1 · LEARN THE TABLE · LESSON 2 OF 29 · 5 min
Texas Hold’em hand rankings: what beats what
The categories run from high card through pair, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, and straight flush. Within a category, compare the important ranks first, then kickers if needed.
A pair of queens beats a pair of jacks. Two pairs, kings and twos, beat two pairs, queens and jacks because the higher pair is compared first.
Texas Hold’em hand rankings, from strongest to weakest
At showdown, each player makes the best five-card hand from their two private cards and the five community cards. You may use two, one, or none of your private cards. First compare the hand category. Only when both players have the same category do the ranks and kickers decide the pot.
| Rank | Hand | What makes it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal flush | A-K-Q-J-10, all one suit. The highest straight flush. |
| 2 | Straight flush | Five consecutive ranks, all one suit. |
| 3 | Four of a kind | Four cards of one rank, plus a kicker. |
| 4 | Full house | Three of one rank and two of another. |
| 5 | Flush | Five cards of one suit, not consecutive. |
| 6 | Straight | Five consecutive ranks, mixed suits. |
| 7 | Three of a kind | Three of one rank and two kickers. |
| 8 | Two pair | Two cards of each of two ranks, plus a kicker. |
| 9 | One pair | Two cards of one rank and three kickers. |
| 10 | High card | None of the above; compare the five ranks. |
How do ties work?
Within one category, compare the part that defines the hand first. For two pair, compare the higher pair, then the lower pair, then the remaining card. For a full house, compare the three matching cards before the pair. For a flush or high-card hand, compare the highest card, then the next highest, until a difference appears. Suits never break a tie in standard Hold’em.
Suppose the board is Q♠ Q♦ 8♣ 4♥ 2♠. A player with A♥ J♥ has queens with ace, jack, and eight. A player with K♥ J♦ has queens with king, jack, and eight. The ace kicker wins. But if the board itself is A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠, both players share the same royal flush and split the pot. Their private cards cannot improve those five.
Two common traps
A straight can use an ace high, as in 10-J-Q-K-A, or low, as in A-2-3-4-5. It cannot wrap around: Q-K-A-2-3 is not a straight. Also, a five-card flush beats every straight, even an ace-high straight. The category matters before the individual ranks.
Use the illustrated spot above to identify the winning category, then open the trainer to practice reading a showdown. For the next step, learn how to choose your best five of seven.
A flush beats a straight even if the straight has an ace. The category wins before individual card ranks matter.
MAKE THE CALL
At showdown one player has a nine-high flush and another has an ace-high straight. Which hand wins?
Start with a prepared decision, then play the rest of the hand with practice chips. Turn on guidance to see the trainer's reasoning.