The ten rankings
In Texas Hold'em you make the best five-card hand from your two hole cards and the five community cards. You may use both hole cards, one, or none (playing the board).
About these odds: the frequencies below are for five-card poker — being dealt five cards from a 52-card deck (2,598,960 combinations). They are the usual textbook numbers. They are not the chance a given Hold'em hand wins at showdown, which depends on the board and how many opponents stay in.
#1
Royal flush
A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠
Ace through ten, same suit. The best possible five-card hand.
1 in 649,740#2
Straight flush
9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥
Five cards in sequence, same suit. Royal flushes are listed separately above.
1 in 72,193#3
Four of a kind
A♦ A♣ A♥ A♠ K♣
Four cards of one rank plus a kicker.
1 in 4,165#4
Full house
K♠ K♥ K♦ Q♠ Q♥
Three of one rank plus a pair of another.
1 in 694#5
Flush
A♣ J♣ 9♣ 7♣ 3♣
Five cards of one suit, not in sequence.
1 in 509#6
Straight
10♦ 9♠ 8♣ 7♥ 6♦
Five ranks in a row, mixed suits. Aces play high or low (A-2-3-4-5).
1 in 255#7
Three of a kind
Q♠ Q♥ Q♦ 10♣ 5♠
Three cards of one rank. In Hold'em, a set is when you hold a pocket pair.
1 in 47#8
Two pair
J♠ J♥ 8♣ 8♦ 3♠
Two different pairs plus a kicker.
1 in 21#9
One pair
A♣ A♦ 10♥ 7♠ 4♣
Two cards of one rank.
about 1 in 2.4#10
High card
A♠ Q♦ 10♣ 8♥ 5♠
Nothing paired. Highest cards decide, then kickers.
about 1 in 2How ties break
- Category first: a flush beats a straight even if the straight’s cards are higher.
- Then ranks: aces full of kings beats kings full of aces. Pair of aces beats pair of kings.
- Then kickers: if two players have the same pair, the highest unmatched card plays, then the next, until the five-card hands differ — or they don’t, and the pot is split.
- Suits never break a tie in standard Hold'em. Identical hands split.
Hold'em examples
Your cards: A♠ K♠ | Board: Q♠ J♠ 10♠ 7♦ 3♣
Best hand: royal flush (A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠)
Best hand: royal flush (A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠)
Your cards: 8♥ 8♦ | Board: 8♣ K♠ Q♠ J♦ 9♥
Best hand: three eights, king-queen kickers. The board also has a one-card straight possible for someone holding a ten; your set is not automatically the winner.
Best hand: three eights, king-queen kickers. The board also has a one-card straight possible for someone holding a ten; your set is not automatically the winner.
Memorize the ladder. Until the order is automatic, you will misread flops. Rankings first, then starting hands, then math.