Straight in Poker
A straight consists of five consecutive cards of different suits, ranking sixth in the poker hand hierarchy.
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Example Hand
Straight Probability & Odds
What Does a Straight Beat?
WBeats (4 hands)
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- One Pair
- High Card
LLoses to (5 hands)
- Royal Flush
- Straight Flush
- Four of a Kind
- Full House
- Flush
Straight Strategy Tips
When you have an open-ended straight draw (8 outs), you have about a 32% chance of completing by the river. A gutshot (4 outs) gives you about 17%.
Broadway straights (A-high) are the strongest. If you hold A-K on a Q-J-10 board, you have the nuts. But beware of flush possibilities.
The "wheel" (A-2-3-4-5) is the weakest straight. Play it cautiously in multi-way pots where higher straights are possible.
Connected cards (like 8-9, J-10) make straights more often than gapped cards (like 8-10, J-9). Factor this into your preflop hand selection.
Common Mistakes with Straight
Playing K-A-2-3-4 as a straight. The ace cannot wrap around. It is either the top of A-K-Q-J-10 or the bottom of A-2-3-4-5.
Overvaluing the low end of a straight. If the board shows 9-10-J, holding 7-8 gives you only the low end, and any Q or K-Q makes a higher straight.
Ignoring flush possibilities when you make a straight. If three or more suited cards are on the board, an opponent could easily have a flush that beats your straight.
How Straight Plays in Texas Hold'em
Open-Ended Straight Draw
You hold J♠ 10♥ and the flop comes 9♦ 8♣ 2♠. You have an open-ended straight draw needing a Q or 7. With 8 outs, you have about a 32% chance of completing by the river.
Flopping the Nut Straight
You hold A♥ K♠ and the flop comes Q♣ J♦ 10♥. You have the nut straight (broadway). Bet for value and be cautious only if a flush draw completes on later streets.
Straight vs. Flush
You hold 8♠ 7♥ and the board is 9♦ 10♣ J♥ 4♥ K♥. You have a straight, but three hearts on the board mean any opponent with two hearts has a flush that beats you. Do not overcommit.
Straight Tiebreaker Rules
Straights are ranked by the highest card. A 10-high straight (6-7-8-9-10) beats a 9-high straight (5-6-7-8-9). If both straights have the same high card, the pot is split. The ace can be high (A-K-Q-J-10, the "broadway" straight) or low (A-2-3-4-5, the "wheel"), but it cannot wrap around (K-A-2-3-4 is not valid).
Straight FAQ
Does a straight beat a flush?
No. A flush beats a straight in standard poker. A flush ranks fifth while a straight ranks sixth in the hierarchy.
Can an ace be low in a straight?
Yes. The ace can be the lowest card in a straight (A-2-3-4-5, called a "wheel"). It can also be the highest card (A-K-Q-J-10, called "broadway"). However, it cannot wrap around, so K-A-2-3-4 is not a valid straight.
What is a gutshot straight draw?
A gutshot (or inside) straight draw needs one specific rank to complete the straight. For example, holding 5-7 on a 8-9-K board needs a 6. Gutshots have 4 outs, roughly half the chance of an open-ended draw.
What is the highest straight in poker?
The highest straight is A-K-Q-J-10, called a "broadway" straight. If all five cards are the same suit, it becomes a royal flush rather than a straight.
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