Poker hand rankings.

From strongest to weakest. In Texas Hold'em you make the best five-card hand from your two hole cards and the five on the board. Faded cards are kickers: they're part of the five, but only matter to break a tie.

1. Royal flush

   A K Q J 10, all the same suit.

   A

   K

   Q

   J

   10

2. Straight flush

   Five cards in a row, all the same suit.

   9

   8

   7

   6

   5

3. Four of a kind

   Four cards of the same rank.

   Q

   Q

   Q

   Q

   7

4. Full house

   Three of a kind plus a pair.

   10

   10

   10

   4

   4

5. Flush

   Any five cards of the same suit.

   A

   J

   8

   6

   2

6. Straight

   Five cards in a row, in mixed suits. An ace can be high or low.

   8

   7

   6

   5

   4

7. Three of a kind

   Three cards of the same rank.

   7

   7

   7

   K

   2

8. Two pair

   Two different pairs.

   J

   J

   5

   5

   A

9. One pair

   Two cards of the same rank.

   9

   9

   A

   J

   4

10. High card

    None of the above, so your highest card plays.

    A

    J

    8

    6

    2

Breaking ties

Suits never break a tie. When two hands are the same type, the higher cards win: a pair of kings beats a pair of tens. If the pairs match, the next-highest cards, called kickers, decide it. If all five cards match in rank, the players split the pot.

New to the game? Read the Texas Hold'em rules.