Poker Hands Ranked: A Beginner's Guide to Winning Combinations

Hey there, newbie! So you're here to stop blowing your stack on the first hand and finally understand why your "royal flush" made of the Ace of Diamonds and four deuces is actually just a fast track to an empty wallet. We've got you. Forget about bluffing, strategy, and your best poker face for a second. All that is worthless if you don't know which hand beats what.

Poker is like a street fight: you can flail your arms around beautifully (bluffing), but if your opponent has a machine gun (a royal flush), your fancy footwork won't impress anyone.

First, the dry theory, then we'll add some spice. All combinations are listed from the strongest to the weakest. Remember this like your ABCs.

1. Royal Flush — The Absolute Weapon

What it is: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of the same suit. Yep, all five cards of the same suit in sequential order, like soldiers on parade.

Odds of getting it: About 1 in 650,000. That's roughly like winning the lottery... and then immediately getting struck by lightning... and surviving.

The deal: This is The Absolute. Nothing is stronger. If you have this, you don't just win—you perform a ceremonial victory dance while everyone else cries.

2. Straight Flush — "So Close to a Royal!"

What it is: Any five cards in sequence and of the same suit. For example, 8, 9, 10, J, Q of hearts.

Odds: A little better, but still fantastic.

The deal: It beats everything except the smug Royal Flush. If you get beaten by a Straight Flush while holding, say, a Full House—that's not bad luck. That's a sign from above that today is not your day. Accept it.

3. Four of a Kind — "The Quartet of Power"

What it is: Four cards of the same rank. Four Aces, four Tens, four Deuces (with the last one, you've already lost, but still).

Odds: 1 in 4,000. It happens!

The deal: A powerhouse hand. If the board isn't screaming flushes or straights, you're probably the winner. If two players have Four of a Kind, the higher ranking set wins (four Aces > four Kings).

4. Full House — "Like you almost have a deck in your hand, but a tiny one"

What it is: Three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. For example, three Queens and two Tens.

Odds: Perfectly decent.

The deal: A very strong hand, especially early in your poker career. To compare two Full Houses, first look at the strength of the three-of-a-kind (three Queens are stronger than three Tens), and only if those are equal do you look at the pair.

5. Flush — "All in One Color"

What it is: Five cards of the same suit, but not in order. All spades, but in a modern art kind of way.

Odds: Very achievable.

The deal: A common reason beginners lose because they overestimate its power. Yes, it's pretty, but it's beaten by everything above it on this list. If two players have a Flush, the one with the highest card in their flush wins.

6. Straight — "The Straight Road to... Maybe a Win?"

What it is: Five cards in sequence, but of different suits. Example: 5 of hearts, 6 of diamonds, 7 of spades, 8 of clubs, 9 of diamonds.

Odds: Good.

The deal: Middling. It often wins at low limits where everyone plays any old cards. But remember: it can be beaten by any Flush or higher combination.

7. Three of a Kind — "The Three Musketeers"

What it is: Three cards of the same rank and two unrelated side cards (kickers).

Odds: Often.

The deal: A hand you can start betting aggressively with. But be careful: a flush or straight can easily appear on the board and destroy you.

8. Two Pair — "Just the Workhorses"

What it is: Two pairs of different ranks and one side card. Two Aces and two Kings—great. Two Tens and two Threes—not so much.

Odds: Very often.

The deal: If two players have Two Pair, you first compare the highest pair, then the lower pair, and if everything is tied—you look at the highest side card (the kicker). This is exactly why you only get two cards in Texas Hold'em—so there's something to compare!

9. One Pair — "Well, It's Something"

What it is: Two cards of the same rank. That's it.

Odds: In almost every other hand, someone has a pair.

The deal: A hand you can only win with if everyone else has absolutely nothing. Most often, it's a hand for cautious play or for folding.

10. High Card — "Well... I hope you have absolutely nothing"

What it is: All your hope is that you have an Ace, your opponent has at best a King, and they haven't made any of the combinations above.

Odds: 100% if you haven't made anything else.

The deal: This is not a combination. It's the absence of one. Winning with this "hand" is like winning a 100-meter dash because all your competitors tripped at the start. Feels good, but don't get too proud.

Key Takeaways for the Road:

• Memorize the order. Print it out and stick it on your fridge. Seriously. Royal Flush > Straight Flush > Four of a Kind > Full House > Flush > Straight > Three of a Kind > Two Pair > One Pair > High Card.
• Suits do NOT have rank. Spades are not "better" than diamonds. Only the card's rank and the combination matter.
• If the combinations are equal—the kicker decides. The player with the highest "side" card wins the pot. It's the law.

And remember: knowing the hands is just the first step. It's like learning the rules of the road before getting behind the wheel of a Ferrari. The really interesting stuff comes next: psychology, math, reading your opponents.

Good luck at the tables! And may you be guided not by an ace up your sleeve, but by sober calculation in your head.