A straight in poker is one of the most exciting hands a player can make, ranking as the sixth strongest hand in traditional poker rankings. A straight consists of five cards in consecutive order, regardless of suit, such as 5-6-7-8-9 or 10-Jack-Queen-King-Ace. This hand beats three-of-a-kind, two pair, one pair, and high card hands, but loses to flushes, full houses, four-of-a-kind, straight flushes, and royal flushes.
Understanding straights is essential for any poker player looking to improve their game. The hand appears simple on the surface, but mastering when to play it aggressively, how to recognize straight draws, and calculating the odds requires skill and practice. Different types of straights carry varying levels of strength, and the highest card in the sequence determines which straight wins in a showdown.
This comprehensive guide covers everything players need to know about straights, from basic definitions to advanced strategy. Readers will learn about different straight variations, how they rank against other poker hands, and the mathematical probabilities involved in making these powerful combinations across popular poker variants.
What Is a Straight in Poker?
A straight in poker is a five-card hand containing cards in numerical order, regardless of suit. The ace can work as either the highest or lowest card in the sequence, but cannot wrap around from king to two.
Straight Definition and Hand Structure
A poker straight consists of exactly five cards that follow each other in rank. The suits of these cards do not matter for making the hand.
Examples of valid straights include:
- A♥K♣Q♥J♠T♦ (ace-high straight)
- 9♠8♥7♦6♣5♥ (nine-high straight)
- 6♠5♥4♦3♣2♥ (six-high straight)
The straight in poker ranks as the sixth-best hand in standard poker rankings. It beats three-of-a-kind, two pair, one pair, and high card hands.
A straight loses to flushes, full houses, four-of-a-kind, straight flushes, and royal flushes. The highest card in the sequence determines the straight’s strength when two players both have straights.
Players need all five cards to be in perfect numerical order. Missing even one card in the sequence means the hand is not a straight.
Card Sequence Rules for Straights
Poker hand sequences must follow strict numerical order without gaps. Valid sequences include 2-3-4-5-6 up through 10-J-Q-K-A.
The cards can be any combination of suits. For example, 8♣7♥6♠5♦4♥ is a valid eight-high straight even with mixed suits.
Wrap-around straights are not allowed in poker. A hand like Q♥K♣A♠2♦3♥ does not count as a straight. This combination is simply an ace-high hand.
When two players have straights, the one with the higher top card wins. A jack-high straight (J-10-9-8-7) beats a ten-high straight (10-9-8-7-6).
The lowest possible straight is 5-4-3-2-A, called a wheel. The highest possible straight is A-K-Q-J-10, called Broadway.
Ace Usage in Straights
The ace serves a unique role in five-card hand straights. It can act as either the highest card (A-K-Q-J-10) or the lowest card (5-4-3-2-A).
In high straights, the ace sits at the top:
- A♠K♥Q♦J♣10♥ (Broadway straight)
In low straights, the ace acts as a one:
- 5♥4♦3♣2♥A♠ (wheel straight)
The ace cannot be used in the middle of a sequence. Hands like K-A-2-3-4 or Q-K-A-2-3 are not valid straights.
When the ace plays low in a wheel, it has a value of one for that hand only. This makes the five-high straight the weakest of all possible straights.
Players must remember that ace-high straights beat all other straights, while ace-low straights lose to all other straights except in lowball games.
Types of Straights in Poker
Poker has three main types of straights that players can make. Each type uses five consecutive cards but differs in suit requirements and hand strength.
Standard Straight
A standard straight consists of five consecutive cards of mixed suits. This hand ranks fifth in poker hand rankings and beats three of a kind, two pair, pair, and high card.
The highest possible straight is A-K-Q-J-10, also called “Broadway.” The lowest straight is 5-4-3-2-A, known as the “wheel” or “bicycle.”
Players can make 10 different straight combinations in poker:
- A-K-Q-J-10 (Broadway)
- K-Q-J-10-9
- Q-J-10-9-8
- J-10-9-8-7
- 10-9-8-7-6
- 9-8-7-6-5
- 8-7-6-5-4
- 7-6-5-4-3
- 6-5-4-3-2
- 5-4-3-2-A (Wheel)
The ace can only be high or low in a straight. It cannot wrap around, so Q-K-A-2-3 is not a valid straight.
