Pair | A♥ A♣ + 9♦ 9♠ + 3♣ | One Pair and lower |
| 9 | One Pair | J♠ J♥ + 7♦ 4♣ 2♠ | High Card |
| 10 | High Card | A♣ 10♦ 7♠ 4♥ 2♣ | Lowest hand |
Tips to Memorize Poker Hands Quickly
- Use mnemonics like “Royal > Straight > Grouped > Paired”
- Play regularly to reinforce memory through experience
- Print the chart or save it to your phone for reference
- Study hands individually using the in-depth articles linked above
Final Thoughts
Memorizing poker hand rankings is one of the first—and most important—steps toward becoming a skilled player. With this clear overview and helpful links to detailed explanations, you’re now equipped to make confident decisions at the poker table.
Feel free to bookmark this page or share it with friends who are just getting into the game. Good luck at the tables!