Rank of Poker Hands

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Poker hands always contain five cards. For instance, although each player in a game of Texas Hold Em has two cards with five "community" cards, only the top five of those cards can be used to create a hand. In other words, if one combination of seven cards has three pairs while another player's seven cards only have two pairs, the third pair is disregarded. Likewise, if the community cards in a Texas Hold 'em game were Js Jh 8d 7s 8c, the result would be a split pot would be between two players holding 3s 3d and 4c 4h, even although the player with the two fours had a better hand before the final card. Finally, both players hold the two pair hand of jacks and eights with a seven kicker. Both players have cards lower than the kicker on the board, so neither player's pocket pair is relevant to the result.

This list displays the winning Texas Holdem hands, from highest to lowest. Any Texas Holdem hand in one class in the list wins out over any hand in any class beneath it. For instance, any full house beats any flush and any three of a kind beats any two pair.

 

Royal Flush







Five cards in succession with all five cards of the same suit. The best possible straight flush, with an ace as its high card, is called the royal flush.

Example: Ah Kh Qh Jh 10h

 

Straight Flush







A lower straight flush does not carry a special name.

Example: 9d 8d 7d 6d 5d (nine-high straight flush in diamonds).

When a showdown happens between players holding straight flushes, the hand with the higher top card wins.

Example: 8d 7d 6d 5d 4d (eight-high straight flush in diamonds) beats 6s 5s 4s 3s 2s (six-high straight flush in hearts). 

Note that the suits are irrelevant; only the rank matters.

 

Four of a Kind







Four cards, all of the same rank.  Also called quads ("quad" is Latin for "four).

Example: 7h 7d 7c 7s 2s (four sevens)

When a showdown happens between players holding four of a kind, the hand with the higher four-of-a-kind wins.

Example: Qd Qc Qh Qs 7d (four queens with a seven) beats 8c 8h 8d 8s Ad (four eights with an ace).

If more than one hand contains the exact same four of a kind (which can happen with Texas Holdem poker hands), the hand with the higher kicker wins.

Example: 9d 9c 9h 9s Kh (four nines with a king) beats 9d 9c 9h 9s 6d (four nines with a six).

 

Full House







Three cards of one rank with two cards of another rank.

Example: Ac Ah Ad 7s 7c (aces full of sevens).

When a showdown happens between players holding full houses, the hand with the higher three of a kind wins.

Example: 9h 9s 9d 6h 6s (nines full of sixes) beats 4s 4c 4h Qd Qh (fours full of queens).

If more than one hand contains the exact same full house (which can happen with Texas Holdem poker hands), the hand with the higher pair wins.

Example: 6d 6h 6s Ks Kc (sixes full of kings) beats 6d 6h 6s Qh Qd (sixes full of queens).

 

Flush







Five cards, all of the same suit.

Example: Kh 10h 8h 6h 3h (king high heart flush).

When a showdown happens between players holding flushes, the hand with the highest card wins.

Example: Ah 8h 7h 6h 5h (ace-high heart flush) beats Ks Qs Js 9s 8s (king-high spade flush)

When the top cards are of equal rank, the next card in rank is compared; when the top two cards are tied, the third card is compared; etc.

Example: Jd 10d 9d 8d 4d beats Jc 10c 9c 7c 6c (8d beats 7c).

Note that the suits are irrelevant; only the rank matters.

 

Straight







Five sequential cards. An ace can be high or low.

Example: 9d 8h 7s 6s 5h (nine-high straight)

When a showdown happens between players holding straights, the hand with the highest top card wins.

Example: Ts 9d 8d 7c 6c (ten-high straight) beats 8s 7h 6h 5c 4c (eight-high straight).

 

Three of a Kind







Three cards with the same rank. Also called as "trips" (short for "triples") or in Texas Hold Em hands, a "set".

Example: Qc Qh Qs 7h 3d (three queens)

When a showdown happens between players holding three of a kind, the hand with the higher three of a kind wins.

Example: Kh Kc Ks 9d 5c (three kings) beats 4s 4c 4h Ah 8c (three fours).

If more than one hand contains the exact same three of a kind (which can happen with Texas Holdem poker hands), the hand with the higher kicker wins.

Example: 9h 9c 9s Ah 7c beats 9h 9c 9d Ah 5d. (7c beats 5d).

 

Two Pair







Two cards of one rank with two cards of another rank.  The pair with the higher rank is often referred to as "up".

Example: Ah Ad Ks Kd 5s (two pair, aces and kings, also called "aces up").

When a showdown happens between players holding two pair, the hand with the higher pair wins.

Example: Ks Kc 6h 6s 3d (kings up) beats Jd Jc 7h 7s 2d (jacks up).

When a showdown happens between players holding the exact same top pair, the hand with the higher second pair wins.

Example: 10s 10c 8s 8c 4d (tens and eights) beats 10h 10d 7s 7h Ad (tens and sevens).

When a showdown happens between players holding the exact same two pairs, the hand with the higher kicker wins.

Example: Jh Jd 9h 9d 7h (jacks and nines with a seven) beats Js Jc 9c 9s 3s (jacks and nines with a three).

 

One Pair







Two cards of the same rank.

When a showdown happens between players holding one pair, the hand with the higher pair wins.

Example: Kh Kd 6d 3h 2c (pair of kings) beats Jh Jd Ac Qd 7s (pair of jacks).

When a showdown happens between players holding the exact same pair, the hand with the highest one or more side cards wins.

Example: Ks Kh 6d 5s 3d beats Kc Kd 6h 4c 2s. (5s beats 4c)

 









No pair or High Card













None of the above.  Strength of the hand is measured by the highest of the five cards.

If no player's hand has at least a pair at the showdown, the hand with the highest card after all ties wins.

When the top cards are tied, the next card is used; when the top two cards are tied, the third card is used; etc..

Ac 9s 5d 4c 2h (ace high) beats Qs Jd 10c 8h 7s (queen high)

Kh 10c 9h 7c 4d beats Kc 10h 9s 7s 2d. (4d beats 2d)

Note that the suits are irrelevant; only the rank matters.