[POKER HANDS] Complete Guide to 9 Texas Hold'em Hand Rankings

What is a poker hand?

A poker hand is a combination of several cards that has a specific value according to the game rules. In Texas Hold'em Poker, a hand consists of five cards. To form a hand, players can use all five community cards (called the board) and none of their two hole cards, four board cards and one hole card, or three board cards and both hole cards. Different hands have different values which determine the winning player. The cards come from a deck containing 52 cards most of the time.

To play Poker properly, you need to know all possible card combinations.

Game variations and rules beyond Texas Hold'em Poker

Texas Hold'em: Each player receives 2 cards visible only to themselves (called "hole cards"). 5 cards are visible to all players in the middle of the table (called "community cards"), forming the board. Players must form a 5-card hand using these 7 cards. This variant can be played as limit or no-limit. In limit, bets are capped while in no-limit, players can bet their entire stack (go all-in) at any time.

Omaha 4-Card: Players receive 4 hole cards. The board consists of 5 cards. Players must form a 5-card hand using exactly 2 of their 4 hole cards and 3 board cards. This variant is played as limit.

Omaha 5-Card: Players receive 5 hole cards. The board consists of 5 cards. Players must form a 5-card hand using exactly 2 of their 5 hole cards and 3 board cards. This variant is played as limit.

Deuce to Seven: Players receive 5 hole cards. There is no board. Players must form the lowest possible hand with their 5 cards (they can exchange cards of their choice each round). This variant can be played as limit, pot limit, or no limit.

Which cards win in poker?

To win, you need the best combination of cards at the table during showdown. A single card is not enough to determine if you'll win. Starting with an Ace doesn't guarantee victory. In general, a single card alone has no value.

What is the order of poker hand rankings?

In Poker, while the Ace is the highest card, what's most important is understanding the hierarchy of poker hand combinations in Texas Hold'em.

What are the poker hand rankings in order?

Here is the complete list of poker hands from strongest to weakest:

Printable Texas Hold'em poker hand rankings

If you'd like, you can print this image/PDF showing all poker hands ranked from strongest to weakest. For each hand ranking, you'll see both the highest and lowest possible combinations. This will help you develop a solid foundation for your poker game.

Straight Flush

This is the strongest combination in Hold'em poker. It consists of 5 cards of the same suit in sequential order. For example: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 all in hearts. A Straight Flush consisting of A, K, Q, J, T is called a Royal Flush. When two players have a Straight Flush, the player with the highest card in the sequence wins. If both players have the same hand (if the Straight Flush is on the board), the pot is split equally between players.

Four of a Kind (Quads)

This is a combination of 4 cards of the same value (for example, 9 of hearts, 9 of clubs, 9 of spades, and 9 of diamonds, which we call quad nines). The Four of a Kind with higher cards wins (for example, quad nines beats quad eights). If two players have the same quads, the fifth card (kicker) determines the winner.

Full House

This is a combination of 3 cards of one value and 2 cards of another value. Queen of hearts, Queen of spades, Queen of diamonds with 8 of spades and 8 of hearts is Queens full of Eights. When two players have a Full House, the one with the higher three-of-a-kind wins. If these are equal, compare the pairs to determine the winner or split the pot.

Flush

This is a combination of 5 cards of the same suit: 5 hearts, 5 spades, 5 diamonds, or 5 clubs. When two players have a Flush, compare the highest card, if they're the same, compare the second-highest card and so on. For example, between two Flushes A, T, 7, 6, 2 and A, T, 7, 5, 4, the A, T, 7, 6, 2 Flush wins because 6 is higher than 5. If both players have the same Flush, the pot is split.

Straight

This is a combination of 5 cards in sequential order like 6, 7, 8, 9, T. The Ace can be used as the highest card (as in A, K, Q, J, T) or the lowest card (5, 4, 3, 2, A). When two players have a Straight, compare the highest card. If both players have the same high card, the pot is split.

Three of a Kind (Set/Trips)

This is a combination of 3 cards of the same value like 3 Jacks. When two players have Three of a Kind, the higher value wins. If they're equal, compare the fourth highest card, then the fifth if necessary. If both players have the same Three of a Kind and same fourth and fifth cards, the pot is split.

Two Pair

This is a combination of two pairs of cards of the same value like 9, 9 and 7, 7. When two players have Two Pair, the winner is determined by the highest pair, or if necessary, the second pair. If both pairs are equal, the remaining card (kicker) determines the winner. If equal, the pot is split.

One Pair

This is a combination of 2 cards of the same value like 6, 6. When two players have a Pair, the higher pair wins. If the pairs are equal, the three remaining cards (kickers) determine the winner by comparing the highest card first.

High Card

This is a hand that contains none of the above combinations. The hand's value depends on the highest card. When two players have no combination and the same high card, compare the second-highest card and so on up to the fifth card if necessary. If all five cards are identical in value, the pot is split between the players.

What hand guarantees a win in poker?

There is no guaranteed winning hand in poker. Poker is a game of skill and chance, and outcomes depend on multiple factors. To maximize your chances of winning, you need to understand the game rules and be able to make strategic decisions based on your cards and other players' actions.

What is the strongest hand in poker?

