Poker uses card combinations to determine the strength of a hand. Although individual variants differ, most standard high-hand poker games share the same five-card rankings. This reference explains each combination, from high card to royal flush, with examples and tie-breaking rules.
Why do hand rankings matter?
The best five cards determine a poker hand’s rank. Players need to recognize pairs, sequences, and cards of the same suit. Small differences can decide the result. In Texas Hold’em, the best five-card hand is selected from seven available cards; in five-card poker, the dealt hand itself is evaluated.
1. High card
A high-card hand contains no pair or stronger combination. For example, A♠ J♦ 9♣ 6♥ 3♠ is ace-high. If both players have high-card hands, compare their highest cards and continue downward until a difference appears.
2. One pair
One pair contains two cards of equal rank and three other cards, such as K♠ K♦ 10♣ 7♥ 2♠. The higher pair wins. If the pairs match, compare the three remaining cards, called kickers, in descending order.
3. Two pair
Two pair consists of two different pairs and one additional card, such as Q♠ Q♥ 8♦ 8♣ 4♠. Compare the higher pair first, then the lower pair, and finally the fifth card if necessary.
4. Three of a kind
Three of a kind means three cards of the same rank, such as 9♠ 9♥ 9♦ K♣ 4♠. In Texas Hold’em, players commonly call it a set when a pocket pair combines with a board card, while trips often describes three of a kind made using a paired board.
5. Straight
A straight is five consecutive ranks, regardless of suit, such as 5♠ 6♦ 7♣ 8♥ 9♠. An ace may be high in 10-J-Q-K-A or low in A-2-3-4-5. It cannot wrap around from king through ace to two.
6. Flush
A flush contains five cards of the same suit that are not consecutive, such as A♥ J♥ 8♥ 5♥ 2♥. In standard poker, hearts, spades, diamonds, and clubs have equal value. Compare flushes by their highest cards, followed by the next highest as needed.
7. Full house
A full house combines three of a kind with a pair. J♠ J♥ J♦ 6♣ 6♠ is called jacks full of sixes. Compare the three-of-a-kind rank first, then the pair if necessary.
8. Four of a kind
Four of a kind, also called quads, consists of four cards of the same rank, such as 7♠ 7♥ 7♦ 7♣ K♠. The rank of the four matching cards determines the stronger hand; the fifth card can break a tie when relevant.
9. Straight flush
A straight flush contains five consecutive cards of one suit, such as 5♣ 6♣ 7♣ 8♣ 9♣. It outranks four of a kind. If two straight flushes are compared, the one with the higher top card wins.
10. Royal flush
A royal flush is an ace-high straight flush: 10♠ J♠ Q♠ K♠ A♠. No five-card hand ranks higher in standard high-hand poker. Technically, it is the highest possible straight flush.
Common mistakes when reading hands
A flush beats a straight, not the other way around. Spades do not outrank hearts in a standard showdown, and an ace cannot connect the two ends of a sequence. In games with community cards, remember to select exactly the best five cards.
Poker hand ranking table
| Rank | Hand |
|---|---|
| 1 | Royal flush |
| 2 | Straight flush |
| 3 | Four of a kind |
| 4 | Full house |
| 5 | Flush |
| 6 | Straight |
| 7 | Three of a kind |
| 8 | Two pair |
| 9 | One pair |
| 10 | High card |
These rankings apply to standard high-hand poker. Lowball and certain other variants use different rules.
Connections to other card games
Pairs, three of a kind, straights, and flushes also help explain other card games. In Indonesia, these combinations are connected to the development of Bola Tangkas, which uses poker cards but follows its own game mechanics. Shared card combinations do not imply identical rules.
Final takeaway
Learning hand rankings is the foundation for understanding poker. Begin by recognizing five-card patterns, then study the tie-breaking rules for hands in the same category. This makes it easier to evaluate cards accurately rather than memorizing names alone.