Poker basic rules - Hand Rankings
 One of the most confusing things for any new poker player is the order of hand rankings. The poker hands listed below are ranked from the Royal Flush (highest) to the High Card (lowest). These hand rankings are generally consistent throughout every variation of online poker, including Texas Hold'em, Omaha and 7-card stud.
Omaha Hi/Lo and 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo are played with the pot being split between the highest ranking hand and the lowest ranking hand when a qualifying low hand exists. The low hands are shown at the end of this page.
Standard Poker Hand Rankings (High hands)
Royal flush
In Hi/Lo poker, the players with the best high hand and the best low hand each win half of the pot.
A royal flush is made up of Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten all in the same suit.
If two or more Royal Flushes exist at showdown, the pot is split.
Straight Flush
5 suited cards in numerical order.
If two or more straight flusehes exist at showdown, the one with the highest ranking card at the top of the sequence wins. If this is the same in two or more hands, the pot is split between them
Four of a kind
Four cards of matching rank coupled with any other card.
If two or more four-of-a-kinds exist at showdown, the highest four matching cards wins. If players have the same four-of-a-kind, then the highest ranking 5th card wins the hand. If the hands are identical in rank, the pot is split.
Full house
Three cards of matching rank coupled with two cards of different matching rank.
If two or more Full Houses exist at showdown, the highest three matching cards wins. Games played with community cards where players have the same three matching cards, the highest value of the two matching cards wins. If the hands are identical in rank, the pot is split.
Flush
Five cards of matching suit.
Tied Hand: If two or more Flushes exist in a hand, the player holding the Flush with the highest ranked card is the winner. When necessary, the second, third, fourth or fifth highest cards are used to break a tie. If two or more exactly ranked flush hands exist, the pot is split.
Straight
Five cards in ranked sequence.
Tied Hand: If two or more Straights exist at showdown, the player holding the Straight with the highest ranked card is the winner. If two or more exactly ranked straights exist, the pot is split.
Three of a kind
Three cards of matching rank with two cards of different ranks.
Tied Hand: If two or more Three of a Kinds exist at showdown, the highest Three of a Kind wins. Games played with community cards where players have the same three matching cards, the highest ranked fourth (or fifth when necessary) card wins. If the hands are identical in rank, the pot is split.
Two pair
Two cards of matching rank with two additional cards of a different matching rank. The fifth card is an unrelated rank.
Tied Hand: If two or more players have Two Pairs at showdown, the highest pair wins. If the highest pair is the same rank, the highest second pair wins. If both pairs are identical, the highest fifth card by rank (kicker) wins. If the kicker is also of the same rank, the pot is split.
One pair
Two cards of matching rank with three additional cards of unrelated ranks.
Tied Hand: If two or more players have One Pair at showdown, the highest pair by rank wins. If pairs of the same rank exist, the highest ranked unrelated card wins. The second and third highest ranked unrelated cards are used when necessary. If the hands are identical in rank, the pot is split.
High card
Five cards that are not of the same suit, are not ranked sequentially and uniquely ranked.
Tied Hand: If two or more players have High Card at showdown, the highest ranked card wins. The second, third, fourth and fifth highest ranked cards are used when necessary. If the hands are identical in rank, the pot is split.
Poker Hand Rankings (Low hands)
For low hand rankings, the individual rank of each of the five cards must be unique. Suits and ranked sequences (flushes and straights) are not considered when ranking low hands making these hands eligible for both the low and high hands. Along with Aces being the highest card for High hand ranks, Aces are used as the lowest card for low hand ranks.
5 High
Also known as the 'bicycle' or 'wheel' - Five, Four, Three, Deuce and Ace.
Tied Hand: This is the lowest possible 'Low' hand. If two or more Five High exist at showdown, the pot is split.
6 High
Five uniquely ranked cards with the highest card being a Six.
Tied Hand: If two or more Six High exist at showdown, the lower second ranking card wins. The third, fourth and fifth highest ranked cards are used when necessary. If the hands are identical in rank, the pot is split.
7 High
Five uniquely ranked cards with the highest card being a Seven.
Tied Hand: If two or more Seven High exist at showdown, the lower second ranking card wins. The third, fourth and fifth highest ranked cards are used when necessary. If the hands are identical in rank, the pot is split.
8 High
Five uniquely ranked cards with the highest card being an Eight.
Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four is the weakest hand that qualifies for the 'Low'.
Tied Hand: If two or more Eight High exist at showdown, the lower second ranking card wins. The third, fourth and fifth highest ranked cards are used when necessary. If the hands are identical in rank, the pot is split.
See more guides
Strategy Guides
- Staying in the game
- Check your position
- On the flop
- Turn and river
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