Poker Priority List

The poker priority list classifies the strength of the different poker hands that can be played. This serves as an essential aid for making better in-game decisions. In all poker types, there is a simple system to rank how good your hand is. This system helps players know which hand is the strongest.

This ranking system is used in popular poker games like Texas Hold ’em and Omaha, as well as casino games like three-card poker. Understanding the meaning of each rank is crucial. We’ll provide a list of poker winning hands in order from the highest to the lowest strength.

Here is the poker priority list ranging from the strongest to the weakest hand in poker. 

Poker Priority List | What Is the Priority Order in Poker?

1. Royal Flush

The royal flush is the best hand you can get in poker. It’s made up of five cards in a row, all from the same suit, ranging from 10 to ace in value.  It can emerge victorious against every other poker hand since it is the strongest combination in poker. The chance of landing a Royal Flush is a mere 0.000154%.

For E.g. A♠, K♠, Q♠, J♠, 10♠ or A♦, K♦, Q♦, J♦, 10♦

2. Straight Flush

If you have five cards in a row with the same suit but they’re not the special royal flush, it’s called a straight flush. The only hands that can beat a straight flush are a royal flush or a straight flush with higher-ranking cards. Obtaining a Straight Flush has a probability of 0.00139%.

For E.g. 9♠, 8♠, 7♠, 6♠, 5♠ or 10♦, 9♦, 8♦, 7♦, 6♦

3. Four of a Kind

When you have four cards that are the same in all four suits, we call it “quads” or “four of a kind.” To make a five-card hand, you choose the highest card from the ones on the table or in your hand. Hitting Four of a Kind stands at 0.0240%. Hitting Four of a Kind stands at 0.0240%.

Also See: Poker Quads vs Full House

For E.g. K♥ K♣ K♠ K♦ 9♥ or 10♥ 10♣ 10♠ 10♦ K♠

4. Full house

A “full house” is when you have three cards with the same value but in three different suits and a pair of cards with the same rank but in two different suits in one hand. If more than one player has a full house, the player with the highest-ranked set of three cards (the three of a kind) will win the hand. A Full House carries a likelihood of 0.1441%.

For more clarity on the same, visit this article on Texas Hold ’em tie-breaker rules.

For E.g. 10♥ 10♣ 10♠ K♦ K♠ or K♥ K♣ K♠ 9♦ 9♥

5. Flush

If you have five cards of the same suit, but they’re not in any particular order, that’s called a flush. When multiple players have a flush, the one with the highest-valued card wins. Achieving a Flush comes with a probability of 0.1965%.

For E.g. 4♣ J♣ K♣ 3♣ 10♣ or 5♦ 8♦ 9♦ K♦ A♦

6. Straight

A straight hand in poker is made when you have five cards with numbers in a row, and these cards can be from different sets. An ace can be either a low card, below 2, or a high card, above a king, but it can’t be both in the same hand. Successfully getting a Straight as per the Poker priority list is at 0.3925%.

For E.g. 10♥ 9♣ 8♠ 7♦ 6♥ or K♦ Q♥ J♣ 10♠ 9♣

7. Three of a kind

In poker, a three-of-a-kind hand means you have three cards with the same rank but from different suits. To complete the hand, you’ll also have the two highest cards that aren’t part of the three-of-a-kind. The probability of attaining Three of a Kind is 2.1128%.

For E.g. 10♥ 10♣ 10♠ J♦ 5♠ or K♥ K♣ K♠ 10♦ 2♥

8. Two pair

A two pair in poker means you have two sets of two cards with the same rank. To complete the hand, you’ll also have the highest-ranked card that’s not part of the pairs. Hitting Two Pair as per the poker priority list has a 4.7539% chance.

For E.g. 5♥ 5♠ 4♣ 4♥ J♦ or 4♥ 4♣ 3♦ 3♥ A♣

9. Pair

In poker, a pair means you have two cards with the same rank but from different suits. The rest of your hand is made up of the three highest-ranked cards you have. Scoring One Pair stands at 42.2569%.

For E.g. A♠ A♣ 2♥ 6♦ 9♣ or K♣ K♦ 2♣ 5♥ 8♥

10. High Card

When you don’t have any of the hands mentioned earlier, you’re left with the highest card in your hand. This is called a High Card, which is the lowest-ranked hand you can have in poker. In this case, the highest card in your hand is your best option. Having a High Card in your hand comes with a probability of 50.1177%.

For E.g. 3♠ J♣ 9♥ 5♣ 8♦ or 2♦ A♣ 6♦ 9♠ J♠

Poker Hands Probability

Best Starting Hands in Poker

The best hands to start with in poker are as follows:

1. A-A | Ace-Ace or Pocket Aces
2. K-K | King-King or Pocket Kings
3. Q-Q | Queen-Queen or Pocket Queens
4. AKs or Ace-King (Suited)
5. AQs or Ace-Queen (Suited)
6. J-J | Jack-Jack or Jack-Jack
7. King-Queen (Suited)
8. Ace-Jack (Suited)
9. Ace-King (Offsuit)
10. 10-10 | Ten-Ten or Pocket Tens

To know more, read this article on the best-starting hands in poker.

Poker Priority List FAQs

What’s the Highest Suit in Poker?

In poker, it’s important to note that there is no highest suit; all suits are considered equal in rank.

What Is the Best Hand in Poker?

The most powerful hand in poker is the Royal Flush. It consists of an ace, king, queen, jack, and 10, all in the same suit.

What Is the Worst Hand in Poker?

The weakest hand you can have in poker is a high card. The lowest possible high card hand in a five-card poker game (when Aces are considered high) is having the cards 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7, with no flush present.

What Beats What in Poker?

As shown above in the poker priority list, here’s what beats what in poker.

1. One pair beats a high card.
2. Two pair beats one pair.
3. Three of a kind beats two pair.
4. A straight beats three of a kind.
5. A flush beats a straight.
6. A full house beats a flush.
7. Four-of-a-kind beats a full house.
8. A straight flush beats four of a kind.
9. A royal flush beats a straight flush.
10. Nothing beats a royal flush.

What’s the Luckiest Hand in Poker?