Poker Hand Rankings Explained: Learn Winning Hands for Texas Hold’em and Other Variants

Eddie Griffin

Written by: Eddie Griffin

Published:

Read Time: 9 minutes

Understanding poker hand rankings is fundamental to playing any variant of poker successfully. Whether you’re playing Texas Hold’em, Seven Card Stud, or Five Card Draw, the basic hierarchy of poker hands remains consistent across most variants.

Standard winning poker hands apply to most games you will play in person or at top poker sites such as Everygame Poker and Ignition Poker. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about poker hand rankings, from the unbeatable Royal Flush to the humble High Card.

The Standard Deck

Before diving into hand rankings, it’s essential to understand the building blocks of poker: the standard 52-card deck.

This deck consists of four suits: hearts (♥), diamonds (♦), clubs (♣), and spades (♠). Each suit contains thirteen cards: Ace (which can be high or low), King, Queen, Jack, and cards 10 through 2.

In standard poker, all suits are considered equal in value, though some variant games may assign different values to suits for specific purposes.

How Are Winning Poker Hands Ranked?

Poker hand rankings follow a logical progression based on the probability of making each hand, with rarer hands typically being more valuable. These rankings have evolved over centuries of play and remain remarkably consistent across most poker variants worldwide.

In standard poker, a hand consists of five cards, even in games where players may receive more cards. For instance, in Seven Card Stud or Texas Hold’em, players must make their best five-card hand from the available cards.

Understanding not just the rankings but also the relative strength of hands is crucial for successful poker play. For example, while both a Royal Flush and a Straight Flush are extremely rare hands, there is only one possible combination for a Royal Flush in each suit, while multiple combinations of Straight Flushes are possible.

This understanding of hand frequencies and probabilities helps inform betting decisions and overall strategy at the poker table.

What is the order of winning hands in popular poker variants such as Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven-Card Stud?

Standard Winning Poker Hand Rankings (Highest to Lowest)

Royal Flush

The most prestigious hand in poker, a Royal Flush consists of five cards of the same suit in sequence from 10 through Ace (10-J-Q-K-A). This hand is extremely rare, occurring roughly once in every 649,740 hands in five-card poker variants. All Royal Flushes are equal in value, which makes ties impossible when this hand occurs.

Straight Flush

A Straight Flush contains five cards of the same suit in consecutive order, but not including the specific sequence required for a Royal Flush. For example, 9♠-8♠-7♠-6♠-5♠ constitutes a Straight Flush.

When two players hold Straight Flushes, the hand with the highest top card wins. A special case exists with the A-2-3-4-5 Straight Flush (also called a “wheel” or “bicycle”), where the Ace counts as the lowest card.

Four of a Kind

Also known as “quads,” Four of a Kind consists of all four cards of the same rank accompanied by any fifth card (known as the “kicker”). For example, 8♠-8♥-8♣-8♦-K♣ represents Four of a Kind.

When multiple players hold Four of a Kind, the higher-ranked four matching cards win. If two players have the same Four of a Kind (possible in seven-card games), the kicker determines the winner.

Full House

A Full House combines Three of a Kind with a Pair, such as Q♠-Q♥-Q♣-7♦-7♠. When comparing Full Houses, the rank of the Three of a Kind portion determines the winner.

If those are equal (possible in seven-card games), the rank of the Pair decides the winner. Full Houses are often described by announcing the Three of a Kind first, as in “Queens full of Sevens.”

Flush

A Flush consists of any five cards of the same suit, not necessarily in sequence, such as A♥-J♥-8♥-6♥-2♥. When multiple players hold Flushes, the highest card determines the winner.

If the highest cards are equal, the second-highest cards are compared, and so on until a winner is determined or a complete tie is established.

Straight

A Straight contains five cards in sequential order, regardless of suit, such as 9♣-8♦-7♠-6♥-5♣. The Ace can be used as either high or low, creating the highest possible Straight (A-K-Q-J-10) or the lowest possible Straight (5-4-3-2-A). When multiple players hold Straights, the hand with the highest top card wins.

Three of a Kind

Also called “trips” or a “set,” Three of a Kind consists of three cards of the same rank plus two unmatched cards, such as K♠-K♥-K♣-9♦-2♠. When comparing Three of a Kind hands, the higher-ranked three matching cards win.

If those are equal, the higher of the two unmatched cards (kickers) determines the winner, followed by the second kicker if necessary.

Two Pair

Two Pair consists of two different pairs of cards plus one unmatched card, such as J♠-J♥-8♣-8♦-A♠. When comparing Two Pair hands, the higher-ranked pair wins.

