Poker Strategy A guide to poker hands ranking Americas Cardroom URL has been copied successfully! If you’re new to poker, understanding hand rankings is a crucial first step. Knowing which hands are the strongest can help you make better decisions at the table and increase your chances of winning. In this article, we’ll break down the poker hand rankings and provide tips for improving your game. Poker Hand Rankings: In terms of odds, the strength of each poker hand to win varies depending on factors such as the number of players, skill level, and betting strategy. However, in terms of average strength, the poker hands are ranked as follows (from weakest to strongest): High CardIf no player has any of the above hands, the winner is determined by the highest-ranking card in their hand. For example, if one player has a King-high hand and another has a Queen-high hand, the player with the King-high hand would win.Hand Strength & HierarchyHigh Card is the absolute lowest possible hand in the poker hand rankings.It loses to: One Pair, Two Pair, and every other hand.If no player has a pair or better, the pot is awarded to the player with the highest card. If those are tied, the second-highest card is compared, and so on (this is known as “kicking down”). Poker Hands Ranking - High Card Odds & How Common It Is the High CardHigh Card is a very common hand, especially before the betting rounds, but it rarely wins at showdown.Probability of being dealt only a High Card in your starting five cards (5-Card Draw): ~50.1%.In Texas Hold’em, the context is key:While you will start with a High Card hand most of the time (when you don’t have a pair), the odds of going to showdown and winning with just High Card are extremely low.It is most common in heads-up play (one-on-one) or when the board is exceptionally uncoordinated (e.g., 9♠ 8♦ 4♣ 2♥ 2♠, where the pair is on the board and no player can use it to make a pair in their hand).Other Relevant Facts & DataThe “Kicker” is the Entire Hand: Since there is no pair, all five cards act as kickers. The hand is decided by comparing the highest card from each player. If those are tied, you move to the second-highest, then the third, and so on.Naming Convention: These hands are named after their highest card (e.g., “Ace-High,” “King-High”).A Bluffing Hand: High Card hands have no intrinsic value. Their only chance to win a pot is through bluffing, convincing your opponent you have a stronger hand than you do.The Default Loser: In a multi-way pot, a High Card hand is almost never the best hand by the river. If you find yourself at showdown with only a High Card, you should expect to lose the vast majority of the time. One Pair If no player has any of the above hands, the winner is determined by the highest-ranking card in their hand. For example, if one player has a King-high hand and another has a Queen-high hand, the player with the King-high hand would win. Hand Strength & Hierarchy One Pair is a very common and modest-strength hand, positioned near the bottom of the standard poker hand rankings. It beats: Only a High Card. It loses to: Two Pair, Three of a Kind, Straight, Flush, and all higher hands. Its strength is highly dependent on the pair’s rank and the cards on the board. While a pair of Aces or Kings can be strong, a low pair like Fours or Fives is often vulnerable. Poker Hands Ranking - High Card Odds & How Common It Is to get One Pair One Pair is the most frequent made hand you will get in poker. Probability of being dealt One Pair or better in your starting five cards (5-Card Draw): ~49.9%. However, the majority of this is just a single Pair. Probability of being dealt exactly One Pair in five cards: ~42.3%. In Texas Hold’em, the probabilities are: Chance of being dealt a pocket pair: ~5.9% (or about 1 in 17 hands). Chance of making at least One Pair on the flop with two unpaired hole cards: ~32% (or about 1 in 3 times). Chance of having at least a Pair by the river (with unpaired hole cards): ~50% (or about 1 in 2 times). Other Relevant Facts & Data The Kicker is Absolutely Critical: One Pair is the first hand in the ranking where kickers are almost always used to determine the winner. If two players have the same pair, the winner is the one with the highest-ranking side card. Example: Player 1 has A♥ A♦ K♠ 8♣ 3♦ and Player 2 has A♠ A♣ Q♥ J♦ 9♠. Player 1 wins with their “Ace-Kicker.” “Top Pair” is a Key Concept: In flop games, pairing your highest hole card with the highest card on the board is called “Top Pair.” This is often the best hand on the flop (e.g., you hold A♥ 10♦ and the flop is A♠ 7♣ 2♥, you have top pair with an Ace). A Common Showdown Hand: In actual gameplay, One Pair is one of the most common hands players show down at the end of a hand. However, it is frequently not strong enough to win a multi-way pot or a large pot against aggressive betting. Relative Weakness: While