Hand rankings

The order of five-card poker hands, from a straight flush at the top down to high card.

Last updated October 16, 2026

What it means: Every hand at showdown is the best five cards a player can make from their two hole cards and the five on the board. From strongest to weakest: straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair and high card.
How it is calculated: Compare the categories first: any flush beats any straight, whatever the ranks. Only when both hands are in the same category do the ranks decide, and then the highest card or pair wins, then the next, and so on through all five cards.
Worked example: Q♠Q♥Q♦Q♣4♠ is four of a kind and beats J♠J♥J♦3♣3♠, a full house. A♦J♦8♦6♦2♦ is a flush and beats T♠9♥8♦7♣6♠, a ten-high straight.
Why it matters: Rarer hands rank higher. Knowing the order cold is the base for everything else: counting outs, reading the nuts and knowing what beats you.

Lessons that teach it: Seven cards, best five · lessons other than the free one need an invite