When two players have straights, the one with the highest top card wins. If both straights are identical, the pot splits equally.
Straight Flush
A straight flush combines five consecutive cards of the same suit. This hand ranks second in poker hand rankings and only loses to a royal flush.
Making a straight flush requires both numerical sequence and matching suits. For example, 9♠-8♠-7♠-6♠-5♠ creates a nine-high straight flush.
The odds of making a straight flush are extremely low at 0.002%. This rarity makes it one of the most powerful hands in poker.
When two straight flushes compete, the one with the higher top card wins. A jack-high straight flush beats a nine-high straight flush.
Players can make straight flushes in any of the four suits: hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades. Each suit can produce multiple straight flush combinations.
The lowest straight flush is 5-4-3-2-A of the same suit. The highest non-royal straight flush is K-Q-J-10-9 of the same suit.
Royal Flush
A royal flush represents the best possible hand in poker. It consists of A-K-Q-J-10 all in the same suit.
Only four royal flushes exist in a standard 52-card deck – one for each suit. The probability of getting a royal flush is 0.0002%, making it extremely rare.
All royal flushes have equal value regardless of suit. If two players somehow held royal flushes, the pot would split evenly.
Royal Flush Combinations:
- A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ (Spades)
- A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ 10♥ (Hearts)
- A♦ K♦ Q♦ J♦ 10♦ (Diamonds)
- A♣ K♣ Q♣ J♣ 10♣ (Clubs)
Most poker players will never see a royal flush in regular play. The hand beats every other possible combination without exception.
Some poker games use the term “royal straight flush” instead of royal flush. Both terms refer to the same unbeatable hand.
Straight Hand Rankings and Comparisons
A straight ranks in the middle of poker hand rankings, sitting at fifth place out of ten possible hands. It beats several common hands like three of a kind and two pair but loses to stronger hands like flushes and full houses.
Rank of a Straight Among Poker Hands
A straight holds the fifth position in standard poker hand rankings. This places it exactly in the middle of the ten-hand hierarchy.
The complete poker hand rankings from strongest to weakest are:
- Royal flush
- Straight flush
- Four of a kind
- Full house
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a kind
- Two pair
- One pair
- High card
When two players both have straights, the higher straight wins. A straight to the ace (10-J-Q-K-A) beats a straight to the king (9-10-J-Q-K).
The ace can be used in two ways for straights. It can be high in a “Broadway” straight (10-J-Q-K-A) or low in a “wheel” straight (A-2-3-4-5).
Which Hands Beat a Straight
Five poker hands can beat a straight. These are all the hands ranked above it in the standard hierarchy.
A flush beats a straight. Any five cards of the same suit, regardless of sequence, will defeat any straight.
A full house beats a straight. This hand combines three of a kind with one pair.
Four of a kind beats a straight. Four cards of the same rank easily defeat five cards in sequence.
A straight flush beats a straight. This hand contains five cards in sequence of the same suit.
A royal flush beats a straight. This is the highest possible hand, containing 10-J-Q-K-A all in the same suit.
What Hands Are Beaten by a Straight
A straight defeats five different poker hands. These are the most common hands players will hold during a game.
Three of a kind loses to a straight. Three cards of the same rank cannot beat five cards in sequence.
Two pair loses to a straight. Even strong two pair combinations fall short against any straight.
One pair loses to a straight. A single pair, no matter how high, cannot compete with a straight.
High card loses to a straight. When players have no pairs or combinations, their highest cards determine the winner, but this always loses to a straight.
Since these four hands make up the majority of poker hands dealt, straights win more often than they lose. Players with straights should generally bet for value against opponents showing strength.
Forming Straights in Popular Poker Variants
The rules for forming straights differ between poker variants based on how many cards players can use. Texas Hold’em allows players to use any combination of their hole cards and community cards, while Omaha requires exactly two hole cards in the final five-card hand.
Straights in Texas Hold’em
Players can form straights in Texas Hold’em using any combination of their two hole cards and the five community cards. They need exactly five consecutive cards to make a straight.
The most common way to make straights is by holding suited connectors like 8♠ 9♠. These hands can connect with multiple board textures.
One-gappers like 7♦ 9♣ also work well. They need specific cards but can surprise opponents when they hit.
