Flush in Poker
A flush consists of five cards of the same suit that are not in sequential order, ranking fifth in the poker hand hierarchy.
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Example Hand
Flush Probability & Odds
What Does a Flush Beat?
WBeats (5 hands)
- Straight
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- One Pair
- High Card
LLoses to (4 hands)
- Royal Flush
- Straight Flush
- Four of a Kind
- Full House
Flush Strategy Tips
When you have a flush draw (four suited cards), you have roughly a 35% chance of completing it by the river. Use pot odds to decide whether calling is profitable.
The "nut flush" (ace-high flush) is always the best possible flush. When you hold the ace of a suit and two more of that suit appear on the board, your flush draw is extremely powerful.
Beware of board-paired textures when you make a flush. A paired board means full houses are possible, and your flush could be second-best.
In multi-way pots, small flushes are vulnerable. Other players may hold higher suited cards that complete a better flush.
Common Mistakes with Flush
Overvaluing small flushes. A flush with 7-high is rarely the best flush in a multi-way pot and should be played cautiously.
Ignoring paired boards when you hold a flush. If the board pairs, a full house is possible and may beat your flush.
Calling too many bets on a flush draw without proper pot odds. A flush draw on the flop has about a 35% chance of completing, but only about 19% on a single card.
How Flush Plays in Texas Hold'em
Nut Flush Draw on the Flop
You hold A♥ 9♥ and the flop comes K♥ 7♥ 2♠. You have the nut flush draw with nine outs. Any heart completes the best possible flush. You can semi-bluff aggressively here.
Flush Over Flush
You hold Q♠ J♠ and the board shows 8♠ 5♠ 3♣ K♠ 2♥. You have a queen-high flush, but an opponent with A♠ holds the nut flush. This is why position and kicker strength matter.
Flush vs. Possible Full House
You hold 10♦ 8♦ and the board is A♦ 7♦ 3♦ A♠ 9♣. You have a flush, but the paired aces mean any opponent with an ace has at least trips and could have a full house. Proceed cautiously.
Flush Tiebreaker Rules
Flushes are compared by the highest card first, then the second-highest, and so on. A♦-K♦-9♦-6♦-2♦ beats A♠-K♠-9♠-5♠-2♠ because the fourth card (6 vs 5) is higher. Suits themselves do not determine rank: a heart flush and a spade flush of the same card values result in a split pot.
Flush FAQ
Does a flush beat a straight in poker?
Yes. A flush always beats a straight in standard poker. A flush is ranked fifth while a straight is ranked sixth in the hand hierarchy.
What is the nut flush?
The nut flush is the highest possible flush, which is an ace-high flush. If you hold the ace of the flush suit and have four more cards of that suit, you have the nut flush.
Do suits rank differently for flushes?
No. In standard poker, all suits are equal. A diamond flush and a spade flush with the same card ranks result in a split pot.
How many cards do you need for a flush?
A flush requires exactly five cards of the same suit. In Hold'em, if more than five of one suit are available (from your hole cards plus community cards), you use the five highest.
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