Hand rankings
Nine kinds of hand, and why rarer wins.
- 01, open this step in the interactive versionStraight flush9♠ 8♠ 7♠ 6♠ 5♠Four of a kindQ♠ Q♥ Q♦ Q♣ 7♠Full houseJ♠ J♥ J♣ 4♦ 4♠FlushA♦ J♦ 8♦ 6♦ 2♦Straight10♣ 9♦ 8♠ 7♥ 6♣Three of a kind7♠ 7♥ 7♦ K♣ 2♠Two pairA♥ A♣ 9♠ 9♦ 5♣One pairK♠ K♦ 10♥ 6♣ 3♠High cardA♣ Q♦ 9♥ 6♠ 3♣
Every poker hand is five cards, and every five-card hand is one of nine types. Higher on the list wins.
- 02, open this step in the interactive versionStraight flush9♠ 8♠ 7♠ 6♠ 5♠ (40)Four of a kindQ♠ Q♥ Q♦ Q♣ 7♠ (624)Full houseJ♠ J♥ J♣ 4♦ 4♠ (3,744)FlushA♦ J♦ 8♦ 6♦ 2♦ (5,108)Straight10♣ 9♦ 8♠ 7♥ 6♣ (10,200)Three of a kind7♠ 7♥ 7♦ K♣ 2♠ (54,912)Two pairA♥ A♣ 9♠ 9♦ 5♣ (123,552)One pairK♠ K♦ 10♥ 6♣ 3♠ (1,098,240)High cardA♣ Q♦ 9♥ 6♠ 3♣ (1,302,540)
The order isn’t arbitrary. These are the number of ways to make each hand. Rarer hands rank higher.
- 03, open this step in the interactive version
Which is harder to make: a flush or a straight?
show answer
answerFlush
whyThere are 5,108 flushes and 10,200 straights. Rarer wins, so a flush beats a straight.
- 04, open this step in the interactive versionYouK♠ K♦ A♥ 9♣ 4♠ThemK♥ K♣ Q♦ J♠ 8♥
Both players have a pair of kings. Who wins?
show answer
answerYou
whySame pair, so compare the next-highest card. Your ace beats their queen. That deciding card is called the kicker.
- 05, open this step in the interactive version5♦ 4♣ 3♥ 2♠ A♣
Is this a straight?
show answer
answerYes
whyThe ace can play low, at the bottom of the lowest straight. It can’t wrap around, so Q K A 2 3 is not a straight.
- 06, open this step in the interactive version7♥ 7♣ 7♠ 4♦ 4♠
What is this hand?
show answer
answerFull house
whyThree of one rank plus a pair of another. It beats a flush.
- 07, open this step in the interactive versionYou10♣ 9♦ 8♠ 7♥ 6♣Them10♥ 9♠ 8♦ 7♣ 6♦
Suits never decide a winner. If both best five cards match in rank, the pot is split.