Players can use both hole cards, one hole card, or even no hole cards. A board showing 5-6-7-8-9 gives everyone the same straight.
Open-ended straight draws provide eight outs to complete. A player holding 8-9 on a 6-7-J board can catch any 5 or 10.
Gutshot straight draws offer only four outs. Holding 8-9 on a 6-10-K board requires exactly a 7 to complete.
Straights in Omaha
Omaha poker requires players to use exactly two of their four hole cards plus three community cards. This rule makes straight formation more complex than Texas Hold’em.
Players must have connecting cards in their hand to make straights. Holding A-2-K-Q gives straight possibilities with the ace-low or broadway combinations.
Wrap draws are powerful in Omaha. A hand like 8-9-10-J on a 6-7-2 flop can complete straights with 5s, 9s, 10s, or jacks.
The four-card starting hands create more straight draw opportunities. Players often have multiple ways to make straights on connected boards.
Nut straights become more important in Omaha. With more players seeing flops, the highest possible straight wins more often than smaller straights.
Five-Card Draw and Other Formats
Five-card draw gives players exactly five cards to work with initially. Players must rely on their starting hand and the draw to complete straights.
Drawing to straights requires careful consideration. Open-ended draws give better odds than gutshot attempts when deciding which cards to discard.
Seven-card stud allows players to use their best five cards from seven total. This format provides more opportunities to complete straights than five-card games.
Razz poker uses ace-to-five low rankings. The wheel straight (A-2-3-4-5) becomes the best possible low hand rather than just a straight.
In tournament formats, straight draws become more valuable as blinds increase. The potential to win large pots makes drawing decisions more profitable.
Odds and Probability of Making a Straight
The odds of making a straight in poker vary greatly depending on the situation. Players receive a straight from five random cards roughly once in every 250 hands, while drawing to complete straights offers much better chances.
Chance of Being Dealt a Straight
A player has a 0.39% chance of being dealt a straight when receiving five random cards. This equals odds of approximately 254-to-1 against making the hand.
In Texas Hold’em, the odds change significantly. A player with suited connectors has about a 1.3% chance to flop a straight. This happens because they can use seven total cards instead of just five.
The probability increases with more cards available. Seven-card games give players better chances than five-card games. Players should remember that these odds exclude straight flushes and royal flushes from the calculation.
Key Statistics:
- Five-card straight: 0.39% (254-to-1 against)
- Flopping a straight with connectors: 1.3%
- Frequency: 1 in 250 hands
Open-Ended Straight Draw Odds
An open-ended straight draw gives players eight cards to complete their straight. This happens when a player needs one card on either end of four cards in sequence.
With an open-ended draw on the flop, players have 31.5% odds to make their straight by the river. They have roughly 17% odds to complete it on the turn alone.
The math works simply. Eight cards complete the straight out of 47 unseen cards on the turn. This equals about 8-to-1 odds against making it immediately.
Players often use the “rule of four” for quick calculations. They multiply their outs by four to estimate their chances from flop to river. Eight outs times four equals roughly 32%, which matches the actual probability.
Gutshot Straight Draw Probability
A gutshot straight draw offers only four cards to complete the straight. Players need one specific rank to fill the gap in their four-card sequence.
The odds of completing a gutshot are much lower than open-ended draws. Players have 16.5% odds from flop to river and about 8.5% odds on the turn alone.
With four outs, the immediate odds are roughly 10-to-1 against making the straight. This makes gutshots much weaker than open-ended draws, which have twice as many outs.
Players should be more cautious with gutshot draws. The lower probability means they need better pot odds to justify calling bets. Smart players often fold gutshots unless they have additional outs or excellent pot odds.
Straight Strategy and Playing Tips
A player’s success with straights depends on reading board textures correctly and knowing when to extract maximum value. Smart semi-bluffing with straight draws and calculating proper pot odds separate winning players from losing ones.
Playing Straights in Different Board Textures
Dry boards favor straight play more than wet boards. On a rainbow flop like 6-7-8 with different suits, a straight faces fewer threats from flushes or full houses.
Wet boards require more caution. When the board shows 9-10-J with two hearts, a player holding K-Q for the nut straight must consider that opponents could complete flushes on later streets.
