Straight Flush in Poker
A straight flush is five consecutive cards of the same suit, ranking below a royal flush and above four of a kind.
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Example Hand
Straight Flush Probability & Odds
What Does a Straight Flush Beat?
WBeats (8 hands)
- Four of a Kind
- Full House
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- One Pair
- High Card
LLoses to (1 hands)
- Royal Flush
Straight Flush Strategy Tips
A straight flush draw often doubles as both a flush draw and a straight draw. Count your combined outs carefully before folding.
When you make a straight flush, the main challenge is getting paid. Most opponents will not put you on this hand, so build the pot with smaller bets that keep them calling.
In Omaha, straight flush possibilities are more common because you hold four hole cards. Be aware of straight flush redraws when you hold the nut flush.
Remember that the lowest straight flush (A-2-3-4-5 suited) can lose to any higher straight flush, so do not overcommit with the steel wheel.
Common Mistakes with Straight Flush
Confusing a straight flush with a regular flush. A straight flush requires the cards to be both sequential and suited.
Betting too aggressively on a straight flush draw when you have insufficient pot odds, especially if your draw is to a low straight flush.
Not recognizing that a straight flush beats four of a kind. Some recreational players are unsure of the ranking between these two hands.
How Straight Flush Plays in Texas Hold'em
Open-Ended Straight Flush Draw
You hold 7♥8♥ and the flop comes 9♥10♥ 2♣. You have an open-ended straight flush draw (J♥ or 6♥ completes it), plus a regular flush draw and an open-ended straight draw. This is one of the strongest drawing hands possible.
Straight Flush vs. Full House
The board shows 5♠6♠7♠8♠ K♥. You hold 4♠9♠ for a straight flush. An opponent with KK has a full house and may raise aggressively, not realizing their hand is second-best.
Completing on the River
You hold 6♣7♣ with 8♣9♣ on the board. The river 5♣ completes your straight flush. With such a disguised hand, a value bet or check-raise on the river can extract significant value.
Straight Flush Tiebreaker Rules
When two players hold a straight flush, the one with the higher top card wins. For example, 9-8-7-6-5 of hearts beats 8-7-6-5-4 of spades. If both straight flushes have the same high card, the pot is split. The lowest straight flush is A-2-3-4-5 suited (the "steel wheel"), where the ace plays low.
Straight Flush FAQ
What is the difference between a straight flush and a royal flush?
A royal flush is a specific type of straight flush that consists of A-K-Q-J-10 of one suit. Any other five consecutive suited cards form a straight flush. A royal flush always beats a non-royal straight flush.
Does a straight flush beat four of a kind?
Yes. A straight flush ranks second only to a royal flush and beats all other hands, including four of a kind.
What is a steel wheel in poker?
A steel wheel is the lowest possible straight flush: A-2-3-4-5 of the same suit. The ace plays as the low card. It is the weakest straight flush but still beats four of a kind.
How many straight flushes are possible?
There are 36 possible straight flushes in a 52-card deck (not counting the 4 royal flushes). Each suit can produce 9 different straight flushes, from A-2-3-4-5 up to 9-10-J-Q-K.
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