Best to Worst Poker Hands Rankings

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Before you dive into the interesting world of poker, it’s helpful to understand how poker hands are ranked. Taking some time to learn the game’s hierarchy of hands can make you a much better poker player. Whether you’re playing a casual game with friends or sitting at a high-stakes Texas Hold’em table, knowing the poker hand rankings - and how to tell your straights apart from your flushes - can make the difference between having a winning hand and busting out early.

To equip you with this important knowledge, we’ve constructed a go-to guide for ranking poker hands, complete with examples, odds and playing tips that you can harness right away.

Poker hand rankings from best to worst

First, let’s dissect the poker hand rankings one by one, starting with the dream hand that every player hopes to see:

Royal flush

The royal flush is the pinnacle and the absolute best hand you can land in poker. It’s an Ace-high straight flush: A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ (all in the same suit). No hand beats it!

In Texas Hold’em, the odds of getting a royal flush are approximately 1 in 649,740. It’s the very definition of a unicorn hand.

Slow play is usually the best tactic here. You don’t want to set off alarm bells with a huge, giddy raise. Instead, let your opponents build the pot while you play it cool. Set the trap and then spring it when the time is right. If you’re up against some tight, cautious players, you might need to show a little more aggression to inspire some activity.

Straight flush

A straight flush is five cards in a row, all in the same suit. One example is a 5♥ 6♥ 7♥ 8♥ 9♥ set. It’s nearly as strong as a royal flush, but the absence of the royal family knocks it down a notch in terms of potency.

Your odds of getting a straight flush are roughly 1 in 72,193, making it another rare occurrence at the table.

You can play this hand with a strong approach, but always be mindful of what else is happening on the board. Others might have similarly big hands, so watch out for coordination. It’s best to build the pot gradually, unless you have a reason to believe someone else is onto something significant.

Four of a kind

This is as straightforward as it appears. Four of a kind is four cards of the same rank, such as 9♣ 9♦ 9♥ 9♠ 3♣. It’s also commonly known as "quads."

Your chances of getting four of a kind are around 1 in 4,165.

This is an excellent hand to have. You have a shot at going for real value here, unless the board is shaping up dangerously. Go slow until you’re reasonably confident that someone has a strong second-best hand. However, you should exercise caution if there is a pair on the board because an opponent might crack a full house.

Full house

A full house is three cards of one rank and two of another, such as K♠ K♣ K♦ 2♥ 2♠.
The odds of landing a full house are around 1 in 693.
Full houses can be a decent weapon, but you should always analyse the board. In wet board scenarios (flushes/straights), you should consider betting a little bigger to offer some protection for your hand.

Flush

A flush in poker is a hand with five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence. An example of a flush would be 2♠ 5♠ 9♠ J♠ Q♠.
You have a roughly 1 in 508 chance of landing a flush.
Although a flush is considered a strong hand, it’s not unbeatable. If the board has pairs on it, you’ll need to worry about full houses elsewhere. Always be wary of the kicker: a flush with an Ace-high tops one with a 9-high.

Straight

A straight in poker consists of five consecutive cards of any suits, such as 4♣ 5♦ 6♥ 7♠ 8♣.
Your odds of getting a straight are around 1 in 255.
A straight can be a decent hand to hold, but they are vulnerable to more powerful flushes and full houses. If you see three cards of the same suit on the board, it’s probably smart to slow down here. The lowest possible straight (A-2-3-4-5) is called a "wheel".

Three of a kind

A three of a kind features three cards of the same rank, such as 7♣ 7♠ 7♦ K♣ 2♥. You’ll also hear it referred to as trips (using the board) or a set (using hole cards).
The odds of getting three of a kind are roughly 1 in 47.
Naturally, trips don’t stand up to straights or flushes, although they still win plenty of hands. If you hit your set (using pocket pairs), you should aim for value. Three of a kind is a stealthily strong hand to hold. You can disguise them with a check-raise before pulling the trigger for real.

Two pair

With two pair hands, the kicker card has a significant influence when ranking. If two players have two pair, the one with the higher-valued top pair claims the spoils. However, if the top pairs are the same, the kicker matters.
Two pair is a hand with two pairs in your set of five cards, such as J♣ J♠ 5♦ 5♣ 9♥.
Your chances of getting a two pair hand are around 1 in 21.
While two pair is a solid hand to possess, it’s far from bulletproof. It’s usually best to play it strong and early; if the board is showing concerning signs, you should engage the handbrake. With two pair, the top two (Aces and Kings) is considerably better than the bottom two (2s and 3s).

