KEEP THIS AT THE TABLE
What beats what?
Poker hand rankings for standard Texas Hold’em, strongest to weakest. Compare each player’s best five cards.
- 01
Royal flush
A, K, Q, J, 10 of one suit. The highest straight flush.
- 02
Straight flush
Five consecutive ranks of the same suit.
- 03
Four of a kind
Four cards of one rank, plus a kicker.
- 04
Full house
Three of one rank and two of another.
- 05
Flush
Five cards of one suit; compare highest cards first.
- 06
Straight
Five consecutive ranks, in any suits.
- 07
Three of a kind
Three cards of one rank and two side cards.
- 08
Two pair
Two different pairs and one kicker.
- 09
One pair
Two cards of one rank and three side cards.
- 10
High card
No combination above; compare highest cards first.
Does a flush beat a straight?
Yes. A flush beats a straight, and a straight beats three of a kind. Three of a kind beats two pair; two pair beats one pair, even a pair of aces.
How to break a tie
Compare the hand category first, then the relevant ranks. With equal pairs, compare the remaining best-five kickers from highest to lowest. With two pair, compare the higher pair, lower pair, then kicker. Full houses compare the triple first.
Can you use the board?
Yes. In Hold’em, use zero, one or two hole cards. If both players’ best five are identical, they tie. Suits and sixth cards do not break the tie.
Can an ace be low?
A-2-3-4-5 is a five-high straight. T-J-Q-K-A is ace-high. Q-K-A-2-3 is not a straight: the sequence cannot wrap.
Is this a starting-hand chart?
No. This ranks made five-card hands. It does not tell you which hole cards to play or assign a fixed equity percentage to a hand category.
Rule reference: Pagat hand rankings. Original examples by Tech Fusion Lab. Independent educational resource.
Practice hand rankings →