best poker hands

Poker Hands - Strongest to Weakest - Presented by AlamoPoker.com


A ranking of Poker hands from royal flush to high card
Standard five-card Poker hands are ranked here in order of strength, from the strongest Poker hand to the weakest.

Royal Flush - the best possible hand in Poker
Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10, all of the same suit. In other words, Ten, Jack, Queen, King, Ace of the same suit.

Examples:











Straight Flush
Any five-card sequence in the same suit (e.g.: 8, 9, 10, Jack and Queen of clubs; or 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of diamonds). In other words, Straight with all five cards in the same suit.

Example:





Four of a Kind
All four cards of the same value (e.g.: 8, 8, 8, 8; or Queen, Queen, Queen, Queen). In other words, Four cards of the same number or face value.

Example:




Full House
Three of a kind combined with a pair (e.g.: 10, 10, 10 with 6, 6; or King, King, King with 5, 5). In other words, three cards of one number or face value and two cards of another number or face value. If more than one player has a full house, the full house with the highest ranking three of a kind ("trips") wins.

Example:




Flush
Any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence (e.g.: 4, 5, 7, 10 and King of spades). In other words, five cards of the same suit. If there is more than one flush, the hand with the highest card(s) wins.

Example:



Straight
Five cards in sequence, but not in the same suit (e.g.: 7 of clubs, 8 of clubs, 9 of diamonds, 10 of spades and Jack of diamonds). In other words, five cards in sequence. Cards can be in any suit. An Ace can be used in the highest straight (10, J, Q, K, A) and the lowest straight (A, 2, 3, 4, 5).

Example:



Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same value (e.g.: 3, 3, 3; or Jack, Jack, Jack). In other words, three cards of the same number or face value ("trips").

Example:



Two Pair
Two separate pairs (e.g.: 2, 2, Queen, Queen). In other words, if two players have two pair, the hand with the highest pair wins. If they have the same high pair, whoever has the second highest pair wins. If they have the same two pair, whoever has the highest fifth card ("kicker") wins.

Example:



Pair
Two cards of the same value (e.g.: 7, 7). In other words, two cards of the same number or face value. If two players have the same pair, the highest outside card(s) wins.



High Card
If a Poker hand contains none of the above combinations, it's valued by the highest card in it. In other words, the hand with the highest card(s) wins.

Example: