Poker Hands Order of Winning Whether you are a beginner looking to learn the basics of poker or an experienced player brushing up on your skills, understanding the order of winning poker hands is essential. Knowing which hands outrank others can help you make better decisions and increase your chances of winning. The highest-ranking hand in most poker variations is the Royal Flush. It consists of the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of the same suit. This hand is unbeatable and rare to come by, but when you do get it, you can be confident that victory is near. Following the Royal Flush is the Straight Flush. This hand contains any sequence of five cards from the same suit. For example, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of hearts would form a straight flush. The higher the value of the cards in the sequence, the stronger the hand. The next highest-ranking hand is the Four of a Kind. It consists of four cards of the same rank and any fifth card, known as the kicker. If two players have Four of a Kind, the player with the higher rank wins. In the event of a tie, the player with the highest kicker wins. A Full House is a hand that consists of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. For example, three Kings and two Aces. If multiple players have a Full House, the one with the highest three matching cards wins. The Flush is a hand consisting of any five cards from the same suit, but not necessarily in sequential order. If two players have a Flush, the one with the highest-ranking card wins. If the highest cards are the same, the next highest card is compared, and so on until a winner is determined. The Straight is a hand with five consecutive cards of any suit. Like the Flush, the highest-ranking card determines the winner in case of a tie. Next in line is the Three of a Kind, which consists of three cards of the same rank and two unrelated kickers. Higher-ranking three of a kind beats lower-ranking ones. The Two Pair hand is self-explanatory, consisting of two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, and one unrelated kicker. The higher-ranking pair wins in case multiple players have Two Pair. Finally, the lowest-ranking hand is the One Pair, which consists of two cards of the same rank and three unrelated kickers. If two players have the same pair, the highest-ranking kicker determines the winner. Knowing the order of winning poker hands will give you an advantage at the poker table. With practice and experience, you'll be able to quickly recognize the strength of your hand and make better decisions on when to bet, fold, or raise against your opponents.