it feels good to make a pair, it’s important to recognize that it’s a very vulnerable hand. It can be outdrawn easily by any hand drawing to Two Pair, a Straight, or a Flush. Two PairA two-pair hand contains two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, and one card of a third rank. For example, a hand with two Kings, two 5s, and an Ace would be a two-pair hand.Hand Strength & HierarchyTwo Pair is a strong, mid-tier hand that can win many substantial pots.It beats: One Pair and High Card.It loses to: Three of a Kind, Straight, Flush, and all higher hands.Its strength is highly dependent on the ranks of the two pairs and the texture of the board. Poker Hand Rankings - Two Pair Odds & How Common It Is to get Two Pair in PokerTwo Pair is significantly less common than One Pair but more common than Three of a Kind.Probability of being dealt Two Pair in your starting five cards (5-Card Draw): ~4.8%.In Texas Hold’em:Probability of making Two Pair by the river (starting with unpaired hole cards): ~4% (or about 1 in 25 times).Probability of making Two Pair by the flop (starting with unpaired hole cards): ~2% (or about 1 in 50 times).Other Relevant Facts & DataRanking the Pairs: When comparing Two Pair hands, the highest pair is compared first. If players have the same top pair, then the second pair is compared. Only if both pairs are identical is the kicker used.Example: J-J-8-8-K beats J-J-8-8-10 (Kicker). J-J-10-10-2 beats J-J-8-8-A (Second Pair is higher).“Top Two” and “Bottom Two”: A common term in flop games is “Top Two Pair,” which means your two hole cards pair the two highest cards on the board. This is a very strong but vulnerable hand, as it can easily be outdrawn by straights and flushes.A Common Winning Hand at Showdown: Two Pair is often strong enough to win a pot at showdown, especially in single-raised pots or when the board is not overly coordinated (i.e., not many straight or flush possibilities).The Underdog Effect: While it feels very powerful, Two Pair can be a significant underdog to a hand that has already made a straight or flush on the flop or turn. It is also vulnerable to being outdrawn by any card that makes an opponent a higher Two Pair or Three of a Kind. Three of a KindThis hand contains three cards of the same rank, such as three Jacks or three 5s.Hand Strength & HierarchyThree of a Kind is a strong hand, positioned in the middle of the standard poker hand rankings.It beats: Two Pair, One Pair, and High Card.It loses to: Straight, Flush, Full House, Four of a Kind, Straight Flush, and Royal Flush.Its strength is often described as a “made hand” that can win a decent-sized pot without improvement. Poker Hand Rankings - Two Pair Odds & How Common It Is The probability of being dealt Three of a Kind or better in your starting five cards (in 5-Card Draw, for example) is approximately 2.1%. More relevantly, in community card games like Texas Hold’em, the odds are: Probability of making Three of a Kind by the river (from the flop): ~12% (or about 1 in 8 times). Odds of being dealt a pocket pair and then making a “Set” (Three of a Kind) on the flop: ~11.8% (or about 1 in 8.5 times). Other Relevant Facts & Data The Kicker is Key: Since the “three” part is tied, the winner between two Three of a Kind hands is determined by the higher rank of the three cards (e.g., Three Jacks beat Three Tens). If the three cards are the same (only possible in community card games), the highest side card (kicker) decides the winner. “Set” vs. “Trips”: In Texas Hold’em, there’s a strategic distinction: A Set is when you have a pocket pair and match it with one card on the board. This is often more concealed and powerful. Trips (Three of a Kind) is when you have one card in your hand and two on the board. This is more obvious to your opponents. Relative Rarity: It is significantly more common than a Straight or Flush, which is why those hands rank above it. StraightA straight consists of any five cards in sequence, regardless of suit. For example, a hand with a 2-3-4-5-6 would be a straight.Hand Strength & HierarchyA Straight is a very strong hand that sits in the upper-middle of the hand rankings.It beats: Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, and High Card.It loses to: Flush, Full House, Four of a Kind, Straight Flush, and Royal Flush.It is often a “nut” (unbeatable) hand on many board textures, but can be vulnerable to flush cards. Poker Hand Rankings - Straight Odds & How Common It Is to get a Straight Hand The Straight is significantly less common than Three of a Kind. Probability of being dealt a Straight in your starting five cards (5-Card Draw): ~0.39%. In Texas Hold’em: Probability of making a Straight by the river (with two connected cards, e.g., 6-7): Varies greatly but can be as high as ~10-15% for the most connected hands. Overall, the odds of any player making a Straight by the river are