Mastering the poker hands is the first step towards becoming a successful player at the table—whether you’re playing in a local game in London or live poker at top UK casinos. This complete guide walks you through all ten poker hand rankings, from the lowest high card to the unbeatable royal flush. With practical examples, strategic tips, and an emphasis on correct rankings, you’ll be better equipped to play smarter and win more.

1. Royal Flush

The royal flush is the most prestigious hand in poker. It consists of the five highest cards in sequential order (A, K, Q, J, 10), all of the same suit.

The Royal Flush is the highest-ranking poker hand and is unbeatable in any standard poker game. It consists of the five top-ranking cards in the same suit, running from 10 to Ace.

 | Hand Composition: A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ (all of the same suit)

Key Details:

• Must be same suit (spades, hearts, diamonds, or clubs)
• Appears roughly once in every 650,000 hands (extremely rare)
• Always beats every other hand

In most UK online poker rooms, hitting a Royal Flush may unlock bonuses or jackpots in progressive games—particularly in No-Limit Texas Hold’em tournaments.

2. Straight Flush

A Straight Flush is five consecutive cards of the same suit, but not the specific high cards required for a Royal Flush.

| Example: 9♦ 8♦ 7♦ 6♦ 5♦

Key Details:

• Strongest hand after a Royal Flush
• The highest card determines its strength (e.g., 9-high beats 8-high)
  Odds of hitting: ~1 in 72,000
  

This hand is powerful enough to win large pots, especially in games with fewer opponents. Watch for potential higher straight flushes when the board is connected.

3. Four of a Kind

Four of a Kind involves four cards of the same rank, plus a fifth card known as a kicker.

| Example: Q♠ Q♥ Q♣ Q♦ 9♣

Key Details:

• Kicker matters when two players have the same quads (very rare)
• Odds: ~1 in 4,000 hands

Always gauge board texture in UK poker games. If the quads are possible for more than one player (e.g., board shows Q-Q-Q-Q), the kicker determines the winner.

4. Full House

A Full House is made up of three of a kind and a pair.

| Example: 10♦ 10♠ 10♥ 4♠ 4♣

Key Details:

• Rank is determined by the three of a kind
• Beats a flush, straight, and lower combinations
• Odds: ~1 in 700 hands

A full house can dominate low-stakes Hold’em tables at UK pubs or online poker sites like Mr Mega. Play slow to extract maximum value.

5. Flush

A Flush consists of any five cards of the same suit, not necessarily in sequence.

| Example: A♥ 9♥ 6♥ 4♥ 2♥

Key Details:

• Ranked by the highest card, then next highest, etc.
• Odds: ~1 in 500 hands

Don’t overvalue a low flush—especially if the board is suited. In online poker in the UK, it’s common to face higher flushes due to multiway pots.

6. Straight

A Straight is made up of five cards in numerical order, from different suits.

| Example: 7♠ 6♦ 5♣ 4♣ 3♥

Key Details:

• Ace can be used as high (A-K-Q-J-10) or low (5-4-3-2-A)
• Loses to any flush or higher combination

In UK card clubs and home games, the straight is a solid hand—especially in Six-Max formats where aggression is rewarded.

7. Three of a Kind

This hand features three cards of the same rank, plus two unrelated side cards.

| Example: 8♦ 8♣ 8♠ Q♥ 3♣

Key Details:

• “Set” = hitting a pair in hand and one on the board
• “Trips” = one in hand, two on board
• Odds: ~1 in 46 hands

Sets are strong in live casino UK poker, especially when disguised. If you hold a small pocket pair, you could extract full stacks from top pair holders.

8. Two Pair

A Two Pair hand contains two pairs of different ranks plus a kicker.

| Example: K♠ K♥ 4♣ 4♦ 7♠

Key Details:

• Ranked by the highest pair first
• Kicker is crucial if both pairs match your opponent’s

In pub poker and online cash games, many UK players overplay two pairs. Be cautious when the board has flush or straight potential.

9. One Pair

A One Pair hand includes two cards of the same rank, plus three unrelated cards.

| Example: J♣ J♦ 9♠ 6♥ 2♣

Key Details:

• Ranked by pair first, then highest kicker
• Very common in all UK poker formats

Pro Tip:

At UK online poker tables, one pair often won’t hold up by the river. Use it more for bluff-catching than aggressive value betting.

10. High Card

When no other combinations are formed, the highest single card in the hand decides the winner.

| Example: A♠ 10♦ 9♣ 6♥ 3♦

Key Details:

• Ace is the highest high card
• Often used as a tiebreaker

In UK cash games, this hand rarely wins unless everyone else has missed completely. Best used when bluffing or in late position to represent strength.

Poker Hands Probability Chart

Understanding the probability of different poker hands is essential for making strategic decisions during gameplay. A Poker Hands Probability Chart helps players assess the likelihood of forming specific hands—from a Royal Flush to a High Card—when dealt five cards. This knowledge is especially valuable in a live casino setting, where quick thinking and probability awareness can give players a competitive edge at the table.

How Often Do Poker Hands Occur?

Each poker hand has a unique probability of occurrence in a randomly dealt 5-card hand from a standard 52-card deck. Understanding these odds can dramatically improve your strategy, especially when you’re calculating outs, pot odds, or bluffing in UK online poker games.

Royal Flush is the rarest hand—appearing once in every 649,740 hands. It’s the dream hand but nearly impossible to chase deliberately.

Straight Flush, though slightly more frequent, still only happens once in 72,000 hands. These are hands you may only see a few times in your entire poker life.
Four of a Kind occurs roughly once in every 4,165 hands. In UK poker tournaments, players often slow-play quads to trap opponents.

Full House appears about once in every 693 hands. This strong hand is common enough to play confidently, but weak full houses are vulnerable.

Flush and Straight happen more frequently but still pack serious power when played strategically.
Three of a Kind and Two Pair are strong mid-tier hands that form the backbone of many winning pots in UK online poker.

One Pair is the most commonly made hand, but it often loses to stronger holdings.

High Card is what you’re left with more than half the time—meaning most hands won’t improve unless you hit the flop or turn.

Conclusion

Understanding poker hand rankings is essential for every player, whether you’re playing a friendly game at home in Manchester or sitting at a professional table in London. By mastering the hierarchy and recognizing hand strength, you gain a significant edge over the competition.

From high card to royal flush, each hand offers its own potential, strategy, and story. Keep this poker hands guide handy, and you’ll be well on your way to reading the table and making smarter moves—especially on UK-friendly platforms like Mr Mega.

FAQs

How many poker hands are there?

There are 10 standard poker hand rankings, from high card to royal flush.

Which is the best poker hand?

The royal flush is the highest-ranking and unbeatable hand in standard poker.

What beats a full house?

A four of a kind, straight flush, or royal flush will beat a full house.

What’s the difference between four of a kind and full house

Four of a kind have four cards of the same rank. A full house is a three of a kind plus a pair.