What are the best hands in poker?

A standard pack of cards has 52 cards and poker rules determine that individual cards are ranked from high to low: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2. There is only ranking between individual cards and not suits.

Regardless of which popular variation of poker you are playing, each hand in Texas Hold’em, Omaha, or three-card poker, consists of five cards. There are 10 possible hands to play in poker: Royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, and no pair (high card).

The best hand in poker is a royal flush and the worst is a high card.

Types of poker hands

Royal Flush

A royal flush is made out of Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10, all of the same suit. It beats all other hands as it is the hand with the highest rank.

The strongest royal flush is a straight flush, known as ace-high straight flush (Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10).

Straight Flush

A straight flush is five consecutive cards, all in the same suit.

If two players have a straight flush, then the player with the highest card wins.

As it is a very strong hand, nothing beats a straight flush except for an Ace-high straight flush (otherwise known as a royal flush).

Four of a Kind

A four of a kind, or a quad, is the same card in each of the four suits and one of another rank (the kicker). The highest four of a kind is four Aces.

If two players have a quad, then the kicker (the spare card) determines the winner. If both players have a quad made up of five’s, then the player with a 10 kicker will beat the 7 kicker.

A four of a kind will beat a full house flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, and no pair, but not a straight flush, or royal flush.

Full House

A full house is a three of a kind and two pair in the same hand. The strongest full house is called Aces Full of Kings (Ace, Ace, Ace, King, and King).

If two players have a full house, whoever has the strongest three of a kind wins the hand. The kicker (or two pair) wins only if both poker players have the same three of a kind.

A hand that consists of a full house will beat a flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, and no pair, but not a four of a kind, straight flush, or royal flush.

Flush

A flush is five cards in the same suit, not in numerical order.

If two players have a full house, whoever has the highest ranking card will win. An Ace, 10, 7, 4, and 3 of diamonds will beat a King, 10, 7, 4, 3 of diamonds because Ace ranks higher than a King.

A flush will beat a straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, and no pair, but not a full house, four of a kind, straight flush, or royal flush.

Straight

A straight is five cards in numerical order, but not in the same suit.

The highest possible straight hand is Ace, King, Queen, J, and 10. An Ace can rank as either low or high in a straight, but not at the same time within one hand.

If two players have a straight, whoever has the highest ranking card will win.

A straight will beat a three of a kind, two pair, one pair, and no pair, but not a flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, or royal flush.

Three of a Kind

Three of a kind is the same card in three suits and two unpaired cards.

If two players have a three of a kind, whoever has the highest ranking card from the two unpaired cards will win. If this card is the same, then the highest card from the two remaining cards wins.

A three of a kind, otherwise known as triplets or trips, will beat a two pair, one pair, and no pair, but not a straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, or royal flush.

Two Pair

A two pair is two different pairings or sets of the same card.

If two players have two pairs, then the player with the highest pair will win. A Jack, Jack, 2, 2, and 4 will beat a 10, 10, 9, 9, 8 because the Jack’s outrank the 10’s. In the instance that the highest pairs are the same, then the player with the highest lower pair wins.

A two pair will beat a one pair and no pair, but not a three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, or royal flush.

One Pair

A one pair is one pairing of the same card and three unpaired cards.

If two players have a one pair, then the player with the highest pair will win. A 6, 6, 4, 3, and 2 will beat a 5, 5, Ace, King, and Queen. In the instance that the pairs are the same, then the highest ranking unpaired cards wins.

A one pair can only beat a no pair but not a two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, or royal flush.

No Pair / High Card

A no pair, or high card, is made up of 5 cards which cannot create a poker hand. It is the lowest poker hand ranking.

If two players only have a no pair, then the player with the highest card wins.