The best possible hand in poker is the Royal Flush. It's a Straight Flush consisting of Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of the same suit. There are only 4 possible Royal Flush combinations, making the probability of seeing one 0.000154%.

Examples of poker hands/combinations

What is a Flush in poker?

A Flush is a hand of 5 cards of the same suit: 5 hearts, 5 diamonds, 5 clubs, or 5 spades. A Flush beats a Straight but loses to a Full House. If the 5 cards of the same suit are in sequence, it becomes a Straight Flush rather than a regular Flush.

How do you make a Flush in poker?

To make a Flush, you need 5 cards of the same suit that don't form a straight (otherwise it would be a Royal Straight Flush). In Texas Hold'em, these 5 cards can come from the board (community cards) and your hole cards in three ways: 3 from the board and 2 from your hand, 4 from the board and 1 from your hand, or all 5 from the board. In Omaha 4 or 5, you must use exactly 2 cards from your hand (from the 4 or 5 cards depending on the variant).

What is the highest Flush?

The highest Flush that isn't a Straight Flush is A, K, Q, J, 9 of the same suit. If you have A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit, that's a Royal Flush - the best hand in Poker and not considered a regular Flush.

What is a Full House in poker?

A Full House is a hand of 5 cards containing three of a kind and a pair. For example, QQQ and AA is called "Queens full of Aces." A Full House beats a Flush and loses to Four of a Kind. Full Houses are ranked first by the three of a kind, then by the pair - so sixes full of twos beats fives full of Kings, which beats fives full of Jacks.

How do you make a Full House in poker?

To make a Full House, you need 5 cards forming three of a kind plus a pair. In Texas Hold'em, these cards can come from the board (community cards) and your hole cards in three ways: 3 from the board and 2 from your hand, 4 from the board and 1 from your hand, or all 5 from the board. In Omaha 4 or 5, you must use exactly 2 cards from your hand. In both cases, there must be at least one pair on the board for a Full House to be possible.

What is the best Full House?

The best Full House is Aces full of Kings, meaning three Aces and two Kings.

Which wins: Full House or Flush?

A Full House beats a Flush in Texas Hold'em Poker. Remember that a Royal Flush beats both.

How do you make a Straight in poker?

To make a Straight, you need 5 cards in sequential order. For example: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. The Ace can be used as either the highest card (in A, K, Q, J, 10) or the lowest card (5, 4, 3, 2, A). If all cards are of the same suit, it becomes a Straight Flush - the highest ranking hand. In Texas Hold'em, the 5 cards can come from the board (community cards) and your hole cards in three ways: 3 from board and 2 from hand, 4 from board and 1 from hand, or all 5 from board. In Omaha 4 or 5, you must use exactly 2 cards from your hand.

What is the highest Straight?

The highest Straight is the Ace-high Straight, meaning Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10. The lowest Straight is the Five-high Straight: 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace.

Hands that don't follow poker rules

Can you have three pair in poker?

It's not possible to have three pair in poker. Since a hand can only contain 5 cards maximum, it's impossible to have three pairs. For example, if the community cards are 4, 4, 8, 8, Ace and a player has Ace and King, the best combination is two pair Aces and Eights with a King kicker (A, A, 8, 8, K).

Can you have two three of a kinds?

It's not possible to have two three of a kinds in poker. A combination consists of exactly 5 cards, and you'd need 6 cards to have two three of a kinds. For example, if the community cards are 4, 4, 8, A, A and a player has A and 4, the best combination is three of a kind Aces with 8 and 4 kickers (A, A, A, 8, 4).

Is a Straight 3-2-A-K-Q possible?

To form a Straight, the Ace can be used as either the highest card or the lowest card, but not both simultaneously. You can have the Straights 5, 4, 3, 2, A and A, K, Q, J, 10, but you cannot have a Straight where the Ace is in the middle like 3, 2, A, K, Q.

Do 5 red cards or 5 black cards make a hand?

When referring to suits in poker, it's not about red or black cards but about the specific suit symbols on the cards. There are 4 possible suits: hearts, diamonds, spades, and clubs. Therefore, 5 red cards or 5 black cards do not form a valid poker hand.

Can you have a Flush or Straight with 4 cards?

Flushes and Straights must be composed of 5 cards. Having only 4 cards of the same suit or in sequence does not form a valid combination.

What happens if 2 players have the same hand?

When two players have the same type of hand, there are 3 possible scenarios:

• Both players have the same type of hand but different values (e.g., three of a kind nines vs three of a kind fives). The player with the higher value wins.
• Both players have the same combination but different kickers (e.g., both have three nines but one has AJ kickers and the other has K2). The player with the higher kicker wins. If the first kicker is identical, compare the second kicker if there is one.
• If both players have exactly the same hand value, they split the pot equally: 50% each.

What happens if 2 players have exactly the same hand and kicker?

If two players have exactly the same hand, meaning the same 5-card combination with the same values and same kicker(s) alongside the combination (for example, on a board showing 877Q J with players holding 86 and 85, both players have two pair eights and sevens with a Queen kicker, making the hand 8877Q), the pot is split between the players. The pot is always divided equally among players with identical hands if they win the hand.