𝐏𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝: A Complete Guide to Winning Combinations

Poker can be a fun game among friends or a competitive challenge in professional casinos and online platforms. No matter where you play, knowing the poker hand rankings is essential for making the right bets, bluffing effectively, and understanding which hands beat which.

This guide will walk you through Poker Hands Ranked, from the strongest to the weakest hand, with clear examples and tiebreaker rules.

How Poker Hand Rankings Work

A poker hand consists of five cards. Its value depends on how rare the combination is:
👉 The rarer the hand, the higher its ranking.

The goal in poker is to win the pot, either by:

• Holding the highest-ranking hand at the showdown, or

• Making a bet that no one else calls (bluff).

Suits do not have a ranking, so two hands with the same value but different suits are equal.

Poker Hands Ranked: From Highest to Lowest

1. Royal Flush

A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit

This is the highest possible hand in poker. There are only four possible combinations (one per suit), making it extremely rare.

2. Straight Flush

Five consecutive cards of the same suit

If multiple players have a straight flush, the one with the highest top card wins.
Example: 10-9-8-7-6 beats 7-6-5-4-3.

3. Four of a Kind (Quads)

Four cards of the same rank + one kicker

The highest quads win. If two players have the same quads, the fifth card (kicker) determines the winner.

Example: 8-8-8-8-10 beats 8-8-8-8-6.

4. Full House

Three of a kind + a pair

Compare the triple first, then the pair if needed.

Example: 8-8-8-K-K beats 6-6-6-A-A.

5. Flush

Five cards of the same suit (not in sequence)

The player with the highest card in the flush wins.

Example: Q-8-6-3-2 beats 10-9-5-4-2.

6. Straight

Five consecutive cards of different suits

The highest top card wins.
Ace can act as high or low.

Examples:

• A-K-Q-J-10 → highest straight
• 5-4-3-2-A → lowest straight

7. Three of a Kind (Trips)

Three cards of the same rank + two unrelated cards

Highest trips win; if tied, compare the kickoff cards.

8. Two Pair

Two pairs of different ranks + one kicker

Compare the highest pair first, then the second pair, and finally the kicker if needed.

9. One Pair

A single pair + three unrelated cards

Highest pair wins. If tied, compare remaining cards in descending order.

10. High Card

Any hand not fitting the above categories

Highest card wins, then second-highest, and so on.

Example: A-K-4-3-2 beats A-Q-J-10-9.

Quick Hierarchy of Poker Hands

• Pair > High Card
• Two Pair > Pair
• Three of a Kind > Two Pair
• Straight > Three of a Kind
• Flush > Straight
• Full House > Flush
• Four of a Kind > Full House
• Straight Flush > Four of a Kind
• Royal Flush > Straight Flush

How Many Poker Hands Are There?

With a standard 52-card deck, you can form:

• 2,598,960 distinct hands
• Only 7,462 unique hand ranks, since suit and order do not affect value

Example probability:

• Royal Flush → 4 ÷ 2,598,960 ≈ 0.000154%

Special Variants: Lowball and Hi/Lo

While the traditional (high) ranking is used in:

• Texas Hold’em
• Omaha
• Seven Card Stud

There are variants like:

• Ace to Five Lowball (Razz, Omaha Hi/Lo)
• Deuce to Seven Lowball

In these games, the lowest hand wins, and straights and flushes can count against you.

Conclusion

Understanding Poker Hands Ranked is the first step to improving your game, calculating odds, and avoiding costly mistakes. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, knowing the poker hand rankings gives you a clear advantage every time you play.

Keep this guide handy as a quick cheat sheet for casinos, online platforms, or friendly home games. ♠️♦️