Basic Poker Rules >> Hand Rankings

Hand Rankings

Royal Flush



An Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten of the same suit. This is the best poker hand you can have in high.

In the event of a tie: Two or more Royal Flushes split the pot.




Straight Flush



Five cards in sequence, of the same suit.

In the event of a tie: Highest rank at the top of the sequence wins.




Four of a Kind





Four cards of the same rank, and one side card.

In the event of a tie: Highest four of a kind wins.

In community card games where players have the same four poker hands of a kind, the highest fifth side card ("kicker") wins.




Full House





Three cards of the same rank, and two cards of a different, matching rank.

In the event of a tie: Highest three matching cards wins the pot. In community card games where players have the same three matching cards, the highest value of the two matching cards wins.




Flush





Five cards of the same suit.

In the event of a tie: The player holding the highest ranked card in the poker hands wins. If necessary, the second-highest, third-highest, fourth-highest, and fifth-highest cards can be used to break the tie.




Straight





Five cards in sequence.

In the event of a tie: Highest ranking card at the top of the sequence wins.

Note: The Ace may be used at the top or bottom of the sequence, and is the only card which can act in this manner.




Three of a Kind





Three cards of the same rank, and two unrelated side cards.

In the event of a tie: Highest ranking three of a kind wins. In community card games where players have the same three of a kind in their poker hands, the highest side card, and if necessary, the second-highest side card wins.




Two Pair





Two cards of a matching rank, another two cards of a different matching rank, and one side card.

In the event of a tie: Highest pair wins. If players have the same highest pair, highest second pair wins. If both players have identical pairs in their poker hands, highest side card wins.




One Pair





Two cards of a matching rank, and three unrelated side cards.

In the event of a tie: Highest pair wins. If players have the same pair, the highest side card wins, and if necessary, the second-highest and third-highest side card can be used to break the tie.




High Card





Any poker hand that does not qualify under a category listed above.

In the event of a tie:Highest card wins, and if necessary, the second-highest, third-highest, fourth-highest and smallest card can be used to break the tie.






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