Hand Rankings (Order)
Why the ranking order decides every showdown
A showdown happens when remaining players reveal cards to determine the winner. In Texas Hold’em you make the best five-card hand from your two hole cards and the five community cards. The standardized ranking order decides every showdown: the highest-ranked five-card combination wins.
Steps to determine the winner:
- From your two hole cards and the five community cards, choose your best five-card hand.
- Compare hand categories using the ranking order, from Royal Flush down to High Card.
- If players share a category, apply tie-break rules: compare the hand-defining ranks, then kickers if needed.
Example: Board 9♠ 9♥ 9♦ K♣ 2♣. If you hold 9♣ 5♦, your best five is 9♣ 9♠ 9♥ 9♦ K♣ - four of a kind.
Top tier hands: Royal Flush and Straight Flush
Royal Flush is A-K-Q-J-10 all of the same suit (e.g., A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠). It is the highest possible hand and cannot be beaten. Straight Flush is five consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 7♣ 6♣ 5♣ 4♣ 3♣). When two straight flushes meet, the one with the higher top card wins. Example: 9♠ 8♠ 7♠ 6♠ 5♠ beats 8♣ 7♣ 6♣ 5♣ 4♣ because the top card (9) is higher.
Four of a Kind and Full House
Four of a Kind consists of four cards of the same rank plus any fifth card (the kicker). Example: 9♠ 9♥ 9♣ 9♦ 5♣. If the quads appear on the board or both players use the same four, the highest remaining card (kicker) decides the winner. Full House is three cards of one rank and two of another, often called “trips over a pair.” Example: Q♣ Q♥ Q♠ 8♦ 8♠. Full houses beat all straights and flushes; four of a kind beats a full house.
Example showdown: Board K♦ K♣ K♠ 8♥ 2♦. You hold 8♣ 8♦ - your best is K K K 8 8, a full house. If an opponent holds K♥ Q♣, they make four of a kind (K K K K Q) and win.
Flush and Straight: same strength area, different composition
Flush is any five cards of the same suit not in sequence (example: A♣ J♣ 7♣ 6♣ 2♣). Flush ties are decided by comparing the highest cards in order. Straight is five consecutive ranks in mixed suits (example: 8♦ 7♠ 6♦ 5♣ 4♥). The ace can be high (A-K-Q-J-10) or low (5-4-3-2-A), the latter called a “wheel.” When two players share a straight, the one with the higher top card wins.
Example tie rule: Both players have a flush in clubs. Player A’s A♣ J♣ 7♣ 6♣ 2♣ beats Player B’s K♣ Q♣ 9♣ 5♣ 3♣ because Ace outranks King.
Trips, Two Pair, One Pair, and High Card
Three of a Kind (Trips) is three cards of the same rank plus two unrelated cards. Example: 7♠ 7♦ 7♣ Q♥ 3♠. Two Pair is two cards of one rank, two of another, plus a side card. Example: J♦ J♣ 4♣ 4♠ 9♥. Compare the higher pair first, then the lower pair, then the kicker. One Pair is two cards of the same rank and three unrelated cards. Example: 10♠ 10♣ K♠ 7♣ 3♠. Compare the pair rank, then kickers in descending order. High Card applies when no player has a pair or better; the single highest card determines the winner. Example: A♠ J♣ 9♦ 6♣ 3♦.
Checklist
- Always use the best five-card combination from your hole cards plus the board.
- Royal Flush is the single highest, unbeatable hand.
- Straight flushes are ranked by their top card when tied.
- Flush ties are decided by highest cards in order.
- Straights can use the ace as high or low (A-K-Q-J-10 or 5-4-3-2-A).