Definition and Meaning
A Straight Flush is the second most powerful hand you can make in poker. It combines the strength of a Flush – all cards being the same suit – with the consecutive rank of a Straight.
Definition in short: A Straight Flush is five consecutive cards of the same suit.
In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know. We’ll look at what makes up a Straight Flush, how it ranks compared to other hands, the probability of being dealt one, and how to maximize your winnings when you’re lucky enough to get it.
Examples of a Straight Flush
Below you can see what a Straight Flush looks like:
In the image example, we have a nine-high Straight Flush of diamonds. Meaning the highest card in the sequence is a 9. The higher the top card sequence, the better.
Below you can see the different combinations from five-high to king-high.
- 5♦ 4♦ 3♦ 2♦ A♦
- 6♠ 5♠ 4♠ 3♠ 2♠
- 7♥ 6♥ 5♥ 4♥ 3♥
- 8♣ 7♣ 6♣ 5♣ 4♣
- 9♦ 8♦ 7♦ 6♦ 5♦
- 10♠ 9♠ 8♠ 7♠ 6♠
- J♥ 10♥ 9♥ 8♥ 7♥
- Q♣ J♣ 10♣ 9♣ 8♣
- K♦ Q♦ J♦ 10♦ 9♦
On the extremely rare occasion that you hit an “ace-high” Straight Flush, it is actually called a Royal Flush, the absolute best hand in poker.
Probabilities
For the most popular 5-card poker games the below applies:
| ODDS | PROBABILITY |
|---|---|
| 1 in 72,192 | 0.00139% |
In a 5-card poker game, the odds of being dealt a random Straight Flush is 1 in every 72,192 hands. The odds of being dealt a specific Straight Flush combination is even lower: 1 in 649,740.
While the probabilities are low, the payoff can be massive if you manage to hit a Straight Flush by the end of the hand. It’s one of the best possible hands in poker so you’ll be heavily favored against any other combination of cards.
Straight Flush Strategy
The best strategy for playing a potential Straight Flush draw or an already made one is to play the hand thoughtfully to maximize value.
When Having a Draw
When you have a draw, you’ll want to bet cautiously to keep opponents in the hand. Make relatively small value bets on each street to build up the pot gradually.
You don’t want to scare players out of the hand before you complete your Straight Flush.
When Hit
If you hit your Straight Flush, start ramping up your bets more aggressively. At this point, you want to extract as much money as possible out of your opponents since you likely have the best hand.
Make bold bets on each street and drive up the pot size before the showdown. Just be careful not to bet so much that you scare everyone into folding too soon!
Be aware that there is still a chance that your opponent either has a higher Straight Flush or even a Royal Flush.
FAQs
Is a Straight Flush a good hand in poker?
Yes, it is a good hand. As a matter of fact, it is the second-best hand in the most popular poker variations!
What beats a Straight Flush?
It is only beaten by a higher Straight Flush which also includes the Royal Flush.
What is beaten by a Straight Flush?
A Straight Flush beats:
- Four of a Kind – Even four Aces cannot beat a Straight Flush.
- Full House
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- One Pair
- High Card
What is the difference between a Straight and a Straight Flush?
The main difference between a Straight and a Straight Flush is that a Straight is five consecutive cards of any suit, while a Straight Flush is five consecutive cards all of the same suit.
For example, 4♥ 5♦ 6♣ 7♠ 8♥ versus 4♥ 5♥ 6♥ 7♥ 8♥.
What if multiple players have a Straight Flush?
If two or more players make Straight Flushes, the player with the highest top card wins.
For example, K-Q-J-10-9 (ace-high) would beat 9-10-J-Q-K (queen-high).
If two players have the same top card, such as both having king-high, then the pot is split evenly between them. The chance of this happening is very small.
