The game
Hand rankings
Section 1 of 9How hands are ranked
In poker, a hand is compared using five cards. Depending on how they combine, those five cards make one of 10 categories.
A higher category always beats a lower one, no matter the card values. We'll start with the weakest and work our way up.
From strongest to weakest hand
- 1Royal flushStrongest
A-K-Q-J-10 of one suit: the highest straight flush.
- 2Straight flush
A straight with all five cards in one suit.
- 3Four of a kind
Four cards of the same rank.
- 4Full house
Three of a kind plus a pair.
- 5Flush
Five cards of the same suit.
- 6Straight
Five consecutive ranks, any suits.
- 7Three of a kind
Three cards of the same rank.
- 8Two pair
Two pairs of different ranks.
- 9Pair
Two cards of the same rank.
- 10High cardWeakest
No combination: the highest card plays.