List and Ranking for High Poker Hands

Royal Flush:

The royal flush is the best poker hand. The hand consists of five cards in sequence and of the same suit. The highest card must be an ace. Actually it is an ace high straight flush. See the odds for royal flush.

ace of spadesking of spadesqueen of spadesjack of spadesten of spades

Straight Flush:

The straight flush consists of five cards in sequence and of the same suit. See odds and examples straight flush.

ten of heartsnine of heartseight of heartsseven of heartssix of hearts

Four of a Kind (or Quads):

Four of a Kind or Quads consists of four cards of the same rank. See the odds for four of a kind.

queen of spadesqueen of heartsqueen of diamondsqueen of clubsseven of spades

Full House (or Full Boat)

The Full House consists of three cards of the same rank and two matching cards of another rank. See the odds and examples for full houses.

king of spadesking of diamondsking of heartsfour of spadesfour of diamonds

Flush:

The flush consists of five of the same suit. See the odds and examples for flushes.

ace of heartsten of heartsseven of heartssix of heartsthree of hearts

Two Pair:

Two Pair hands contain two cards of the same rank (the pair!) and another pair of a different rank. See odds and examples for two pair.

king of diamondsking of clubsseven of spadesseven of diamondsnine of clubs

One Pair:

One pair hands have two cards of the same rank (the pair). See odds and examples for one pair.

nine of spadesnine of diamondsking of diamondsten of heartstwo of clubs

High Card:

All hands that do not fall into one of the above groups. See odds and examples for highcard.

king of spadesqueen of diamondsten of spadessix of clubsthree of diamonds

Notes

The following general rules apply to evaluating all poker hands:
  • A poker hand always consists of five cards. This is a very important concept, that many beginners confuse. In the most popular games like Texas Hold'em, Omaha or Seven Card Stud you have
  • First the poker hands are ranked by category, then by individual card ranks: Even the lowest hand in a certain category defeats the highest hands in the lower category. If everything is equal, then the hands tie. In games like Texas Hold'em, Seven Card Stud or Omaha, you have 7 cards to use, but the cards, that are not used to form your best five card hand will not be evaluated. 
  • Individual cards are ranked Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. An Aces is ranked low when part of an five high(5-4-3-2-A) straight (or straight flush). In case of a same poker hand, then individual card ranks (kickers) are used to compare hands within a category. E.g.: nine of spadesnine of diamondsking of diamondsten of heartsfour of clubs defeats nine of clubsnine of heartsking of spadesten of diamondsthree of clubs, because the kicker 4 is better than kicker 3.
  • Suits have no value. Hand that vary only in suit, are ranked equal.