low, but they become a key consideration on “wet” (coordinated) boards with three or more connected cards. Other Relevant Facts & Data The Ace Can Be High or Low: An Ace can be used as the highest card (A-K-Q-J-10, “Broadway”) or the lowest card (5-4-3-2-A, “the Wheel”). This is the only card that can do this. Ties are Possible: If two players have a Straight, the one with the highest top card wins.Example: 9-8-7-6-5 loses to T-9-8-7-6 (Ten-high beats Nine-high). If the top card is the same, the Straight is a tie and the pot is split. (e.g., on a board of 9-8-7-6-2, any player with a Ten or a Five makes a Straight, but all Tens make the same 9-high Straight and split the pot). The “Gutshot” Draw: A key drawing concept is the “gutshot” or “inside straight draw,” where you need one specific card in the middle to complete your Straight (e.g., you hold 8-7 and the flop is T-9-2, you need a Jack). This is a less likely draw (roughly 17% by the river) than an “open-ended” draw. Vulnerability: While very strong, a Straight can be a “hidden” hand that loses a lot of money to an opponent who has made a Flush or Full House. FlushA flush contains any five cards of the same suit. The cards don’t have to be in sequence, but they must all be of the same suit.Hand Strength & HierarchyA Flush is a very powerful hand, ranking just above a Straight and well into the premium hand category.It beats: Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, and High Card.It loses to: Full House, Four of a Kind, Straight Flush, and Royal Flush.It is often a “nut” (unbeatable) hand on many board textures, especially if you hold the Ace of the suit (the “nut flush”). Poker Hand Rankings - Flush Odds & How Common It Is A Flush is slightly less common than a Straight. Probability of being dealt a Flush in your starting five cards (5-Card Draw): ~0.20%. In Texas Hold’em: Probability of making a Flush by the river when you start with two suited cards: ~6.5% (or about 1 in 15 times). Probability of flopping a Flush with two suited cards: ~0.8% (or about 1 in 119 times). The odds of the board itself containing a possible Flush (three or more cards of one suit) are much higher, which makes Flush draws a very common and important strategic element. Other Relevant Facts & Data Ranking Flushes: Since all cards are the same suit, the hand is ranked by the highest card. If the highest cards are tied, the second-highest is compared, and so on through all five cards. The suit itself has no value (a Spade flush is equal to a Heart flush).Example: A♠ 9♠ 8♠ 5♠ 2♠ beats K♠ Q♠ J♠ T♠ 8♠. The Ace-high Flush wins, even though the opponent’s hand is more sequential. The “Nut Flush”: The best possible Flush is the “Nut Flush,” which is any Flush containing the Ace of that suit. This is a hugely powerful hand because it can only be beaten by a Full House or higher. Flush Draws are Potent: A “flush draw” (four cards to a flush after the flop) has roughly a 35% chance of completing by the river. This strong drawing potential makes flush draws very playable and dangerous. Vulnerability: While extremely strong, a Flush can still lose. The most common danger is the board “pairing,” which allows an opponent with a pair to make a Full House. A non-nut flush (like a King-high Flush) can also be a very costly hand if another player holds the Ace of the suit. Full HouseA full house contains three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. For example, a hand with three Queens and two 10s would be a full house.Hand Strength & HierarchyA Full House is an exceptionally strong hand, firmly in the elite tier of poker hands.It beats: Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, and High Card.It loses to: Four of a Kind, Straight Flush, and Royal Flush.It is very often the winning hand at showdown in a large pot. Poker Hands Ranking - Full House Odds & How Common It Is A Full House is significantly rarer than a Flush or a Straight. Probability of being dealt a Full House in your starting five cards (5-Card Draw): ~0.14%. In Texas Hold’em, the odds are context-dependent: The chance of making a Full House by the river when you already have Three of a Kind after the flop is roughly 30%. The chance of making a Full House by the river when you already have Two Pair after the flop is roughly 17%. Overall, it is an uncommon but not improbable hand, especially on paired boards. Other Relevant Facts & Data Naming and Ranking: The hand is named by the “three of a kind” part first, followed by the “pair” part. Example: K-K-K-3-3 is “Kings full of Threes.” When comparing two Full Houses, the rank of the “three of a kind” is compared first. Only if the “three of a kind” are the same is the “pair” compared. Example: 8-8-8-A-A (“Eights full of Aces”) beats 8-8-8-K-K (“Eights full of Kings”). The Board Can “Play”: In community card games, it’s possible for the board to show a Full House