Poker Hand Ranks Explained: Which Hand Is the Best?

All poker variants are supported by a hand-ranking system used to classify the relative strength of a hand. Thanks to this system, players can decide which one is the best.

The system is applied to all flavours of the popular game, from Texas Hold’em and Omaha to other poker-based games. Understanding how this system works can make all the difference and ultimately help you win.

In this article, we’ll discuss poker hand rankings and provide a complete list of the available ones. They are given in order from the weakest to the strongest. We’ll also explain how they look and which other hands they can beat.

High Card

It’s the lowest possible hand you can get in a poker game, consisting of five different cards that don’t form any of the combinations we’ll mention in this article. If you end up getting a high card, you can only hope that your opponent has the same, as even a pair will beat it.

One Pair

One pair is having two cards of the same value in your hand, for example, two aces. One pair is stronger than a high card or a pair of a lower value. If you get one pair, don’t despair. A good bluff can help you emerge victorious.

Two Pair

As its name suggests, two pairs are – two pairs, each with a different rank. For example, having two nines and two fours consists of two pair. Two is always better than one, meaning you’ll beat one pair and, of course, a high card.

Three-of-a-Kind

Three-of-a-Kind consists of three cards of the same rank, for example, three eights, or three aces. Although it’s not among the strongest poker hands, it can be handy. It beats two pairs, one pair, and high card.

Straight

Having a straight means a player is holding five consecutive cards, which aren’t of the same suit, at least not all of them. The highest available straight sequence is 10-J-Q-K-A. It beats three-of-a-kind, two pair or a single one, and high card. Unfortunately, it can’t beat a flush or better.

Flush

A flush consists of five cards. They are of the same suit, although not in consecutive order. This hand beats a straight but won’t be effective against a full house. If a flush takes on another flush, the hand with the highest card wins.

Full House

Matching three cards plus a pair of different value make up a full house. An example is known as a ten full of eights, meaning there are three tens and a pair of eights. A full house is better than a straight, while only four-of-a-kind, straight flush and royal flush can beat this hand. If two players have a full house, the one with the highest three-of-a-kind wins. If the two three-of-a-kinds are of the same rank, then the highest pair will decide the winner.

Four-of-a-Kind

In poker, a four-of-a-kind is a hand that includes four cards of the same value. This hand will often win the game, beating any other except a straight flush or a royal flush. In case two players have the same kind, the rank of these four cards determines the winner.

Straight Flush

This hand consists of five consecutive cards, which are all of the same suit. For example, a hand made up of nine, eight, seven, six, and five, in diamonds is a straight flush. It’s a strong hand, with only a royal flush and a higher straight flush beating it.

Royal Flush

A royal flush is at the top of the poker hierarchy. It’s essentially a straight flush where you have A-K-Q-J-10 in the same suit. Since it’s the strongest poker hand, it will beat any other hand your rival might have.