Core skill18+
Poker hand rankings
This is the quickest route to understanding whether a hand is strong enough to continue.
Priority
Memory
Format
Top to bottom
Use
Every session
The ladder
From strongest to weakest
Use this ranking order when comparing made hands at a glance.
1
Royal flush
Ace-high straight flush. The top hand.
2
Straight flush
Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
3
Four of a kind
Four cards of the same rank.
4
Full house
Three of a kind plus a pair.
5
Flush
Five cards of the same suit.
6
Straight
Five consecutive ranks, any suits.
7
Three of a kind
Three cards of the same rank.
8
Two pair
Two separate pairs.
9
One pair
A single matched pair.
10
High card
No made hand; the top card decides.
Memorising the ladder is only the start. Real poker decisions also depend on position, stack depth, pot odds and the story the betting tells.