all by itself (e.g., Q-Q-Q-2-2). In this case, every player still in the hand can use the board to play the same Full House, resulting in a chopped pot. A “Quiet” Monster: A Full House is often a “disguised” or hidden hand. An opponent with a strong Flush or Straight may not see it coming, leading to very lucrative payoffs. This is sometimes called being “coolered.” The “Full House” Killer: The only hands a Full House realistically loses to are Four of a Kind and Straight Flushes, which are extremely rare. This makes it one of the most reliable hands to get a lot of money into the pot with. Four of a KindThis hand contains four cards of the same rank, such as four Aces or four Kings.Hand Strength & HierarchyFour of a Kind is an elite, nearly unbeatable hand. It sits second only to Straight Flushes in the poker hand rankings.It beats: Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, and High Card.It loses to: Straight Flush and Royal Flush.It is almost always guaranteed to win the pot. Poker Hand Rankings - Four of a Kind Odds & How Common It Is Four of a Kind is an extremely rare hand. Probability of being dealt Four of a Kind in your starting five cards (5-Card Draw): ~0.024% (or about 1 in 4,165 hands). In Texas Hold’em, the probabilities are slightly more common due to the use of community cards, but it remains a rarity: Odds of making Four of a Kind by the river after the flop: If you have a Pair in your hand: ~0.5% to 1% chance. If you have Three of a Kind on the flop: ~4.3% chance to make Quads by the river. Overall, for any given player in a Texas Hold’em hand, the odds are approximately 1 in 595.</pP Other Relevant Facts & Data Ranking and Kickers: Between two Four of a Kind hands, the one with the higher set of four cards wins. The kicker card is only used if two players miraculously have the same Four of a Kind, which is only possible in community card games where the four cards are all on the board. Example: On a board of 8-8-8-8-A, one player holding K-2 and another holding Q-2 would split the pot, as both are playing the board’s Four Eights with an Ace kicker. The “Quad” Effect: Because of its extreme strength, this hand often wins massive pots. However, it can be difficult to get paid off by opponents, as its arrival on the board is often very obvious and can scare other players out of the pot. Board Texture: The most common way Quads are made in Hold’em is when a player holds a pocket pair and the other two cards of that rank appear on the board. This can sometimes be a “slow-played” hand to trap opponents. Rarity Context: You are statistically more likely to be dealt a Royal Flush than you are to be dealt Four of a Kind in a five-card draw. However, in a full game of Texas Hold’em, Quads occur more frequently than a Royal Flush. Straight FlushA straight flush consists of any five cards in sequence of the same suit. For example, a 7-8-9-10-Jack of hearts would be a straight flush.Hand Strength & HierarchyThe Straight Flush is the second-highest and second-strongest possible hand in nearly all poker variants.It beats: Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, and all lower hands.It loses to: Only the Royal Flush.It is virtually guaranteed to win the pot. Losing with a Straight Flush is an extraordinarily rare and infamous event known as a “bad beat.” Poker Hand Rankings - Straight Flush Odds & How Common It Is The Straight Flush is an exceptionally rare hand. Probability of being dealt a Straight Flush in your starting five cards (5-Card Draw): ~0.00139% (or about 1 in 72,193 hands). In Texas Hold’em, the odds are slightly better but still astronomically high: The overall probability of making a Straight Flush by the river is approximately 0.0279% (or about 1 in 3,590 hands for any given player). Other Relevant Facts & Data The Royal Flush is a Straight Flush: A Royal Flush (T-J-Q-K-A of the same suit) is simply the highest possible Straight Flush. It is not a separate hand type in the hierarchy, but rather the unbeatable ace-high version of a Straight Flush. Ranking: Straight Flushes are ranked by the highest card in the sequence. A Jack-high Straight Flush beats a Ten-high Straight Flush, and so on. The Ultimate Cooler: If you get all your money into the pot with a Straight Flush, the only hand that can beat you is a higher Straight Flush (or a Royal Flush). This makes it the ultimate “cooler” hand—a situation where two players have nearly unbeatable hands, but one must lose. Ties are Possible: If two players share the same five-card Straight Flush (which is only possible in community card games where the five suited, sequential cards are on the board), the pot is split. Mythical Status: For many recreational players, making a Straight Flush is a bucket-list moment. Due to its extreme rarity, it often comes with a “bad beat jackpot” bonus in many casinos and online poker rooms, even if it