How do kickers work in poker?

A kicker is a side card that is not part of the main combination but breaks ties. For example, if two players have top pair of aces, the player with the higher unused card (kicker) wins if their five-card hands are otherwise equal.

Does suit rank matter in poker?

In most standard poker rules, suits are all equal and do not have a built-in ranking. Pots are not awarded by suit. Some home games may use suit order for side rules like choosing the dealer, but it does not affect hand strength.

Poker Hand Rankings: What Beats What

Q: What is the best hand in poker?

The best standard hand in most poker games is a royal flush: A-K-Q-J-10 all of the same suit.

Q: What beats a straight?

A flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush and royal flush all beat a straight. A straight beats three of a kind and any lower hand.

If you only learn one thing before you play poker, make it this page. Hand rankings tell you who actually won the pot—and they are the same in most popular variants, including Texas Hold’em, Omaha, 7-card stud and 5-card draw.

Below is every standard poker hand from strongest to weakest, with clear examples and tie-break rules.

Jump to Quick Ranking Chart Next: Betting Rounds & Structure

At a glance

Royal Flush
Straight Flush
Four of a Kind
Full House
Flush
Straight
Three of a Kind
Two Pair
One Pair
High Card

The rest of this page explains how each hand is built, how ties are broken, and common beginner mistakes.

Quick ranking chart (top to bottom)

This is the full order of standard poker hands from strongest to weakest.

Rank	Hand	Example
1 (best)	Royal Flush	A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠
2	Straight Flush	9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥
3	Four of a Kind	Q♣ Q♦ Q♥ Q♠ 3♣
4	Full House	J♣ J♦ J♠ 9♥ 9♣
5	Flush	A♥ Q♥ 9♥ 5♥ 2♥
6	Straight	10♣ 9♦ 8♠ 7♥ 6♣
7	Three of a Kind	8♣ 8♦ 8♠ K♥ 4♦
8	Two Pair	Q♠ Q♥ 6♣ 6♦ 5♣
9	One Pair	A♦ A♣ J♠ 7♥ 2♣
10 (worst)	High Card	A♣ 10♦ 7♠ 4♥ 3♣

Each poker hand, explained with examples

Royal Flush

A royal flush is the highest possible straight flush: A-K-Q-J-10 all of the same suit.

Example: A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠
All royal flushes are tied in rank. If two players somehow show a royal flush, the pot is usually split.

Straight Flush

Five cards in sequence, all of the same suit, but not specifically A-K-Q-J-10.

Example: 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥
Ranking is by the highest card in the straight. 9-high straight flush beats an 8-high straight flush.
In most games, A-2-3-4-5 of the same suit is the lowest straight flush.

Four of a Kind

Four cards of the same rank plus any fifth card (the kicker).

Example: Q♣ Q♦ Q♥ Q♠ 3♣ (“quad queens” with a 3 kicker)
When two players have four of a kind, the higher rank wins: four kings beats four queens.
If the four-of-a-kind rank is the same (rare but possible in community-card games), the kicker decides the winner.

Full House

Three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank.

Example: J♣ J♦ J♠ 9♥ 9♣ (“jacks full of nines”)
Ranking is first by the three-of-a-kind rank, then by the pair rank.
Example: Q-Q-Q-2-2 beats J-J-J-A-A because queens full beats jacks full.

Flush

Any five cards of the same suit (not in a sequence).

Example: A♥ Q♥ 9♥ 5♥ 2♥
Ranking is by the highest card, then the next highest, and so on.
Example: A♥ Q♥ 9♥ 5♥ 2♥ beats A♥ J♥ 9♥ 5♥ 2♥ because Q > J.
Suits themselves are not ranked in standard poker; only card ranks matter when comparing flushes.

Straight

Five cards in sequence, not all of the same suit.

Example: 10♣ 9♦ 8♠ 7♥ 6♣
Ranking is by the highest card in the straight. 10-high straight beats a 9-high straight.
A-2-3-4-5 (“wheel”) is the lowest straight in most games. In that case the straight is considered “5-high.”

Three of a Kind

Three cards of the same rank, plus two other side cards (kickers).

Example: 8♣ 8♦ 8♠ K♥ 4♦
Ranking is by the three-of-a-kind rank first, then by the highest kicker, then the second kicker.
Note: In Hold’em and Omaha, you’ll hear “set” (when you have a pocket pair and hit the third on board) vs. “trips” (when two of the rank are on the board). Both are still three of a kind in hand-ranking terms.

Two Pair

Two different pairs plus a fifth card (the kicker).

Example: Q♠ Q♥ 6♣ 6♦ 5♣ (“queens and sixes”)
Ranking is by the highest pair, then the lower pair, then the kicker.
Example: A-A-2-2-3 beats K-K-Q-Q-J because the top pair (aces) is higher than kings.

One Pair

One pair plus three side cards (kickers).

Example: A♦ A♣ J♠ 7♥ 2♣
Ranking is by the pair rank first, then the highest kicker, then the next, then the last.
Example: A-A-K-7-4 beats A-A-Q-J-10 because the highest kicker (K) is higher than Q.

High Card

When no one has any of the combinations above, the highest single card wins, then the next highest, and so on.

Example: A♣ 10♦ 7♠ 4♥ 3♣ (called “ace-high”)
Ranking compares the highest card, then second highest, then third, etc.
High card vs. high card is common in small pots where nobody connects strongly with the board.

Common beginner mistakes with hand rankings

“All flushes are equal if they have the same ranks”

True. If two players have exactly the same five-card flush (for example, the board itself has a flush and both players are “playing the board”), the pot is split.

“I have a flush because I have four hearts and there are two on the board”

In Hold’em and Omaha you always use the best 5-card combination available. In Omaha specifically, remember you must use exactly two of your four hole cards and three board cards—having four hearts in your hand does not automatically give you a flush.

“My straight is better because my cards are higher, even if the board makes a higher straight”

If the best possible 5-card hand is entirely on the board (for example, the board is a straight or flush), everyone shares that same 5-card hand. You cannot “go above” what is already on the table.

“Suits have different rankings”

In standard poker hand ranking, suits are equal. Some home games use suit order for things like choosing the dealer, but suit does not break ties for pots in normal rules.

Next steps after hand rankings

Once you’re comfortable with what beats what, the next big jumps in understanding come from learning how hands are built over betting rounds and how odds work.

Learn how a hand flows from preflop to showdown in Betting Rounds & Structure.
Study Texas Hold’em rules to see how hand rankings apply in the most popular game.
Start using simple pot odds so your calls and folds are more than guesses.

Hand rankings FAQ

What is the best hand in poker?

A royal flush: A-K-Q-J-10 all of the same suit. It’s the strongest standard hand in Hold’em, Omaha, stud and most other variants.

What beats a straight?

Any flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush or royal flush beats a straight. A straight beats three of a kind and all lower hands.

How do kickers break ties?

After comparing the main combination (like a pair or trips), you compare unused cards from highest to lowest. The first difference determines the winner. If all five cards are identical, the pot is split.

Where can I see these hands in context?

Start with the Fundamentals hub and the Texas Hold’em hub. You’ll see these rankings appear in real example hands.