Complete Poker Hand Rankings Guide

Understanding poker hand rankings is the absolute foundation of poker strategy. Whether you're a complete beginner sitting down for your first game or an experienced player looking to brush up on the fundamentals, this comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know about poker hand strength and hierarchy.

In this guide, we'll cover all ten standard poker hand rankings, their probabilities, common mistakes beginners make, and strategic insights for using hand rankings to improve your game.

Understanding Poker Hand Hierarchy

Poker hands are ranked from strongest to weakest, with the Royal Flush being the best possible hand and High Card being the weakest. All standard poker variants (Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Seven Card Stud, etc.) use the same hand ranking system.

Key principles to remember:

• Higher-ranked hands beat lower-ranked hands - A flush always beats a straight, regardless of the specific cards
• Within the same hand type, higher cards win - Ace-high flush beats King-high flush
• Suits have no ranking - A spade flush and heart flush of equal value are tied
• All five cards matter - When comparing hands of the same type, compare all five cards in order of importance

Hand Rankings from Royal Flush to High Card

Here are all ten poker hand rankings, listed from strongest to weakest:

Probability and Odds for Each Hand Type

Understanding the probability of making each hand type helps you appreciate why they're ranked as they are. Here are the odds of being dealt each hand in a five-card deal:

Hand Type	Ways to Make	Probability	Odds Against
Royal Flush	4	0.000154%	649,739:1
Straight Flush	36	0.00139%	72,192:1
Four of a Kind	624	0.024%	4,164:1
Full House	3,744	0.144%	693:1
Flush	5,108	0.197%	508:1
Straight	10,200	0.392%	254:1
Three of a Kind	54,912	2.11%	46:1
Two Pair	123,552	4.75%	20:1
One Pair	1,098,240	42.3%	1.37:1
High Card	1,302,540	50.1%	1:1

Key Probability Insights

• High Card and One Pair make up over 92% of all five-card hands
• Made hands (two pair or better) occur less than 8% of the time
• Premium hands (straight or better) are extremely rare, occurring less than 1.5% of the time
• Royal Flushes are so rare you might never see one in thousands of hands

Common Beginner Mistakes with Hand Rankings

Even with the rankings memorized, new players often make critical errors in evaluating hands. Here are the most common mistakes:

1. Thinking a Flush Beats a Full House

This is probably the most common mistake. Remember: Full House (rank #4) always beats Flush (rank #5), regardless of the specific cards involved.

2. Confusion with Straights and Aces

Important straight rules:

• Ace-high straight: A-K-Q-J-10 (called "Broadway")
• Ace-low straight: A-2-3-4-5 (called "wheel" or "bicycle")
• Around-the-corner straights don't count: K-A-2-3-4 is NOT a straight

3. Forgetting About Kickers

When hands tie on their main strength, kickers determine the winner:

• A♠ A♥ K♦ beats A♦ A♣ Q♠ (King kicker beats Queen kicker)
• In Two Pair, compare higher pair, then lower pair, then kicker
• In High Card, compare all five cards in descending order

4. Overvaluing Suited Cards

New players often overestimate the value of suited cards. While suits matter for flushes and straight flushes, they don't affect the ranking of other hand types.

5. Not Understanding "Playing the Board"

In community card games like Texas Hold'em, sometimes the best five-card hand is entirely on the board. When this happens, all remaining players tie and split the pot.

Practice Exercises and Memory Tips

Here are some effective ways to memorize and practice hand rankings:

Visual Memory Techniques

• Frequency Method: Remember that hands are ranked by rarity - the rarer the hand, the stronger it is
• Story Method: Create a story connecting each hand type to help remember the order
• Chunking: Group similar hands (like the three "pair" hands: one pair, two pair, full house)

Practice Scenarios

Hand Rankings in Different Poker Variants

While most poker games use the standard hand rankings, some variants have important differences:

Lowball Games (Razz, 2-7 Triple Draw)

In lowball poker, the goal is to make the worst possible hand:

• Razz (A-5 Low): A-2-3-4-5 is the best possible hand
• 2-7 Triple Draw: 7-5-4-3-2 is the best possible hand (straights and flushes count against you)

High-Low Split Games (Omaha Hi-Lo, Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo)

These games split the pot between the best high hand and the best low hand (if a qualifying low exists).

Short Deck Poker (6+ Hold'em)

With cards 2-5 removed from the deck, hand rankings change slightly:

• Flush beats Full House (flushes are rarer with fewer cards)
• A-6-7-8-9 is a valid straight (Ace plays as a 5)

Using Hand Rankings in Strategy Decisions

Understanding hand rankings is just the beginning. Here's how to apply this knowledge strategically:

Pre-flop Hand Selection

Your starting hand's potential to make strong rankings should influence your decisions:

• Premium pairs (AA, KK, QQ) can already beat most hands
• Suited connectors (like 9♠ 8♠) have potential for straights and flushes
• Suited aces can make the highest possible flush

Post-flop Evaluation

Consider both your current hand strength and drawing potential:

• Made hands: Evaluate where your hand ranks relative to possible opponent holdings
• Drawing hands: Consider odds of improving to a strong ranking
• Blocking hands: Cards in your hand that prevent opponents from making certain strong holdings

Reading the Board

The community cards determine what hand rankings are possible:

• Paired boards: Full houses and quads become possible
• Suited boards: Flushes are possible
• Connected boards: Straights are possible
• Dry boards: Only high cards and pairs are likely

Conclusion: Building Your Poker Foundation

Mastering poker hand rankings is essential for every serious poker player. This knowledge forms the foundation for all strategic decisions, from pre-flop hand selection to complex river bluffs.

Key takeaways to remember:

• Hand rankings are based on rarity - rarer hands beat more common hands
• Within the same hand type, higher cards generally win
• Kickers matter when the main hand strength is tied
• Practice recognizing hands quickly to improve your game speed
• Understanding probabilities helps you make better strategic decisions

Now that you've mastered hand rankings, you're ready to move on to more advanced concepts like position play, betting strategies, and reading opponents. But remember - even professional players occasionally double-check hand rankings in unusual situations, so don't be afraid to take your time when you're unsure.