poker rules hands
Poker Rules For Hands: What Beats What
Learn the poker rules for hands, including what beats what, how ties work, and why rankings are only part of tournament play.
Search intent
Rules intent from players trying to understand what wins at showdown.
The basic rule
The best five-card poker hand wins the pot at showdown. Hand category is compared first, then ranks and kickers decide ties inside the same category.
What beats what
Royal flush beats straight flush, straight flush beats four of a kind, four of a kind beats full house, full house beats flush, flush beats straight, straight beats three of a kind, three of a kind beats two pair, two pair beats one pair, and one pair beats high card.
How ties work
If two players have the same category, compare the cards that make the hand and then kickers. If the best five-card hand is exactly the same, the pot is split.
Tournament rule of thumb
Knowing what beats what helps after the flop, but preflop tournament decisions depend heavily on stack depth and fold equity before any final hand is made.