Texas Hold'em Poker Reference Guide

Hand rankings, outs, and starting hands — everything you need at the table.

Last updated: April 2026

Hand Rankings

Strongest to weakest. Best 5 cards from 7 (2 hole + 5 board) win.

1
Royal FlushA K Q J 10 of the same suit
A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ T♠0.0032%
2
Straight FlushFive consecutive cards of the same suit
9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥0.028%
3
Four of a KindFour cards of the same rank
A♠ A♥ A♦ A♣ K♠0.17%
4
Full HouseThree of a kind + a pair
K♠ K♥ K♦ J♠ J♥2.60%
5
FlushFive cards of the same suit
A♠ J♠ 9♠ 5♠ 2♠3.03%
6
StraightFive consecutive cards
T♠ 9♥ 8♦ 7♣ 6♠4.62%
7
Three of a KindThree cards of the same rank
Q♠ Q♥ Q♦ 8♠ 4♣4.83%
8
Two PairTwo different pairs
J♠ J♥ 7♦ 7♣ A♠23.5%
9
One PairTwo cards of the same rank
T♠ T♦ A♥ 7♠ 3♣43.8%
10
High CardNo combination — highest card plays
A♠ K♦ J♥ 8♣ 3♠17.4%

Outs Quick Reference

Rule of 4 & 2: multiply outs × 4 after the flop (2 cards to come), or × 2 on the turn (1 card to come).

OutsBy river (×4)Next card (×2)Example draw
28.4%4.5%Pocket pair → Trips
416.5%8.7%Gutshot straight draw
624.1%13.0%Two overcards
831.5%17.4%Open-ended straight draw
935.0%19.6%Flush draw
1245.0%26.1%Flush + gutshot
1554.1%32.6%Flush + open-ended straight

Pre-flop Starting Hands

s = suited, o = offsuit. Position matters — loosen ranges in late position.

PremiumRaise/re-raise from any position
AAKKQQJJAKs
StrongOpen from most positions
TT99AQsAJsKQsAKo
PlayablePlayable in position, fold to re-raises
8877ATsKJsQJsJTsAQo
MarginalSituational — position and reads matter
66–22A9s–A2sKTs–K9sAxoSuited connectors

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 10 poker hands in order?

From strongest to weakest: Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, High Card.

What is the Rule of 4 and 2 in poker?

The Rule of 4 & 2 is a quick way to estimate your equity. On the flop (2 cards to come), multiply your outs by 4. On the turn (1 card to come), multiply by 2. Example: 9 flush draw outs × 4 = 36% equity by the river.

What starting hands should I always play in Texas Hold'em?

Premium hands — AA, KK, QQ, JJ, and AKs — should always be raised from any position. These represent the top ~3% of all starting hands.

How many outs is a flush draw?

A flush draw has 9 outs (13 cards of a suit minus the 4 you already see). Using Rule of 2 on the turn, that gives roughly 18% to hit on the next card.

Definitions

Outs
Cards remaining in the deck that will improve your hand to likely the best hand.
Rule of 4 & 2
A mental shortcut: multiply your outs by 4 on the flop (2 cards to come) or by 2 on the turn (1 card to come) to estimate your equity percentage.
Equity
Your percentage share of the pot based on your probability of winning at showdown.
Position
Where you sit relative to the dealer button. Acting last (in position) is a major strategic advantage.
Suited
When your two hole cards are the same suit, giving you a chance to make a flush.

Recommended Reading

The Course: Serious Hold 'Em Strategy for Smart Players — Ed Miller

The clearest step-by-step path from $1/$2 to mid-stakes live cash — skill by skill.

The Theory of Poker — David Sklansky

The classic foundation every serious player starts with — the Fundamental Theorem of Poker.

As an Amazon Associate, RiverOdds earns from qualifying purchases.

Related Guides

What Is the River? →
Final community card, river betting, and showdown explained.
C-Bet Poker Strategy →
Continuation betting by board texture, position, and range advantage.
Poker Math Explained →
Equity, outs, pot odds, and EV in one complete guide.
All Poker Guides →
Browse every RiverOdds strategy and poker odds guide.

Put It Into Practice

Use RiverOdds to calculate your exact equity for any hand — instantly, for free.

Open Odds Calculator →