If the higher pairs are equal, the lower pairs are compared. If both pairs are equal, the fifth card (kicker) determines the winner.

One Pair

One Pair consists of two cards of the same rank plus three unmatched cards, such as 10♠-10♥-K♣-8♦-2♠. When comparing One Pair hands, the higher-ranked pair wins.

If the pairs are equal, the highest unmatched card determines the winner, followed by the second-highest, and then the third-highest if necessary.

High Card

When no player makes any of the above hands, the highest card wins. These hands are described by their highest card, such as “Ace-high” or “King-high.” When comparing High Card hands, the highest card wins.

If those are equal, the second-highest cards are compared, and so on until a winner is determined.

Special Poker Hand Rules and Variations from Standard Hand Rankings

The standard hand rankings described above apply to most poker variants played in casual and competitive games. However, some poker games feature special rules or variations that significantly alter how hands are evaluated and won:

Poker Hand Rankings in Lowball Games

In lowball variants like Razz or 2-7 Triple Draw, players aim to make the lowest possible hand, not the highest. The most common lowball variations follow different rule sets.

How does this play in the winning poker hand rankings for variants such as Ace-to-Five Lowball, Deuce-to-Seven Lowball, and California Lowball?

Ace-to-Five Lowball

In this format, Aces are always low, and straights and flushes don’t count against your hand. The best possible hand is A-2-3-4-5 (known as “the wheel” or “bicycle”).

If two players have the same high card, the second-highest card is compared, and so on. This format is used in games like Razz and is common in home games.

Deuce-to-Seven (2-7) Lowball

Considered the purest form of lowball, in 2-7 lowball, Aces are always high, and both straights and flushes count against you. The best possible hand is 2-3-4-5-7 of mixed suits.

Because Aces are high, hands like A-2-3-4-5 are actually quite poor. This variant is popular in high-stakes games and tournaments.

California Lowball

Also known as “Kansas City Lowball,” this variant follows Ace-to-Five rules but adds one key difference. During the draw phase, one card must be exposed. That adds an element of information to the game that affects strategy and hand reading.

Poker Hand Rankings in High-Low Split Games

In split-pot games, the pot is divided between the highest and lowest qualifying hands, creating complex strategic decisions and the potential for players to “scoop” (win both high and low portions) the entire pot.

How does that affect poker hand rankings in games such as Omaha Hi-Lo, Stud Hi-Lo, and Big O?

Omaha Hi-Lo (Eight or Better)

The most popular split-pot game, Omaha Hi-Lo requires players to use exactly two cards from their four-card starting hand and three community cards to make both their high and low hands.

To qualify for the low portion, a hand must consist of five different cards ranked eight or lower (Aces count as low). Straights and flushes don’t count against low hands. If no hand qualifies for low, the high hand wins the entire pot.

Stud Hi-Lo

Seven Card Stud can also be played in a hi-lo format, following similar qualification rules for low hands as Omaha Hi-Lo.

Players must use five of their seven cards to make the best possible high hand and the best possible low hand, with the same “eight or better” qualification for low hands.

Big O

A variation of Omaha Hi-Lo where players receive five cards instead of four, Big O follows the same rules but offers more potential hand combinations. That leads to bigger pots and more complex decision-making.

Players must still use exactly two cards from their hand and three community cards for both high and low hands.

Conclusion

Mastering poker hand rankings is crucial for any player looking to compete effectively across different poker variants. While the basic hierarchy remains consistent in most games, understanding the nuances of hand comparisons, tiebreakers, and variant-specific rules can give players a significant advantage at the table.

Whether playing casually with friends or competing in serious games, this knowledge forms the foundation of successful poker strategy. Use the knowledge that you have picked up on this page and other reputable resources for poker players to maximize your chances of success at the poker table.

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Poker Hand Rankings FAQ

How rare is a Royal Flush in poker?
A Royal Flush occurs approximately once in every 649,740 hands in five-card poker variants, making it the rarest and most valuable poker hand possible.
What happens if two players have the exact same hand in a poker game?
In this case, the pot is split equally between the players with identical hands, down to the last kicker card that plays in that specific game variant.
Do suits matter in poker?
In standard poker games, all suits are considered equal in value. However, some variants may use suit rankings to break ties or determine pot winners.
Can an Ace be both high and low in the same poker game?
Yes, the Ace can be used as both the highest card (above King) and the lowest card (below 2) in most poker variants, particularly when making Straights.
How many cards are needed to make a Full House in poker?
A Full House requires exactly five cards: three cards of one rank (Three of a Kind) and two cards of another rank (a Pair).