Straight in Poker: Hand Ranking
When your hand has 5 cards of consecutive value, it is known as a straight. For example, 5♦, 6♣, 7♠, 8♥, 9♦ is a straight. It’s important to understand that you need 5 cards to make a straight, do not make the common rookie mistake of considering 3 consecutive cards as a straight.
To make a straight, you do not necessarily need to use your two-hole cards. You can use either one of your cards. For example:
Hole cards: 7♥️A♣️
Community cards on the table: 5♣️6♣️8♦️9♠️K♦️
Straight: 5♣️6♣️7♥️8♦️9♠️
Straight - Hand Rankings
Straight is the 6th most powerful hand in poker game. Right above three-of-a-kind and just below a flush.
- Royal Flush
- Straight Flush
- Four of a kind
- Full House
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of kind
- Two pair
- One pair
- High card
What is the Probability of Getting a Straight in Poker?
The probability of making a straight in poker is fairly low and that is why it is considered a powerful hand. Here’s the list of poker hands and the probabilities of making them on the flop:
| Hand | Probability |
| Royal Flush | 0.000154% |
| Straight Flush | 0.00139% |
| Four of a kind | 0.02401% |
| Full House | 0.1441% |
| Flush | 0.1965% |
| Straight | 0.3925% |
| three-of-a-kind | 2.1128% |
| Two pair | 4.75359% |
| One pair | 42.2569% |
| High card | 50.1177% |
Straight in Poker: Texas Hold'em Probabilities
In Texas Hold’em Poker, getting a straight has moderate odds. The probability of hitting a straight changes through each round, as more cards open up. Below is a breakdown of the odds of getting a straight:
| Round | Probability for a Straight |
| Pre-Flop | 0.4% if the player has two connecting hole cards. Example: 6-7, J-Q |
| Flop | 1.3% chance of hitting a straight on the flop |
| Turn | 8.4% chance if you're having a straight draw after the flop |
| River | 8.7% chance if you’re having a straight draw after turn |
Straight in Poker: Pot Limit Omaha Probabilities
In Pot Limit Omaha (PLO), the odds of making a straight change from round to round. In PLO, the players are initially dealt four hole cards which makes hand potential and draws more common than in Texas Hold’em. Below is a breakdown of the odds of getting a straight in PLO:
| Stage | Straight Draw Type | Example | Odds of Completing |
| Flop | Open-ended straight draw (8 Outs) | 4 connected cards with gaps on each end. | 31.5% |
| Double gutshot (8 Outs) | 4 cards with two possible gaps for straights. | 31.5% | |
| Turn | Open-ended straight draw (8 Outs) | 4 connected cards with gaps on each end. | 17.4% |
| Double gutshot (8 Outs) | 4 cards with two possible gaps for straights. | 17.4% | |
| River | Any straight-completing draw | Final chance to complete the straight. | 0% unless the river card hits. |
Let’s understand more about straight with a few examples:
Example 1 (straight on river)Hole cards (cards that you get): 6♥️7♣️
Flop: 8♣️9♠️2♦️
Turn: K♦️
River: 5♦️
Straight: 5♦️6♥️7♣️8♣️9♠️
Example 2 (straight on turn)Hole cards (cards that you get): 6♥️7♣️
Flop: 8♦️9♦️2♣️
Turn: 5♣️
River: K ♠️
Straight: 5♣️6♥️7♣️8♦️9♦️
Example 3 (straight on flop)Hole cards (cards that you get): 6♥️7♣️
Flop: 8♣️9♣️10♥️
Turn: A♦️
River: K♦️
Straight in Poker - Strategic Insights
Here are a few ways you can play a straight:
Check for connected cards
If you have connected cards, i.e. two cards of consecutive value, the probability of you making a straight is higher. For example, if you have 8 ♣️ 9 ♣️ as your hole cards, you should look out for that straight.
Check for open-ended combinations
Open-ended combinations are the ones where you can make straight in two ways, for example, if you have 8 ♣️ 9 ♣️ as your hole cards and the flop is 6♥️7♣️K♥️, then it’s an open-ended combination, you can make a straight either with a 5 of any suit or a 10 of any suit.
Beware of flush draws
Flush is more powerful than straight and getting beaten by it is probably the most common hand that beats a straight. So, beware of flush draws and watch out for players betting on flush draws.
Types of Straights in Poker
In poker, a ‘Straight’ consists of five consecutive cards in order, regardless of suit. Given below are the types of straights that one can make:
- Normal Straight: Five cards in sequence, regardless of suit. Example: 7♦ 8♣ 9♠ 10♥ J♦
- Wheel (Lowest Straight): Ace to five straight, regardless of suit. Example: A♣ 2♦ 3♠ 4♠ 5♥
- Broadway (Highest Straight): The ten to ace straight, regardless of suit, is called the ‘Broadway’. Example: 10♠ J♠ Q♦ K♣ A♠
- Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit, it is stronger than a regular straight hand. Example: 5♠ 6♠ 7♠ 8♠ 9♠
- Royal Flush: The highest possible straight, it is ten to ace of the same suit. The strongest poker hand, unbeatable. Example: 10♠ J♠ Q♠ K♠ A♠
Difference between a Flush and a Straight
Here’s a table showing the key difference between Flush and Straight in poker:
| Category | Flush | Straight |
| Definition | Five cards of the same suit | Five consecutive cards of any suit |
| Sequence | No specific order required | Has to be in consecutive order |
| Ranking | Ranked by highest card in the flush | Ranked by highest card of the sequence |
| Example | 2♠ 5♠ 8♠ J♠ K♠ | 5♣ 6♦ 7♠ 8♥ 9♠ |
Conclusion
Straight is the 6th most powerful hand in poker and comes right below a flush. It is a great hand to have as the probability of getting it is pretty low.
FAQs on Straight in Poker
1. Is A-2-3-4-5 a straight in poker?
Yes, A-2-3-4-5 is considered a straight in poker.
2. Is an ace low or high in a straight?
An ace can be either low or high depending on the straight that you are making. In A-2-3-4-5 it’s low while in A-K-Q-J-10, it is high.
3. Which straight wins in poker?
In poker, a straight with the highest top card wins the hand if two or more players have a straight.Example: Player 1 has 10-J-Q-K-A and Player 2 has 5-6-7-8-9, the Player 1 wins the hand because his highest ranked card is an Ace.
4. Does a flush beat a straight in poker?
In poker, a flush is statistically more difficult to achieve, hence it is ranked better than a straight.
5.What is a high straight in poker?
In poker, a high straight or broadway straight is a sequence of five consecutive cards starting with a 10 and ending with an Ace. Example: 10♠️, J♣️, Q♦️, K♥️, A♠️
6.Does three of a kind beat a straight in poker?
No, in poker a straight beats a three of a kind, since the strategic probability of getting a straight is much less compared to a three of a kind.
7. What are the basic straight poker rules?
In poker, a straight is a hand that contains five consecutive cards of any suit. Example: 5♣ 6♦ 7♠ 8♥ 9♠
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