What is a Straight in Poker? Definition & How to Play
A straight in poker is a 5-card hand with all cards in sequential rank order, regardless of suit (e.g., 5-6-7-8-9 of mixed suits). The Ace can be high (A-K-Q-J-10, the 'broadway' straight) or low (A-2-3-4-5, the 'wheel'). A straight beats three of a kind, two pair, and lower hands; it loses to a flush, full house, and higher.
How a straight is formed
Any 5 cards in consecutive rank, suits don't matter. Examples:
- •5-6-7-8-9 (mixed suits): a straight to the 9.
- •T-J-Q-K-A: broadway straight, the highest possible.
- •A-2-3-4-5: the wheel (or 'bicycle'), the lowest. The Ace plays low here.
- •Cannot wrap around: Q-K-A-2-3 is NOT a straight. The Ace is either high or low, not both in the same hand.
Hand strength: where straights rank
From the standard hand rankings (worst to best):
- •Below straight: high card, one pair, two pair, three of a kind.
- •Straight: 5 in sequence, mixed suits. ~0.39% probability for any random 5-card hand.
- •Above straight: flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, royal flush.
Tie-breakers: which straight wins?
When two players both have straights, the higher TOP card wins:
- •T-J-Q-K-A (broadway) beats 5-6-7-8-9 (top card 9).
- •6-7-8-9-T beats 5-6-7-8-9 (T > 9).
- •Wheel (A-2-3-4-5) is the lowest straight: the Ace plays low; top card is the 5.
Playing a straight: things to watch
Straights are strong but vulnerable. Three plays:
- •Bet for value most of the time: especially on boards without flush draws. Straights vs top-pair hands stack people regularly.
- •Be cautious on monotone or paired boards: 7-8-9-T-J on a 3-suited board means you may be facing a flush. 7-8-9-T-T means you may be losing to a full house.
- •Recognize when villain has a higher straight: if you have 6-7 on a 5-8-9 flop, you have the lower end of the straight. Anyone with T-J has you beat. Pot control with marginal straights.
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Frequently asked
Does a straight beat a flush?
No. A flush beats a straight. Standard hand ranking: flush > straight. The flush is rarer than the straight (0.20% vs 0.39% in random 5-card hands), so it ranks higher.
What's the highest straight?
A-K-Q-J-T (broadway), with the Ace high. The lowest is A-2-3-4-5 (the wheel), with the Ace low. The Ace can play either high or low, but cannot 'wrap around' the deck (so Q-K-A-2-3 is NOT a straight).
How often do you make a straight in Hold'em?
Flopping a straight with two unpaired hole cards: about 1.3% of the time (1 in 77). Making a straight by the river when you have an open-ended draw on the flop: ~32%. Backdoor straight draws: about 4% to complete by the river.
What's the difference between a straight and a straight flush?
A straight has 5 cards in sequence with mixed suits. A straight flush is 5 cards in sequence ALL of the same suit (e.g., 5-6-7-8-9 of hearts). The straight flush is one of the rarest hands in poker, about 1 in 72,000.
Can two players have the same straight?
Yes. When both players use board cards to make their straight, they can chop the pot. Example: with a board of 5-6-7-8-9, anyone holding any cards plays the straight on the board. Tie. Pot is split evenly.
Terms used in this article
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