If you’ve ever sat at a poker table and wondered whether a straight beats a flush, you’re not alone. One of the first and most crucial things every poker player must learn is the order of poker hands. Knowing the hierarchy of hands not only helps you make better decisions but also adds confidence to your game, whether you’re playing casually or competitively.
In this guide, we’ll break down the complete order of poker hands from highest to lowest, explain how each hand works, and provide tips to remember them easily.
What Is the Order of Poker Hands?
The order of poker refers to the ranked list of possible hands a player can make in a poker game, from the most powerful to the weakest. Understanding this order is essential to determining the winner at the end of a hand.
Here’s the standard order of poker hands used in most popular poker variants like Texas Hold’em and Omaha:
1. Royal Flush (Highest)
Example: A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠
The best hand in poker. It consists of the top five cards in a single suit. Rare but unbeatable.
2. Straight Flush
Example: 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥
Five consecutive cards of the same suit. Second only to the royal flush.
3. Four of a Kind (Quads)
Example: 7♣ 7♠ 7♦ 7♥ K♠
Four cards of the same rank, plus any fifth card.
4. Full House
Example: Q♠ Q♥ Q♦ 6♣ 6♠
A combination of three of a kind and a pair. In case of ties, the higher three of a kind wins.
5. Flush
Example: A♣ J♣ 8♣ 4♣ 3♣
Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence. Ranked by the highest card.
6. Straight
Example: 10♦ 9♣ 8♠ 7♠ 6♣
Five cards in sequence, regardless of suit. Aces can be high or low.
7. Three of a Kind
Example: 5♥ 5♠ 5♦ K♣ 9♥
Three cards of the same rank, with two unrelated cards.
8. Two Pair
Example: J♦ J♠ 4♣ 4♦ 2♠
Two sets of pairs plus one kicker. If both players have two pairs, the highest pair wins.
9. One Pair
Example: 9♠ 9♥ Q♣ 8♦ 3♠
A single pair with three unrelated cards.
10. High Card (Lowest)
Example: A♠ 10♦ 8♣ 5♠ 2♥
When no player makes a pair or better, the hand with the highest card wins.
Tips to Memorize the Order of Poker Hands
If you’re new to poker, the ranking might seem overwhelming at first. Here are a few memory tricks:
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Start from the top: Royal Flush is the rarest, so work your way down.
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Group by similarities: Straight Flush and Straight, or Four of a Kind and Three of a Kind.
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Use acronyms: R-SF-4-F-F-S-3-2-1-H (Royal, Straight Flush, Four, Full, Flush, Straight, Three, Two Pair, One Pair, High).
Why Knowing the Order of Poker Matters
Understanding the order of poker hands gives you an edge, especially in moments when you’re deciding whether to bet, raise, or fold. Misjudging your hand strength can cost you chips—and potentially the game.
Whether you’re at a live casino or playing online poker with friends, knowing hand rankings by heart is one of the first steps toward becoming a better player.
Final Thoughts
The order of poker hands is the foundation of every game, from high-stakes tournaments to casual home games. By mastering this order, you not only avoid rookie mistakes but also build the strategic knowledge that separates beginners from pros.
So next time you’re dealt a hand, you’ll know exactly where you stand—and when to go all in.