Poker Hands Guide: Rankings, Charts, Odds & Free PDF
Poker Hands Guide: Rankings, Charts, Odds & Free PDF
Whether you're a first-time player or brushing up before a big game, knowing your poker hands is the foundation of winning poker. This is the hub for everything poker hands on this site: every hand ranked from best to worst with examples and odds, plus links to our in-depth guides, probability tables, printable charts, and free downloads.
Bookmark this page. It's your free poker hands reference you'll come back to every time — and the fastest way is to grab the free printable poker hands chart PDF (instant download, no email).
All Poker Hands in Order (Best to Worst)
1. Royal Flush — The Best Hand in Poker
A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ — the ace-high straight flush. The rarest hand in poker. Probability: 1 in 649,739. Read the full story in our guide: What Is a Royal Flush in Poker?
2. Straight Flush
Five consecutive cards of the same suit. Example: 7♣ 8♣ 9♣ 10♣ J♣. Beats everything except a Royal Flush.
3. Four of a Kind (Quads)
Four cards of the same rank. Example: K♠ K♥ K♦ K♣ 9♠. Also called quads. A dominant hand — bet it hard. It's one of only three hands that beat a full house.
4. Full House
Three of a kind plus a pair. Example: J♠ J♥ J♦ 4♠ 4♥. Read as Jacks full of Fours. Very strong — usually the best hand at showdown. Curious what tops it? See What Beats a Full House in Poker?
5. Flush
Any five cards of the same suit, not consecutive. Example: A♥ J♥ 8♥ 5♥ 2♥. The higher cards in the flush determine the winner if two players both have a flush.
6. Straight
Five consecutive cards of any suit. Example: 5♠ 6♥ 7♦ 8♣ 9♠. The Ace can play high (A-K-Q-J-10) or low (A-2-3-4-5, called a wheel). One of the most common mix-ups at the table: does a flush beat a straight? (Yes — always.)
7. Three of a Kind (Trips)
Three cards of the same rank. Example: Q♠ Q♥ Q♦ 7♣ 2♠. Called trips when using one hole card, a set when both hole cards pair with the board.
8. Two Pair
Two different pairs. Example: A♠ A♦ K♥ K♣ 9♠. The rank of the higher pair determines the winner between two two-pair hands.
9. One Pair
Two cards of the same rank. Example: 10♠ 10♣ A♥ 7♦ 3♠. The most common winning hand in Texas Hold'em.
10. High Card
No combination — the highest card plays. Example: A♠ J♦ 9♥ 6♣ 2♠ = Ace High. Wins only when all other players have nothing better.
Want the complete walkthrough of every hand with what-beats-what examples? Read the full article: Poker Hands in Order: What Beats What in Poker.
Poker Hands Ranked: Quick Reference Table
| Rank | Hand | Example | Beats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Flush | A K Q J 10 suited | Everything |
| 2 | Straight Flush | 5 6 7 8 9 suited | Quads and below |
| 3 | Four of a Kind | K K K K 9 | Full house and below |
| 4 | Full House | J J J 4 4 | Flush and below |
| 5 | Flush | A J 8 5 2 suited | Straight and below |
| 6 | Straight | 5 6 7 8 9 mixed | Trips and below |
| 7 | Three of a Kind | Q Q Q 7 2 | Two pair and below |
| 8 | Two Pair | A A K K 9 | One pair and below |
| 9 | One Pair | 10 10 A 7 3 | High card |
| 10 | High Card | A J 9 6 2 | Nothing |
Exact odds for every hand — combination counts, 5-card vs 7-card probabilities — live in our Poker Hands Probability Reference Table.
Explore the Full Poker Hands Guide
Learn the rankings:
- Poker Hands in Order: What Beats What in Poker — the complete rankings walkthrough
- Best Poker Hands: The Top 5 Ranked and Explained
- What Is a Royal Flush? · Does a Flush Beat a Straight? · What Beats a Full House?
Get a chart:
- Free Poker Hands Chart PDF — instant download, no email, print at home
- How to Read a Poker Hand Rankings Chart
- Printable Charts: Free vs Paid Options Compared
- Premium Chart Posters — 40+ Art Styles
Go deeper:
- Poker Hands Probability — Complete Reference Table
- Best Starting Hands in Texas Hold'em
- Texas Hold'em Rules: The Complete Beginner's Guide
- Poker Odds & Probability: Outs, Pot Odds & Equity
Poker Hands FAQ
What beats what in poker?
From best to worst: Royal Flush beats Straight Flush, which beats Four of a Kind, which beats Full House, which beats Flush, which beats Straight, which beats Three of a Kind, which beats Two Pair, which beats One Pair, which beats High Card. Full walkthrough: poker hands in order.
Does a flush beat a straight?
Yes. A flush (five cards of the same suit) always beats a straight (five consecutive cards of mixed suits). Why — with the math →
What is the rarest hand in poker?
The Royal Flush — A K Q J 10 all of the same suit. You will only see one roughly every 649,739 hands dealt. More royal flush facts →
Can an Ace be low in a straight?
Yes. An Ace can be used as the low card in A-2-3-4-5, called a wheel or bicycle, which is the lowest possible straight.
What are the best starting hands in Texas Hold'em?
The top starting hands are: Pocket Aces (A-A), Pocket Kings (K-K), Pocket Queens (Q-Q), Ace-King suited (AKs), and Pocket Jacks (J-J). These are called premium hands. Full starting hands guide →
What is a kicker in poker?
When two players have the same hand rank — for example, both have a pair of Aces — the kicker, which is the highest remaining unpaired card, determines the winner.
How many possible poker hands are there?
In a standard 52-card deck there are 2,598,960 possible five-card poker hands. The 10 hand ranks above cover every single one of them. See the full probability table.
What is the difference between trips and a set?
Both are three of a kind. Trips means you have one card in your hand that matches two on the board. A set means you hold a pocket pair and a third matching card appears on the board. Sets are better disguised and generally more profitable.
Want a Poker Hands Chart You Can Print?
Never forget the hand rankings at the table. Start with the free printable poker hands chart PDF — or step up to our premium charts in 40+ unique art styles: minimalist, neon, gold foil, vintage, cyberpunk, watercolor and more. Instant download, print at any size, no physical item shipped.