Royal Flush
A, K, Q, J, 10 — all of the same suit. The strongest hand in poker and the only one you can't beat.
Probability: 1 in 649,740 (0.000154%)
Poker hand rankings & probabilities
Every poker hand from strongest to weakest, with the example cards and the odds of being dealt that hand straight from a 52-card deck (a five-card draw). The higher up the list, the rarer the hand — and the bigger the table reaction when you flip it over.
Straight Flush
Five cards in sequence, all of the same suit (but not the top five). Beats everything except a Royal Flush.
Probability: 1 in 72,193 (0.00139%)
Four of a Kind
All four cards of the same rank, plus any other card (the "kicker"). Also called "quads".
Probability: 1 in 4,165 (0.024%)
Full House
Three cards of one rank and two of another. The higher trip wins when two players both have a full house.
Probability: 1 in 694 (0.144%)
Flush
Five cards of the same suit, in any order. The highest card determines who wins between two flushes.
Probability: 1 in 509 (0.197%)
Straight
Five cards in sequence, mixed suits. The Ace can play high (A-K-Q-J-10) or low (5-4-3-2-A).
Probability: 1 in 255 (0.392%)
Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same rank, plus two unmatched cards. Also called "trips" or a "set".
Probability: 1 in 47 (2.11%)
Two Pair
Two cards of one rank, two of another, and one unmatched. The higher pair breaks ties.
Probability: 1 in 21 (4.75%)
One Pair
Two cards of the same rank, plus three unmatched cards. The most common ranked hand on the table.
Probability: 1 in 2.4 (42.26%)
High Card
No pair, no straight, no flush — just the highest single card. Wins more often than you'd think when everyone misses.
Probability: 1 in 2 (50.12%)
A few things worth knowing
- These are five-card draw odds. Texas Hold'em odds work out differently because you're choosing the best five cards from seven (two hole cards plus five community cards) — making hands like flushes and straights much more reachable.
- Ties are broken by the highest card in the hand. Two players with the same straight? Higher straight wins. Two flushes? Higher top card wins, then the second, and so on.
- Suits don't break ties. No suit beats another in standard poker — if two hands are identical in rank, the pot is split.
New to the game and want to walk through a few hands at a real table? Drop into one of the weekly games or message Fred first — first-timers always welcome.