A visual reference to the ten familiar hand labels, followed by the kicker, shared-board, and ace-low situations that often confuse new viewers.
For viewers of standard 52-card no-limit Texas hold'em. All hands, stacks, payouts, and graphics on this page are fictional teaching examples, not footage or results from Nolan's vlog.
Strongest to weakest
Read down the list. A royal flush is the highest straight flush, not a separate mathematical hand category. These are standard hold'em rankings, not short-deck or lowball rankings.
Royal flush
The ace-high straight flush, the highest possible hand.
Straight flush
Five consecutive ranks in one suit.
Four of a kind
Four equal ranks plus one side card.
Full house
Three of one rank and two of another.
Flush
Five cards of one suit, not consecutive.
Straight
Five consecutive ranks, not all one suit.
Three of a kind
Three equal ranks and two unmatched side cards.
Two pair
Two different pairs and a side card.
One pair
One pair and three unmatched side cards.
High card
None of the combinations above.
Compare only the best five cards
First compare the category. Within the same category compare the defining ranks, then any kickers from highest to lowest. A full house compares its three-of-a-kind rank first. Two pair compares the higher pair, then the lower pair, then the fifth card. A flush compares all five cards in descending order until they differ.
A sixth or seventh card cannot break a tie. Suits do not rank hands: a spade flush does not beat a heart flush merely because it is spades. If both players' best five-card hands have equal ranks, they share the relevant pot; an indivisible odd chip follows the event's procedure.
An ace can sit above a king or below a two in a straight. A-2-3-4-5 is five-high; Q-K-A-2-3 is not a straight. Four matching suits are a draw, not a completed flush.
Four fictional showdowns
Choose the best five before opening the answer. Every board is complete.
The kicker counts
Player A:
Player B:
Board:
Reveal the winner: The kicker counts
A wins: Q-Q-A-9-7 beats Q-Q-J-9-7. The pair is equal; the first different kicker decides.
The board supplies everything
Player A:
Player B:
Board:
Reveal the winner: The board supplies everything
Tie. Both play A-A-K-K-Q from the board. None of their hole cards improves those five, and there is no sixth-card tiebreaker.
Full house versus full house
Player A:
Player B:
Board:
Reveal the winner: Full house versus full house
A wins with aces full of kings, A-A-A-K-K. B has kings full of aces, K-K-K-A-A. Compare the three matching cards before comparing the pair.
The ace is low this time
Player A:
Player B:
Board:
Reveal the winner: The ace is low this time
B wins with a seven-high straight, 3-4-5-6-7. A has the five-high wheel, A-2-3-4-5. The ace is functioning as a one, not a high-card tiebreaker.
During an unfinished hand, the leader can change when another board card arrives. A ranking chart answers who wins with the cards available; it does not by itself tell you who should bet or call.
References and limits
PokerStars: traditional hand ranks; WSOP: five-card comparisons and ties.
References checked October 5, 2026. Explanations and examples are written for this site. Event structures and house rulings can differ; this is not a tournament rulebook or a guarantee of profitable play. External references may contain commercial offers; no account or purchase is needed to read this guide.
Published . Prepared with AI assistance. Use learning materials away from live play; follow the event's device and assistance rules.