What Is The Highest Hand in Poker? A Quick Guide to the Royal Flush
Have you ever sat at a poker table, shuffled your chips, and wondered, If I’m super lucky, what’s the absolute best hand I can possibly get? In almost every standard form of poker, that top dog is the Royal Flush—an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten all in the same suit.
Why Does the Royal Flush Take the Crown?
- Rarity: The odds of seeing a Royal Flush dealt in a standard 52-card deck are around 1 in 649,740. That’s why you rarely hear someone say, “Oh yeah, I had a Royal Flush last night.”
- Complete Dominance: It beats everything, no exceptions (except in extremely specialized games). If you land this combo, you effectively have an unbeatable hand—short of a scenario where somebody else also has a Royal Flush (in which case you’d likely split the pot).
- Status Symbol: There’s something magical about turning over those five perfect cards. Even if you’re not a pro, a Royal Flush can instantly give you a memorable poker story.
A Quick Refresher on Hand Rankings
To put the Royal Flush in context, here’s the typical hierarchy from best to worst in Texas Hold’em or similar variants:
- Royal Flush (A-K-Q-J-10 of the same suit)
- Straight Flush (any five consecutive cards of the same suit, like 5-6-7-8-9 of hearts)
- Four of a Kind (four cards of the same rank, e.g., four 7s)
- Full House (three of a kind + a pair)
- Flush (five cards of the same suit, not in sequence)
- Straight (five consecutive cards, suit doesn’t matter)
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- One Pair
- High Card (no combination, you just rely on your highest card)
Notable Royal Flush Moments
- Chris Moneymaker (2003 WSOP): The legendary run where Chris, a then-amateur, ended up winning the Main Event. In one of the key hands on his path, a Royal Flush helped build the hype and catapulted him to poker stardom.
- Phil Ivey’s Big Moment: Poker icon Phil Ivey once hit a Royal Flush in a high-stakes event, proving that even the best sometimes get a little nudge from Lady Luck.
Playing High Hands Strategically
Even though the Royal Flush is the ultimate dream (and you can’t “play” into it without the luck factor), here are some general tips for playing your very strong hands:
- Use Position Wisely: Acting after your opponents gives you more info—when you have a big hand, you can decide whether to slow-play or bet aggressively.
- Read Opponents: Watch how they bet. If they’re cautious, you might bet smaller to keep them in. If they’re aggressive, you might let them do the betting for you.
- Bluff Carefully: Sometimes having a strong hand allows you to act weaker to lull others into betting big. But if you’re an obvious big-bettor, they might fold quickly.
The Takeaway
When people ask, “What is the highest hand in poker?” the answer is simple: the Royal Flush. But remember, poker is much more than just chasing that dream. Good strategy, keen observation, solid bankroll management, and a dose of confidence matter more for consistent winning. If you’re lucky enough to see those five shining cards come together in hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades, enjoy the moment—it’s one of the most satisfying feelings in the game. And who knows—you might end up with a story you’ll tell at the poker table for years to come!
