Definition and Meaning
The Flush – it’s one of the relatively better hands in poker. Seeing those five cards that match suit gives you a thrill every time. You know you’re likely ahead. But it can also instill fear if you suspect your opponent caught one too!
Playing Flushes and Flush Draws is tricky. It’s easy to overplay them or miss out on value.
Definition in short: A Flush is a poker hand containing five cards of the same suit, but not in sequential order.
This guide will equip you with the knowledge to make the most of every hand and draw that comes your way.
Examples of a Flush
Below you can see what a completed Flush combination looks like:
- A♥ 4♥ J♥ 8♥ 2♥
- K♣ 10♣ 3♣ 8♣ J♣
- 4♦ 6♦ Q♦ 9♦ 5♦
- 8♠ 7♠ J♠ A♠ Q♠
- 10♥ 7♥ 6♥ 3♥ 2♥
As you can see, there are many different variations of forming this hand. 5,108 way to be exact!
Determining Strength
Focus on the top card when determining strength. The higher the top card, the more powerful the Flush is in terms of hand rankings and winning poker hands.
The Ace-high Flush (A, K, Q, J, X suited) is the strongest possible Flush outside of the Royal.
Remember that the suits themselves don’t matter when it comes to the strength of the hand, only the card ranks matter.
Probabilities
For poker games where hands are made out of five cards the below table applies:
| ODDS | PROBABILITY |
|---|---|
| 1 in 508.8 | 0.1965% |
The odds of being randomly dealt a Flush in a hand of poker are about 509 to 1. This means if you were dealt 509 random 5-card hands, on average you would expect to get one Flush. This means you have a relatively low chance of getting it.
In Omaha, the odds of completing it are higher as you begin with four hole cards instead of two.
Flush Strategy – How to Play it
Below we laid out some strategy tips on how to play Flush Draws and completed Flushes in Texas Hold’em Poker.
With a Flush Draw
- Calculate your pot odds to determine if it’s profitable to call bets based on the size of the pot and your chances of hitting the Flush.
- Be willing to fold if you don’t have the right price to continue drawing.
When you make your Flush
- Bet aggressively for value when you have the nut Flush, especially on unpaired boards.
- Proceed with caution on paired boards where Full Houses are more likely to beat you.
- Consider checking or checking/calling with vulnerable lower Flushes instead of betting.
- On wet boards with many Flush Draws possible, bet a little less for value since opponents may be drawing as well.
Advanced Positional Tips
- In position, mix in some checks with nut Flushes to keep your checking range balanced.
- Out of position, lean towards checking more frequently to avoid getting raised off the winning hand.
FAQs
What is the best Flush combination?
The best possible combination is the Royal Flush, which contains the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 all of the same suit. This is the best hand in standard poker games.
After this, the next best one is the Ace-high Flush containing the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and a lower card all in the same suit. Then the King-high, Queen-high, and so on.
What beats a Flush?
A Flush can be beaten by several stronger poker hands including a Full House, Four-of-a-Kind, Straight Flush, and the magical Royal Flush.
What is beaten by a Flush?
A Flush beats:
- Straight
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- One Pair
- High Card
Who wins when multiple players have a Flush?
The player with the Flush containing the highest top card wins. If the top cards are equal, the second-highest card is compared. This continues down through the fifth card if needed until a winner is determined. If all five cards match identically, it’s a tie and the pot is split.
What is a Flush Draw?
This refers to having four cards of the same suit, requiring one more card of that suit to complete a Flush. For example, holding A♥ 7♥ and with a board of 6♥ 9♥ Q♥ would give you a Flush Draw because you only need one more hearts card.
