What hand Beats what in Poker?

The question "what beats what in poker?", much like the question, "what is a dead man's hand?", is constantly asked by newcomers to poker. Knowing what hand beats another is essential poker knowledge, whether you're playing straight, draw, stud or even video poker, you need to know the hand hierarchy. If you're looking for an in-depth guide to how to play video poker, then please consult our video poker article, otherwise, read on for a quick glance at what hand beats what in poker.

Poker Hand Hierarchy

These hands are hierarchised from high value to low value. Essentially, if you have one of the top 5 hands (royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush) you will beat the bottom 4 hands (straight, three of a kind, two pairs, Jacks or better).

Royal Flush (Highest)

Straight Flush

Four of a Kind

Full House

Flush

Straight

Three of a Kind

Two Pairs

Jacks or Better (Lowest)

In our video poker guide, you can find out what card values are in each hand, but for a quick glance summary, the top 5 hands are what you really need to look out for in any game of poker.