In the hierarchy of poker hands, a full house is an exceptionally strong combination, consisting of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank (e.g., three Kings and two Queens). However, there are specific, rarer hands that can beat it.
The only hands that can defeat a full house are:
- Four of a Kind: Also known as "quads," this hand consists of four cards of the same rank (e.g., four Aces).
- Straight Flush: This is a very rare hand comprised of five cards in sequential order, all of the same suit (e.g., 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 of Hearts).
- Royal Flush: The absolute best hand in poker, a Royal Flush is a specific type of straight flush that includes the Ten, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace, all of the same suit (e.g., 10, J, Q, K, A of Spades).
These three hands outrank a full house because of their lower probability of occurring, making them more valuable in poker.
Hands That Outrank a Full House
The following table illustrates the hands that are superior to a full house, listed in descending order of strength:
| Hand Rank | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | Ten, Jack, Queen, King, Ace, all of the same suit. | A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ |
| Straight Flush | Five consecutive cards of the same suit. | 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥ |
| Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same rank. | A♣ A♦ A♥ A♠ K♦ |
A full house ranks just below Four of a Kind.
When Two Full Houses Go Head-to-Head
While the above hands definitively beat a full house, it's also common for two or more players to hold a full house in the same hand. In such situations, specific rules determine the winner:
- Highest Three of a Kind Wins: The player with the full house containing the highest-ranking three of a kind wins. For example, Aces full of Kings (AAA-KK) beats Queens full of Tens (QQQ-TT) because three Aces is a higher rank than three Queens.
- Highest Pair Wins (If Three of a Kind are the Same): If, by rare chance, two players have a full house with the same rank for their three of a kind (this can only happen if community cards form the three of a kind), the winner is determined by the rank of the pair. For instance, if the board shows K-K-K-A-7, and one player has A-Q (making Kings full of Aces) while another has A-J (also making Kings full of Aces), this scenario would not occur as the ranks of the three of a kind and the pair would be fixed by the community cards. However, if the community cards were K-K-7 and a player had K-A, and another player had K-Q, and the river was an A for the first player, and a Q for the second, resulting in Kings full of Aces (K-K-K-A-A) versus Kings full of Queens (K-K-K-Q-Q), then Kings full of Aces would win.
Understanding these hand rankings is fundamental to playing poker effectively and making informed decisions during a game. For more detailed information on poker hand rankings, you can consult reputable sources like Poker.com's Hand Rankings Guide.