Paired boards create the biggest danger for straights. A board like 8-9-10-10 means any opponent with trips or a full house beats even the strongest straight.
Players should bet more aggressively on dry textures. On wet boards, they should size bets smaller and be ready to fold if action gets heavy. Position matters most on dangerous boards since acting last provides crucial information about opponent strength.
Using Straights for Semi-Bluffing
Open-ended straight draws offer powerful semi-bluff opportunities. A player holding 7-8 on a 9-10-A board has eight outs to complete their straight. This gives them strong equity even when behind.
Gutshot draws work better as semi-bluffs in specific spots. With only four outs, players need good fold equity to make these bluffs profitable. They work best against tight opponents who fold frequently.
Position affects semi-bluff sizing. In early position, smaller bets work better since players must act without information. In late position, larger semi-bluff bets can pressure opponents more effectively.
The key is balancing semi-bluff frequency with value hands. Players who only bet with completed hands become too predictable and miss profit opportunities.
Maximizing Value and Pot Odds with Straights
Pot odds calculations help determine profitable calls with straight draws. If the pot contains $100 and an opponent bets $50, the pot offers 3:1 odds. Open-ended draws need roughly 2:1 odds to call profitably.
Value betting requires reading opponent ranges carefully. Against loose-passive players, larger bets extract more value. Against tight players, smaller bets keep weaker hands in the pot longer.
Implied odds become crucial with hidden straights. When holding 5-6 on a 7-8-9 board, the straight looks like a bluff to opponents. This disguise can lead to bigger payoffs on later streets.
| Draw Type | Outs | Pot Odds Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Open-ended | 8 | 2:1 |
| Gutshot | 4 | 5:1 |
Players should track how opponents react to straight-heavy boards. Some fold too often, making bluffs profitable. Others call too wide, making value bets more profitable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Players often have specific questions about straight hands and how they compare to other poker combinations. Understanding the differences between straight types, their rankings, and tie-breaking rules helps players make better decisions at the table.
How is a straight flush different from a regular straight in poker?
A regular straight contains five cards in sequence with different suits. For example, 7♥ 8♦ 9♠ 10♣ J♦ makes a straight.
A straight flush contains five cards in sequence that all share the same suit. An example would be 7♠ 8♠ 9♠ 10♠ J♠.
The straight flush ranks much higher than a regular straight. It sits at position 2 on the hand rankings chart, while a regular straight ranks at position 6.
Can you explain the poker hand rankings where straights are concerned?
A straight beats three-of-a-kind, two pair, one pair, and high card hands. It loses to flush, full house, four-of-a-kind, straight flush, and royal flush hands.
The straight ranks exactly in the middle of all poker hands. Five hands beat it, and four hands lose to it.
Players can expect to make a straight about once every 250 hands when dealt five random cards.
What are the various types of straights possible in a game of poker?
Players can make different types of straights based on their highest card. The highest possible straight runs from 10 through Ace (10-J-Q-K-A).
The lowest straight runs from Ace through 5 (A-2-3-4-5). This hand is often called a “wheel” or “bicycle.”
All other straights fall between these two extremes. Examples include 6-7-8-9-10 or 8-9-10-J-Q.
Is an ace-2-3-4-5 straight valid and how does it rank in poker?
The ace-2-3-4-5 straight is completely valid in most poker games. The ace acts as a low card in this combination rather than a high card.
This straight ranks as the lowest possible straight. Any other straight will beat it in a showdown.
Players cannot wrap around with an ace. A combination like Q-K-A-2-3 does not make a straight.
How many distinct straights are there in a standard deck of poker cards?
A standard deck allows for exactly 10 different straight combinations. These range from A-2-3-4-5 up to 10-J-Q-K-A.
Each straight can be made with different suit combinations. The total number of ways to make all straights is 10,200.
When players exclude straight flushes from this count, 10,200 regular straights remain possible.
What is the correct way to determine the winner in a poker game when two players have straights?
The player with the highest-ranking straight wins the pot. Players compare the highest card in each straight to determine the winner.
A straight ending in a king beats a straight ending in a jack. The suits of the cards do not matter for comparison purposes.
If both players have identical straights, they split the pot evenly. This situation occurs when community cards form the straight and neither player can improve it with their hole cards.
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