loses to an even rarer Royal Flush. Royal FlushThis is the highest-ranking hand in poker, consisting of the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of the same suit. It is an unbeatable hand in standard poker games.Hand Strength & HierarchyThe Royal Flush is the absolute #1 ranked hand. It is unbeatable.It beats: Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, and all other hands.It loses to: Nothing. There is no higher hand.If you have a Royal Flush at showdown, you win the pot. The only exception is an extremely rare split pot if the entire Royal Flush is on the community board. Poker Hand Rankings - Royal Flush Odds & How Common It IsThe Royal Flush is the rarest of all poker hands.Probability of being dealt a Royal Flush in your starting five cards (5-Card Draw): 1 in 649,740 deals.In Texas Hold’em, the odds are slightly better because you use 7 cards to make your 5-card hand, but it remains a monumental rarity:Probability of making a Royal Flush by the river: Approximately 1 in 30,940 hands for any given player.Other Relevant Facts & DataIt’s a Specific Straight Flush: A Royal Flush is not a separate category of hand; it is simply the highest possible version of a Straight Flush. This is why the hand rankings typically list “Royal Flush” under Straight Flush.Ties are Theoretically Possible: The only way to not win outright with a Royal Flush is in a community card game if all five cards of the Royal Flush appear on the board. In this case, every player still in the hand would play the board and split the pot.The “Bad Beat” Jackpot: In many casinos and online poker rooms, losing with a Royal Flush (which can only happen if the board allows for two, which is statistically almost impossible) is often the qualifying hand for the maximum “Bad Beat Jackpot,” paying out life-changing sums of money to the entire table.A Poker Icon: The Royal Flush is a cultural icon beyond poker, symbolizing the ultimate, unbeatable hand. For players, it is a lifetime achievement; many play for decades without ever being dealt one. Tips for Improving Your Hand Rankings: Practice, practice, practice – The best way to improve your hand rankings is to play more poker. The more you play, the more comfortable you’ll become with the different hands and their rankings. Study your opponents – Pay attention to your opponent’s playing styles and tendencies. This can help you make more informed decisions about when to fold, when to raise, and when to call. Don’t get too attached to a hand – Just because you have a strong hand doesn’t mean it’s unbeatable. Be prepared to fold if the board doesn’t work in your favor. Know when to bluff – Bluffing can be a powerful tool in poker, but it should be used sparingly and strategically. As Conclusion Understanding hand rankings is an essential part of playing poker. By knowing which hands are the strongest, you can make better decisions at the table and increase your chances of winning. Remember to practice, study your opponents, and don’t get too attached to a hand. With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a poker pro. Poker Hands Ranking - FAQ's What are the ranking poker hands? Here are the ranking poker hands, from highest to lowest: Royal Flush: A Royal Flush is the highest possible hand in poker, consisting of Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of the same suit. Straight Flush: A Straight Flush is a hand that contains five cards of sequential rank, all of the same suit. For example, 7-8-9-10-Jack of clubs. Four of a Kind: Four of a Kind, also known as quads, is a hand that contains four cards of the same rank, plus one unrelated card. Full House: A Full House is a hand that contains three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. For example, three Kings and two Jacks. Flush: A Flush is a hand that contains any five cards of the same suit, not in sequence. For example, five clubs. Straight: A Straight is a hand that contains five cards of sequential rank, not all of the same suit. Three of a Kind: Three of a Kind is a hand that contains three cards of the same rank, plus two unrelated cards. Two Pair: Two Pair is a hand that contains two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, plus one unrelated card. One Pair: One Pair is a hand that contains two cards of the same rank, plus three unrelated cards. High Card: If a player has none of the above hands, their highest card determines their ranking. If two players have the same high card, the second-highest card determines the winner, and so on. Remember, in poker, if two players have the same type of hand, the one with the higher-ranking cards wins. For example, if two players have a pair of Aces, the player with the higher second-highest card wins. Can an ace be a 1 in poker? Yes, in some cases an Ace can be considered a 1 in poker, but only when forming a straight. In this case, the Ace