Comic 02 · Published

From royal flush to high card: a comic-style tour of what beats what in standard Texas Hold’em.

Vintage-style poker poster with ten numbered hand rankings, a best-to-worst arrow and characters holding cards. The accessible ranking list and rules notes below clarify the illustrated examples.
Poker hand rankings. Artwork generated with Google Gemini. Open the full image or save the comic. Original Gemini share.

The rankings, strongest to weakest

This text companion explains each category. The list follows standard high-hand poker, as used in full-deck Texas Hold’em.

  1. Royal flush

    A-K-Q-J-10, all in one suit.

  2. Straight flush

    Five consecutive ranks in one suit.

  3. Four of a kind

    Four matching ranks and a fifth card.

  4. Full house

    Three matching ranks plus a pair.

  5. Flush

    Five cards of one suit, without consecutive ranks.

  6. Straight

    Five consecutive ranks, not all one suit.

  7. Three of a kind

    Three matching ranks and two different side cards.

  8. Two pair

    Two distinct pairs and a fifth card.

  9. One pair

    One pair and three different side cards.

  10. High card

    No pair, straight or flush. Compare highest cards first.

The category comes first

A flush beats a straight. Within a category, compare its key ranks before side cards: for example, compare a full house’s three-of-a-kind rank before its pair. Kickers count only within the best five cards.

The poster’s “A Simple Pair can still win!” is a useful reminder: you do not need a spectacular hand to win a pot. You can also win before showdown when every opponent folds.

Ranking reference: PokerStars’ standard hand rankings. For practice, try a complete hand from deal to showdown.

Published by Nolan Kido. Artwork generated with Google Gemini; explanatory text prepared with AI assistance. This is an illustrated learning aid, not a recorded hand or a complete rulebook.