One pair

The commonality of a one pair hand is really high. In fact, it happens nearly 42% of the time, which is a strong reason players should learn how to use it as effectively as possible.
A one pair is a hand with two cards of the same rank, such as 8♦ 8♠ K♣ 4♥ 2♣.
The odds of getting this hand are around 1 in 1.36.
Your poker strategy here really depends on the strength of your pair. If you have pocket aces, then it’s okay to go big. However, if you’re lumbered with pocket 4s, going small or folding altogether should be the play. You should never overvalue small pairs as they tend to lose often.

High card (worst hand in poker)

With a high card, there are no pairs, no straights and no flushes – it’s a straight one-card shootout between you and the other players. Any of the other hands listed above will beat a high card, but if everyone whiffs during a round, your Ace-high or King-high card might sneak you a pot.
If you do miss completely and are dealt a high-card hand, you should prepare to fold – unless you plan on embarking on a major bluffing session.

What is the best poker hand?

The aptly named royal flush is the best possible hand in poker. As the highest attainable straight flush in a hand, it’s unbeatable. In fact, in televised tournaments, a royal flush is so rare that it often makes highlight reels for years when it occurs.

Probability of landing a royal flush across variants:

Texas Hold’em: 1 in 649,740
Omaha: Better odds due to four-hole cards
Seven-Card Stud: Higher chance, but still very rare

What is the worst poker hand?

The dreaded high card is the worst poker hand you can be dealt in the game. The reason it is considered so weak is pretty simple. Straights and flushes are a pipedream when you’re handed a high card deal. Your fate depends entirely on the value of your highest card, which gives you little to play with.

If you’re unlucky enough to be dealt a high card hand, your options are limited. Your strategy for playing weak hands should include a willingness to fold early unless you have a favourable read. You could also semi-bluff if the board takes on a scary look. However, you should never dig your heels in; trash hands are best jettisoned quickly.

How poker hand rankings apply to different poker games

Let’s take a look at how poker hand rankings apply to different poker game variations.

Texas Hold’em

In Texas Hold’em, there are two hole cards (private cards dealt to players at start) and five community cards. Strong hands of two pair or better are usually needed to win. All Texas Hold’em hands are made up of exactly five cards, and you can use any combination of hole cards and community cards to make that five-card poker hand. The hierarchy of Texas Hold’em hand rankings is the same as the list we published above.

Omaha

With Omaha rules, there are four hole cards; players must use two of them, along with three of the five community cards. Since all players have more cards and more poker combinations, the winning (and losing) hands in Omaha tend to be much stronger than their counterparts in Texas Hold’em.

Seven-card stud

In this version of poker, seven cards are dealt individually to each player. Reading opponents is crucial here because there are no community cards to change the flow of the game. The poker hand rankings for Seven-Card Stud are exactly the same as those for Hold’em.

Five-card draw

In Five-Card Draw, you’re dealt five private cards and have the option to trade. Bluffing and hand-reading are major weapons to wield in this version. Poker hand rankings are standard here, but the ability to discard and select new cards can make for more dynamic gameplay.

Strategy for playing strong and weak hands

Here are some key points to help you to refine your strategy for playing with both strong and weak hands in poker.

Maximising strong hands

Play slowly against aggressive players.
Value bet against calling stations.
Extract every chip you can when ahead. Every chip is a win!

Bluffing with weak hands

Only bluff when you can represent a strong hand credibly.
Avoid bluffing against calling stations when you have some of the weakest poker hands.
Be smart when picking your spots; bluffing isn’t mandatory!

When to fold, call, or raise

Don’t be afraid to fold disadvantageous hands early.
Back yourself and call with marginal hands against weaker players.
Go big with your raises when you have a monster to punish drawing hands.

Poker hand ranking FAQs

What is the strongest poker hand?

A royal flush is the strongest poker hand.

What is the weakest hand in poker?

A high card is the weakest hand in poker.

How are poker hands ranked?

From best to worst, the hands are ranked royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, and high card.

What are the odds of getting a royal flush?

The chances are around 1 in 649,740 in Texas Hold’em.

What are the best starting hands in Texas Hold’em?

Pocket Aces (A♠ A♥)
Pocket Kings (K♣ K♦)
Ace-King suited (A♠ K♠)

Can a straight beat a flush in poker?

No. A flush always beats a straight.

How often do four of a kind hands occur?

They occur roughly once every 4,165 hands.

What are common beginner mistakes in ranking poker hands?

Overvaluing low pairs, misreading straights/flushes and ignoring kickers are common beginner mistakes in ranking poker hands.