Straight
Five consecutive cards of any suit. A straight beats three of a kind but loses to a flush.
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What Is Straight?
Straights can be formed using any five consecutive ranks, from the wheel (A-2-3-4-5) up to Broadway (10-J-Q-K-A), with the Ace able to play high or low but never both in the same straight (no wraparounds like Q-K-A-2-3).
Examples
Holding 8-9 and a board of 6-7-10 for a straight from 6 to 10.
Making the nut straight with J-Q on a board of 9-10-K.
Strategy Tips
Be aware of the 'nut straight' -- the highest possible straight on a given board -- since holding a lower straight can be dangerous against aggressive action. Watch for paired or three-flush boards, which can turn a made straight into a losing hand against a full house or flush. Straights are often underrepresented in casual players' perceived ranges, which can make them good bluff-catchers or value hands against unaware opponents. When counting outs to complete a straight, distinguish between open-ended draws (8 outs) and gutshots (4 outs) to make accurate pot odds decisions.