The Straight is fifth on the poker hand rankings A Straight comprises five cards that are in sequential order.
When you hear the term 'Straight', think of it as five cards neatly lined up in succession, making it quite straightforward to recognize.
The highest ranking Straight one can achieve is A-K-Q-J-10, often referred to as 'Broadway'. On the other end, the lowest Straight is A-2-3-4-5, which goes by the nicknames 'Wheel' or 'Bicycle'. poker lingo.
A♠K♥Q♣J♥10♠ aka BROADWAY
A♥2♣3♠4♦5♥aka the WHEEL or BICYCLE
In the case of Straights, the suits of the cards are irrelevant. However, not all Straights have the same rank.
When comparing different Straights, their ranking is determined by the value of the highest card, followed by the value of the second-highest card, and so on.
How Does a Straight Hand Rank?
Within a standard deck of 52 playing cards, there exist 10,200 combinations that can form a Straight, classified into 10 distinct ranks. Each Straight's value is primarily judged by its highest card, followed by the second highest, continuing down the line.
Here are some examples of Straights:
K♠Q♣J♦10♠9♦
Q♥J♥10♣9♠8♥
J♣10♦9♣8♠7♣
10♦9♠8♦7♦6♦
The quality of a Straight is dictated by the highest card in the sequence; suits do not factor into the rankings. For instance, a Queen-high Straight is superior to a Jack-high Straight, regardless of which suits the cards belong to, and so on.
How Does a Straight Hand Match Up?
In the hierarchy of poker hands, a Straight stands as the fifth best option available. Above it ranks the Flush, which is strongest when it features an Ace-high card. Despite its fifth-place standing, a Straight remains a challenging hand to beat in games like Hold'em. Flush There are a handful of hands that rank lower than a Straight, with the immediate lesser hand being called 'Three of a Kind.' This hand is notably strongest when it features three Aces, commonly known as a set of Aces or trip Aces.
Next, we will delve into the probabilities associated with forming a Straight during the pre-flop, flop, turn, and river phases in poker games (drawing from a full 52-card deck) (excluding royal and straight flushes), (when holding two connected cards ranging from J-10 to 5-4), (if you have an open-ended straight draw after the flop), (while holding four consecutive cards like 4-5-6-7 or 8-9-T-J), (Open Ended Straight Draw - 8 Outs - Example: 4-5-Q-Q with a flop of 6-7-K), (Inside Broadway Draw - 9 Outs - Example: 5-10-J-K on a flop of 7-Q-A), (12 Out Straight Draw - 12 Outs - Example: 7-9-J-Q on a flop of 2-8-10), (13 Card Wrap Draw - 13 Outs - Example: 5-6-8-9 on a flop of 4-7-K), (17 Card Wrap Draw - 17 Outs - Example: 10-9-6-2 on a flop of 8-7-A), (20 Card Wrap Draw - 20 Outs - Example: 10-9-6-5 on a flop of 8-7-2). Three-of-a-Kind Question 1: What exactly constitutes a 'straight' in poker?
Straight Poker Probabilities
In the poker world, a straight refers to a combination of five cards that follow each other in rank, such as 56789. Aces can be utilized as either the highest or lowest cards when forming a straight, but they must occupy either the starting or ending position of the hand’s structure. Hold'em and Pot Limit Omaha .
| Hold'em Probabilities | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pre-flop: | 0.39% | Question 2: Which straight holds the winning edge in poker? |
| Flop: | 1.30% | The power of a straight is based on the rank of its top card. Thus, the highest straight you can get is the Broadway straight (TJQKA) while the lowest is the Wheel (A2345). These are referred to as Ace-high and Five-high straights, respectively. |
| Turn: | 16.90% | Question 3: Is a straight considered a powerful hand in Hold’em? |
| River: | 17.20% | (from an open-ended-straight-draw) |
| Pot Limit Omaha Probabilities | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pre-flop: | 0.39% | Question 2: Which straight holds the winning edge in poker? |
| Flop: | 4.90% | While straights generally hold a strong position in Hold’em, their strength can fluctuate significantly depending on the composition of the board. They are at their most powerful when there are no pairs on the board and no flushes or higher straights are possible. |
| Turn: | 17.78% | Question 4: Does a straight prevail over a flush? |
| 20% | It's a common misconception among novices to consider whether a straight outranks a flush in poker. In reality, a flush is the superior hand and will triumph over a straight. | |
| 26.67% | Question 5: What exactly is a 'wrap around' straight? | |
| 28.89% | A 'wrap around' straight occurs when an Ace occupies a middle position within the sequence, for instance, QKA23. Such straights are generally not considered valid in nearly all poker variants, with a few notable exceptions. | |
| 37.78% | Having clarified the concept of a Straight, we can proceed to explore the next hand in our series. | |
| 44.44% | Discover more about 4-of-a-Kind hands in poker. | |
| River: | 18.18% | Question 4: Does a straight prevail over a flush? |
| 20.45% | It's a common misconception among novices to consider whether a straight outranks a flush in poker. In reality, a flush is the superior hand and will triumph over a straight. | |
| 27.27% | Question 5: What exactly is a 'wrap around' straight? | |
| 29.55% | A 'wrap around' straight occurs when an Ace occupies a middle position within the sequence, for instance, QKA23. Such straights are generally not considered valid in nearly all poker variants, with a few notable exceptions. | |
| 38.63% | Having clarified the concept of a Straight, we can proceed to explore the next hand in our series. | |
| 45.45% | Discover more about 4-of-a-Kind hands in poker. |
Visit our Straight Poker Odds article for more information
Straight – FAQ
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Learn more about Two Pair hands in poker.
Find out about 3-of-a-Kind hands in poker.
Explore Straight Flush hands in the game of poker.
Get informed about One Pair hands in poker.
Gain insights into High Card hands in poker.
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