Poker Hands & Ranking

Poker Hands & Ranking Learn the correct poker order

It is important to know the different poker hand rankings before you play a game of No Limit Texas Holdem Poker will play. For example, a Straight Flush beats a Full House. Check out this page and the poker rules for poker hand rankings, and which starting hands are strongest (Royal Flush) and weakest (High Card) to master the game, or check out our cheat sheet for pokerodds.

Poker Hand rankings

A poker hand consists of the best possible combination of five cards a player can make from the two hole cards he is dealt and the five community cards on the table. Below is an overview of in what order poker hands are ranked. In total, there are ten different hand values. A "Royal Flush" is the strongest possible hand, while the "High Card" is the weakest hand. We list all possible hands for you below, starting with the best ones.

Royal Flush

The best possible hand in the game: A Straight Flush with an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and a Ten, all of the same suit.

Straight Flush

The second best hand. A street (5 consecutive cards), all of the same suit, but not Ten through Ace

Four of a Kind

A Four of a Kind is just below the Straight Flush and is actually always called "Quads" or "Square" at poker tables. Four cards of the same rank.

Full House

Also called a "Boat" or "Full Boat. A Full House consists of a Three of a Kind along with a Pair.

Flush

Five cards, all of the same suit, but not all five consecutive. If you have an ace in your Flush combination it is also called a nut flush.

Straight

Also called a "Street. Five consecutive cards, but not all of the same suit. The highest possible straight Ten through Ace is called a Broadway Straight.

Three of a Kind

Usually called "Trips" and sometimes "Set" at the table. A Three of a Kind is formed by 3 cards of the same rank, with any two other cards.

Two Pair

Two times two cards of the same value plus any fifth card. If you have the two highest possible pairs, it is also called Top Two Pair, or simply Top Two

One Pair

Two cards of the same value along with 3 more randomly different cards.

High Card

If you have not made any of the above combinations, you have a 'High Card'. The combination on the right could also be announced as 'Ace High'.

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Best Starting Hands in Poker

Once you know the correct poker sequence and the different hand combinations, and that a Full House is stronger than a flush, you can take the next step in developing your poker strategy. For example, which starting hands have the most potential to form a strong final combination? If you don't know which starting hand is strong and which is weak, you never know where you stand. Especially since you really don't know all the holecards you are dealt. Check out the overview below, and visit our Learn Poker page to learn more about the basic principles of Poker.

Texas Holdem Starting Hands

AA, KK

These two starting hands are the best in Holdem, but it is not often that you are dealt Aces or Kings in your hand. It's important to remember that Aces and Kings are difficult to play against multiple opponents - especially Kings - since an Ace on the board immediately causes someone with an Ace in hand to make one of the better poker combinations.

QQ, JJ, AK

If you get dealt one of these Texas Holdem hands, you generally have the best starting hand. AK (suited & off suit) dominates most other hands and has great potential to become a strong hand even if it is only a "High Card. A Pocket Pair Women or Jacks are a strong starting hand, but can get into trouble if an Ace or King appears on the board.

TT, AQ, AJ, KQ

Starting hands like TT, AQ, AJ, KQ are very strong against weaker poker combinations with an Ace or King as the highest card. It is often recommended to raise these hands preflop. However, you must be careful because the strength depends on what the other players do, and what cards appear on the table.

T9, 98, 87 Suited

Starting hands like T9, 98, and 87 of the same suit have a chance of becoming a good poker combination. It will regularly happen that you will get a Straight or Flushdraw on the flop with these hands. However, you must be careful. If your draw does not come in, you are left with a very weak poker combination.

Omaha Poker Starting Hands

AAKK, AAJT

Any hand with a pair of aces and two other face cards (T through K) is the best hand in Omaha poker, also called PLO (Pot-Limit Omaha). Try to raise and reraise with these hands, and if possible, go all-in before the flop.

KKQJ, JJQK

High Pairs (TT-KK) along with consecutive cards do well in a heads-up situation. However, keep in mind that there is always a chance that someone has gotten Aces in PLO, so you benefit from some caution before the flop is there.

8876, 7789

Middle pairs with consecutive cards are strong in Omaha poker. These hands get their value from the many opportunities to get a Straight or Flushdraw on the flop. You can limp these hands, or call a raise if there are multiple players in the hand.

AKQJ, KQJT

These combinations are strong, but are easily dominated by high pairs before the flop. It is important to play these starting hands carefully and make a raise, or call a raise in late position.

Knowing all the different poker hands, and knowing what the good starting hands are in Texas Hold'em is a great start, but there is much more to learn. GGPoker offers numerous Tips & Tricks for beginning and advanced poker players. Are you more of a person who learns by doing? Try a poker tournament or cash game on GGPoker and play your poker games.

Poker Hand Rankings Explanation

Royal Flush

The Royal flush is the best of all poker combinations because it is unbeatable. The Royal Flush is a Straight Flush from the Ten to the Ace, so for example, A♠K♠Q♠J♠T♠, or A♥K♥Q♥J♥T♥. It is also the most difficult combination to make.

Many players will get this poker combination only once during their poker careers.

Straight Flush

A Straight Flush is less strong than the Royal Flush, but stronger than the Four of a kind. A Straight Flush consists of five consecutive cards all of the same suit, For example Q♦J♦T♦9♦8♦, or 5♣4♣3♣2♣A♣.

