Understanding the Poker Hand Rankings Chart
In standard poker games played with a 52-card deck, there are exactly 2,598,960 possible five-card hands. Understanding the poker hand rankings chart is the essential starting point for learning poker strategy.
The ranking system follows a strict mathematical rule: rarer hands beat more common hands. A combination (or combo) refers to the exact number of distinct five-card sets that form a specific hand type. Because card combinatorics dictate how likely you are to be dealt a hand, the chart order never changes across standard poker variants.
When reviewing hand strength, probability measures the mathematical chance of making a hand, expressed as a percentage. Odds represent the ratio of failing to make the hand versus making it.
The Official Poker Hand Rankings Chart
Below is the complete standard five-card poker hand rankings chart, ordered from highest value to lowest value. All calculations reflect exact five-card deals from a standard 52-card deck.
| Hand Rank | Five-Card Combinations | Probability | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 4 | 0.000154% | 1 in 649,740 |
| Straight Flush | 36 | 0.00139% | 1 in 72,193 |
| Four of a Kind | 624 | 0.0240% | 1 in 4,165 |
| Full House | 3,744 | 0.1441% | 1 in 694 |
| Flush | 5,108 | 0.1965% | 1 in 509 |
| Straight | 10,200 | 0.3925% | 1 in 255 |
| Three of a Kind | 54,912 | 2.1128% | 1 in 47 |
| Two Pair | 123,552 | 4.7539% | 1 in 21 |
| One Pair | 1,098,240 | 42.2569% | 1 in 2.4 |
| High Card | 1,302,540 | 50.1177% | 1 in 2 |
Hand Breakdown and Comparison Matchups
To play with confidence, you need to recognize how specific hands compare against each other during a game.
Royal Flush and Straight Flush
A royal flush is simply the highest possible straight flush containing Ten, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace in one suit. Because it requires these exact ranks, there are only 4 combos out of 2,598,960 total options (one per suit). A standard straight flush consists of five sequential cards of the same suit excluding the royal flush combinations, providing 36 combos.
High-Ranking Made Hands
Four of a kind contains four cards of equal rank plus one extra card. Next is the full house, which pairs three cards of one rank with two cards of another rank. Players often look up a full house vs flush comparison to check which hand wins. A full house always beats a flush because its 3,744 combos make it rarer than a flush, which has 5,108 combos.
Mid-Tier Hands
A flush consists of any five cards of the same suit regardless of sequence. It defeats a straight, which requires five sequential cards of mixed suits. Comparing a flush vs straight demonstrates that a flush (5,108 combos, 0.1965% probability) is significantly harder to get than a straight (10,200 combos, 0.3925% probability). Three of a kind features three cards of matching rank alongside two unmatched cards.
Low-Tier Hands
Two pair holds two distinct matching pairs plus one side card. A kicker is an unpaired side card used to determine the winner when two players share the same made hand rank. One pair holds two matching cards and three kickers. Finally, high card occurs when a hand contains no pairs, sequences, or matching suits, accounting for 1,302,540 combos.
Important Game Rules and Nuances
Understanding the chart requires knowing a few standard poker rules:
First, suits never break ties among hands of identical rank. Spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs carry equal value. If two players form flushes of identical card ranks, a split pot occurs, meaning the chips are divided equally between the tied players.
Second, consider how different poker variants format hands. Texas Hold’em uses the best five cards out of seven total cards (two private hole cards plus five shared community cards). Because you select five cards out of seven, in-game frequencies differ from the five-card chart. Nevertheless, the standard five-card chart remains the official baseline for rankings across almost all poker variants.
FAQ
Does a full house always beat a flush?
Yes. A full house occurs in 3,744 five-card combinations, whereas a flush occurs in 5,108 combinations. Because the full house is rarer, it always ranks higher.
Do card suits break ties in poker hand rankings?
No. Suits never break ties in standard poker games. If players share identical five-card ranks, such as identical flushes or straights, they split the pot.
Is a royal flush considered its own hand rank?
A royal flush is mathematically the highest ace-high straight flush (10-J-Q-K-A). It is listed separately on ranking charts because it is the ultimate unbeatable hand.
Why are Texas Hold’em probabilities different from this chart?
This chart measures probabilities for drawing five cards directly from a deck. Texas Hold’em gives players seven cards to pick from, making strong hands easier to form, though the order of hand strength remains identical.