Poker hand rankings
A poker hand is always five cards, in ten kinds: the rarer the kind, the higher it ranks. Here is the whole ladder, best hand first, with how often each one comes up in the 2,598,960 possible five-card hands.
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1. Royal flush
A-K-Q-J-10 all in one suit, the best hand in poker. Comes up in 0.00015% of hands, about 1 in 650,000.
A♠K♠Q♠J♠10♠ -
2. Straight flush
Five in a row, all one suit. Comes up in 0.0014% of hands, about 1 in 72,000.
9♥8♥7♥6♥5♥ -
3. Four of a kind
All four cards of one rank. Comes up in 0.024% of hands, about 1 in 4,200.
7♣7♦7♥7♠K♦ -
4. Full house
Three of a kind plus a pair. Comes up in 0.14% of hands, about 1 in 694.
K♣K♦K♥7♠7♦ -
5. Flush
Five cards of one suit, not in a row. Comes up in 0.20% of hands, about 1 in 509.
A♦J♦9♦6♦2♦ -
6. Straight
Five ranks in a row, mixed suits. Comes up in 0.39% of hands, about 1 in 255.
9♣8♦7♥6♠5♦ -
7. Three of a kind
Three cards of the same rank. Comes up in 2.1% of hands, about 1 in 47.
Q♣Q♦Q♥9♠2♦ -
8. Two pair
Two different pairs. Comes up in 4.8% of hands, about 1 in 21.
K♣K♦7♥7♠A♦ -
9. One pair
Two cards of the same rank. Comes up in 42% of hands, about 1 in 2.4.
A♣A♦9♥6♠2♦ -
10. High card
No pair, no straight, no flush, so the highest card counts. Comes up in 50% of hands, about 1 in 2.
A♣J♦9♥6♠2♦
Which hand wins?
When two hands meet, the one higher on the ladder wins, whatever its cards. A tiny flush beats an Ace-high straight, because a flush is rarer. A pair of 2s beats Ace-King high: one match beats none.
Suits never break a tie. No suit beats another. Two hands that differ only by suit split the pot.
Questions
What is the best hand in poker?
A royal flush: A-K-Q-J-10 all in one suit, the best hand in poker. It comes up in 0.00015% of hands, about 1 in 650,000.
What is the lowest hand in poker?
High card: no pair, no straight, no flush, so the highest card counts. When nobody has a pair or better, the highest card wins.
Does a flush beat a straight?
Yes. A flush comes up in 0.20% of hands, about 1 in 509, a straight in 0.39% of hands, about 1 in 255. The rarer hand ranks higher.
Does a full house beat a flush?
Yes. A full house comes up in 0.14% of hands, about 1 in 694, a flush in 0.20% of hands, about 1 in 509. The rarer hand ranks higher.
Does four of a kind beat a full house?
Yes. Four of a kind comes up in 0.024% of hands, about 1 in 4,200, a full house in 0.14% of hands, about 1 in 694. The rarer hand ranks higher.
Do suits matter in poker?
No. No suit beats another. Two hands that differ only by suit split the pot.
Practise it in 5 minutes A short lesson, free: the ten hands, part 1.
Quads is for adults, 18 and over. It teaches with play chips only: there is no real money, ever.