Straight Flushes are ranked among themselves based on the highest card in the sequence.

Four of a Kind

Also called "Quads" or "Square," a Four of a Kind is a hand consisting of four cards of the same value, supplemented by the highest remaining card (the Kicker). 7♥7♦7♣7♠A♥ thus makes a Four of a Kind Sevens with an Ace kicker.

The different suits have no value in this poker combination.

Full House

A Full House is also called a 'Boat' or 'Full Boat,' and consists of a Three of a Kind, along with a Pair; for example, 6♥6♣6♦A♥A♠ or Q♥Q♦Q♠6♣6♠. To rank a Full House against another Full House, the value of the Three of a Kind is considered first. If these are equal, then the Pair is considered. So in the above example, a Full House Q♥Q♦Q♠6♣6♠ wins against 6♥6♣6♦A♥A♠, because Three Queens is higher than Three Sixes.

Flush

A Flush contains five cards that are all of the same suit, but not all consecutive, for example, A♠ 8♠ 7♠ 3♠ 2♠ or K♦ J♦ 8♦ 6♦ 5♦. If two or more players have a flush; then the card with the highest value is considered. If these are equal, the second highest card is considered, etc. The suit itself has no decisive value in a flush.

Straight

A Straight is a sequence of five consecutive cards, not all of the same suit, for example 5♦ 6♦ 7♠ 8♥ 9♣. Straights are ranked among themselves based on the value of the highest card. Suits make no difference in a straight.

You may use an Ace in a Straight, either at the top or at the bottom. A♦ K♣ Q♠ J♥ T♦ thus makes an Ace-high Straight, also called a 'Broadway straight', while 5♥4♦3♣2♠A♥ makes a 5-high Straight, also called a 'Baby Straight', or 'Wheel'.

Three of a Kind

At the tables, a Three of a Kind is actually always called 'Trips' or a 'Set' depending on how the Three of a Kind is formed.

A Three of a Kind consists of three cards of the same value, supplemented by the highest two remaining cards of not the same value (the Kickers).

When comparing Three of a Kinds, we first look at the value of the card used to make it.

If these are equal, then the highest kicker is considered, and finally the value of the second kicker. 8♣ 8♦ 8♥ A♦ K♦ is an example of a Three of a Kind eights.

two Pair

A Two Pair consists of two identical cards of one value, two identical cards of another value, and a loose card of yet another value (kicker). For example, J♥ J♦ 9♦ 9♠ K♠ makes a Two Pair combination of Jacks with Nines and a King kicker. To make Two

Pairs to rank among themselves, the highest Pair in the combinations is considered first, and then the second Pair. If both are equal, the height of the kicker is considered. Thus, for example, J♥ J♦ 9♦ 9♠ K♠ is better than J♠ J♣ 6♣ 6♦ K♥, because the value of the second Pair of the first hand is stronger than the second Pair of the second hand; 2 nines versus 2 sixes.

One Pair

One Pair, or simply Pair or Pair, contains two cards of one value and three cards of three other values (kickers). Do two players both have

One Pairs during the showdown, then they are ranked among themselves based on the value of the Pair. If they are equal, then the kickers are compared one by one. For example, A♣ A♦ K♥ Q♥ 3♣ makes One Pair Aces.

High Card

When you cannot make any of the above poker combinations with all available cards, you have a High Card; also called No Pair.

The order for High Cards among themselves is determined by the highest card in the sequence. If these are equal, then the second-highest card is considered. Etc..

A♥ Q♥ T♦ 8♦ 7♠ is an example of a High Card combination - in this case called Ace High.

Frequently Asked Questions Poker Hands

Which suit has the highest value?

The different suits in poker are Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, and Spades. In almost all poker games, at least in No Limit Texas Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha, and 6+ Short Deck, all suits are of equal value. To be sure, check the rules of the game with the dealer before playing.

What is the best poker hand?

A Royal Flush is the best possible hand, It is a Straight Flush consisting of an Ace, King, Queen, Jack along with a Ten - all of which are of the same suit.

What are Poker hands?

These refer to a set of five playing cards that form a combination in accordance with the rules of the game. Each hand has a value that is compared to the other hands to decide which wins.

What is the highest card in Poker?

The poker order from high to low is: Ace (A), King (K), Queen (Q), Jack (J), 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. An Ace can be high or low, but is high in most cases.

What is the worst starting hand in Texas Holdem?

Of all Texas Hold'em hands, Pocket Aces, AA, is the best starting hand. The lowest hand is formed by a 3 and a 2 from different suits. Generally, however, 2-7 offsuit is considered the worst hand because it sees the two lowest cards that together cannot form a straight. Even if they hit a Pair it remains a weak hand.

What is the goal when you play poker?

The main goal while playing poker is to win. Note! There are no prizes for the player who bets the most or the most often; there are only prizes for the winners. That means it is crucial to understand the poker sequence. Also, you need to know your odds know when to fold and when to play.

How are starting hands shared online?

Poker hands are generated using a certified computer algorithm that ensures the cards are random - and often more random than cards shuffled and dealt by hand. In Texas Hold'em poker, each player is dealt two closed cards before the flop; in Omaha poker, each player is dealt four closed cards.

What does dealer's choice mean?

Dealer's Choice refers to a game in which the player sitting in the position of the dealer button gets to choose which poker variant, and what the stakes are. Which poker games these are often depends on the players