What Beats What in Poker? Complete Hand Rankings Comparison

In poker, a higher-ranked hand always beats a lower-ranked hand. The full order from best to worst: Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, High Card. These poker hand rankings are universal across Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and most standard poker games.

Complete Poker Hand Rankings

See the complete hand rankings guide for tiebreakers, kickers, and detailed examples.

Common Questions

Does a flush beat a straight?

Yes. A flush (#5) always beats a straight (#6). A flush is five cards of the same suit; a straight is five consecutive cards of mixed suits.

Does a full house beat a flush?

Yes. A full house (#4) beats a flush (#5). A full house is three of a kind plus a pair.

Does three of a kind beat two pair?

Yes. Three of a kind (#7) beats two pair (#8). Three matching cards outrank two separate pairs.

Does a straight beat three of a kind?

Yes. A straight (#6) beats three of a kind (#7). Five consecutive cards outrank three matching cards.

Does two pair beat one pair?

Yes. Two pair (#8) beats one pair (#9). Two separate pairs outrank a single pair.

Does four of a kind beat a full house?

Yes. Four of a kind (#3) beats a full house (#4). Four matching cards outrank three of a kind plus a pair.

What is the best poker hand?

A royal flush — Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of the same suit. It’s the #1 hand and cannot be beaten.

What is the worst poker hand?

High card — when you can’t make any pair, straight, flush, or other combination. Your highest single card plays. The worst possible high card hand is 7-5-4-3-2 of mixed suits (the lowest hand that isn’t a straight).

For the complete guide with probabilities and tiebreaker rules, see our poker hand rankings. Need a quick reference? Download our poker cheat sheet.