Hand rankings · 5-card math
Poker hands, in order.
All ten hands from royal flush down to high card — with the exact combination count, probability, and odds for a classic 5-card deal from a 52-card deck. The same hierarchy applies in Texas Hold’em, Omaha, five-card draw, and video poker.
| # | Hand | Example | Combinations | Probability | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal flush | A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ | 4 | 0.000154% | 1 : 649,740 |
| 2 | Straight flush | 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥ | 36 | 0.00139% | 1 : 72,193 |
| 3 | Four of a kind | Q♠ Q♥ Q♦ Q♣ 7♦ | 624 | 0.024% | 1 : 4,165 |
| 4 | Full house | J♣ J♦ J♠ 4♥ 4♠ | 3,744 | 0.144% | 1 : 694 |
| 5 | Flush | A♦ J♦ 8♦ 6♦ 2♦ | 5,108 | 0.197% | 1 : 509 |
| 6 | Straight | 10♠ 9♥ 8♦ 7♣ 6♠ | 10,200 | 0.392% | 1 : 255 |
| 7 | Three of a kind | 8♠ 8♥ 8♦ K♣ 3♠ | 54,912 | 2.11% | 1 : 47 |
| 8 | Two pair | A♣ A♦ 9♠ 9♥ 5♣ | 123,552 | 4.75% | 1 : 21 |
| 9 | One pair | 10♥ 10♣ K♦ 6♠ 2♥ | 1,098,240 | 42.3% | 1 : 2.4 |
| 10 | High card | A♠ Q♦ 9♣ 6♥ 3♠ | 1,302,540 | 50.1% | 1 : 2 |
Numbers are for a random 5-card deal from 52 cards (2,598,960 possible hands). In Texas Hold’em you pick the best 5 of 7 cards, so strong hands land more often — the ranking order never changes.
Ties and the kicker
When two players hold the same hand type, the rank of the cards inside the hand decides it: a pair of aces beats a pair of kings, a nine-high straight beats an eight-high straight.
If the made hand is identical, the kicker — the highest card outside the hand — breaks the tie. A pair of aces with a king kicker beats a pair of aces with a queen.
Suits carry no rank. Two identical hands in different suits split the pot.
Poker hands at online casinos
The same hierarchy drives video poker and house-banked poker tables (Casino Hold’em, Caribbean Stud). In video poker the paytable prices every hand explicitly — full-pay Jacks or Better 9/6 played optimally runs a house edge of just ~0.46%, one of the best bets in the building.
Bonus note: poker and video poker typically contribute 0–10% toward wagering requirements. Clear bonuses on slots; play poker with a clean balance.
FAQ · poker hands
Does a flush beat a straight?
Yes. A flush (5 cards of one suit) is rarer than a straight (5 in sequence) — 5,108 combinations versus 10,200 — so it ranks higher. It is the most commonly confused pair of hands.
What beats a full house?
Only three hands beat a full house: four of a kind, a straight flush, and a royal flush. The full house (three of a kind plus a pair) is the fifth-strongest of the ten hands.
Do suits rank in poker?
No. Under standard poker rules no suit outranks another. Two identical hands in different suits split the pot.
What are the odds of a royal flush?
In a random 5-card deal: 4 combinations out of 2,598,960, or 1 in 649,740 (0.000154%). In Texas Hold’em with 7 cards the chance improves to roughly 1 in 30,940.