can be used as the lowest card in the straight sequence (A-2-3-4-5), or as the highest card in the sequence (10-J-Q-K-A). However, when it comes to other combinations, such as a pair, three of a kind, or a full house, the Ace is always considered the highest card in the hand. How rare is a royal flush? A Royal Flush is the rarest hand in poker. The odds of getting a Royal Flush in Texas Hold’em are approximately 1 in 649,740. This means that the chances of getting a Royal Flush in any given hand are very low, and players may go their entire poker playing career without ever getting one. However, it’s important to note that the rarity of the Royal Flush is what makes it such a special and exciting hand in the game of poker. Is ace 1 2 3 4 a straight in poker? No, Ace-2-3-4-5 is not considered a straight in poker. This is because in poker, a straight must consist of five consecutive cards of any suit. While Ace can be used to make a high straight (10-J-Q-K-A), it cannot be used as the lowest card in a straight sequence, as it would create a five-high straight (A-2-3-4-5), which is not recognized as a valid straight in poker. In such cases, Ace is considered the highest card in the hand. Does high card matter in a straight? In poker, a straight is formed when a player has five consecutive cards of any suit. In this case, the highest-ranking card in the straight determines the strength of the hand. For example, a straight consisting of 10-J-Q-K-A would beat a straight consisting of 9-10-J-Q-K, because the former hand contains a higher-ranking card (Ace) than the latter hand (9). However, it’s important to note that if two or more players have a straight, the player with the highest-ranking straight wins the hand, regardless of which high card they have. For example, if two players both have a straight consisting of 10-J-Q-K-A, the pot would be split between them, even if one player had a higher-ranking Ace than the other. Which suit is best in poker? In poker, there is no suit that is inherently better than the others. All four suits (Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, and Spades) are equal in value, and no suit outranks the others. In fact, the suits are only used to determine the rank of flushes and straight flushes. In the event of a tie between two or more hands that have the same rank, such as two flushes or two straight flushes, the player with the highest-ranking card in their hand wins. If two or more players have the same highest-ranking card, then the pot is split between them. Who wins if both players have a flush? In poker, if two or more players have a flush, the player with the highest-ranking flush wins the pot. If two or more players have the same highest-ranking flush, then the player with the highest-ranking card in their flush wins. If the highest-ranking cards in the flushes are also tied, then the pot is split between the players. It’s worth noting that the suits of the flushes do not matter in determining the winner, as all flushes are of equal rank, regardless of the suit. What is the most common hand in poker? The most common hand in poker is the high card hand. This occurs when none of the players at the table have a pair, two pairs, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, or royal flush. In this case, the winner of the hand is determined by the highest-ranking card in their hand. High card hands are common in poker, especially in games where the players are less experienced or are playing more conservatively. However, in high-level play, high card hands are relatively rare and are typically only seen at the beginning of a hand before the community cards are dealt. Is 7 8 9 10 jack a straight? Yes, 7-8-9-10-Jack is a straight in poker. In poker, a straight is a hand that contains five cards in sequential rank, regardless of their suit. So, any five cards in a row, such as 7-8-9-10-Jack, would be considered a straight. It’s important to note that an Ace can also be used to create a straight, either as the highest card in a ten-to-Ace straight (10-Jack-Queen-King-Ace) or as the lowest card in an Ace-to-five straight (Ace-2-3-4-5). What is the rarest thing to get in poker? The rarest hand in poker is the royal flush. This hand consists of a Ten, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace of the same suit. Since there are only four suits in a deck of cards, and only one combination of these five cards can exist within each suit, there are only four possible royal flushes in a deck of cards. The odds of being dealt a royal flush in a five-card poker game, such as Texas Hold’em or Five Card Draw, are incredibly low, at approximately 1 in 649,740. However, the odds of making a royal flush increase with longer games and games with more community cards, such as Omaha Hold’em, where players must use two of their own cards and three community cards to make their hand.