Best poker hands – when you step into the world of poker, understanding the rankings of different hands is crucial. Poker is a game of strategy, skill, and luck, and knowing which hands to play and which to fold can make a world of difference in your performance. In this guide, we’ll take you through a complete list of poker hands ranked from the strongest to the weakest, helping you understand what each hand looks like and how it compares to others.
At the very top of the poker hand rankings is the Royal Flush. This is the strongest hand you can achieve in poker, and it’s incredibly rare. A royal flush consists of the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten, all in the same suit. Whether it’s hearts, spades, diamonds, or clubs, a royal flush is unbeatable. If you ever find yourself holding one, you can confidently know that no other hand can beat it.
The next strongest hand is the Straight Flush. A straight flush is made up of five consecutive cards of the same suit, but unlike the royal flush, it doesn’t need to include the Ace. For example, a hand of 9-8-7-6-5, all in the same suit, would be a straight flush. The only thing that can beat a straight flush is a royal flush, making it a powerful hand.
Following the straight flush is the Four of a Kind (also known as quads). This hand consists of four cards of the same rank, such as four Aces or four Kings. If multiple players have four of a kind, the winner is determined by the higher set of four. For example, four Aces would beat four Kings. This is a very strong hand, and while it’s not as rare as a royal flush or straight flush, it still carries a lot of weight at the table.
Next up is the Full House, which is a combination of three cards of the same rank and a pair. A full house is a powerful hand, with an example being three 10s and two 6s. If two players have a full house, the one with the higher three of a kind wins. For example, three Kings will beat three Queens. The full house ranks just below four of a kind, and it’s a hand you’ll want to hold on to tightly.
The Flush comes next in the rankings. A flush consists of five cards of the same suit, but not in sequential order. The strength of a flush is determined by the highest card in the hand. For example, a hand of K-10-7-4-2, all in the same suit, would be a flush. If two players have a flush, the one with the highest card wins. Flushes are strong hands, but they can be beaten by a full house, four of a kind, or straight flush.
A Straight is the next hand on the list. A straight consists of five consecutive cards of mixed suits. An example of a straight would be 8-7-6-5-4. The strength of a straight is determined by its highest card. If two players have a straight, the one with the highest card wins. A straight is a solid hand, but it can be beaten by higher-ranked hands such as a flush or full house.
The Three of a Kind (or trips) is made up of three cards of the same rank, with two other unrelated cards. For example, three 9s with a 5 and 2 would make a three of a kind. This is a decent hand, but it’s often not enough to win against hands like straights, flushes, or full houses. If two players have three of a kind, the one with the higher set of three cards wins.
Following three of a kind is the Two Pair hand. This hand consists of two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, and one unrelated card. For example, a hand of two Jacks, two 8s, and a 4 would be two pair. If two players have two pair, the hand with the higher pair wins. If the high pairs are the same, the second pair is compared. Two pair is a fairly common hand, but it’s not typically strong enough to win unless there’s no higher combination on the table.
The One Pair hand is next on the list, consisting of two cards of the same rank and three unrelated cards. For example, a hand with two 7s and three other random cards would be a pair. A pair is a relatively weak hand, and it’s often the hand you want to avoid relying on when playing poker. If two players have a pair, the highest pair wins.
Finally, at the bottom of the poker hand rankings is the High Card hand. This hand consists of five unrelated cards with no pairs, straights, or flushes. The strength of this hand is determined by the highest card. For example, a hand of A-K-7-5-3 would be a high card hand, with Ace being the highest card. If two players have the same high card, the second highest card is used to break the tie, and so on. A high card hand is typically a losing hand, and you’ll want to avoid getting stuck with this one unless you’re in a tight situation.
