
A straight flush combines a straight and a flush. It is one of the strongest poker hands. To master the poker game, you first need to understand the poker hand rankings; this article will give you all the information about straight flush, their probabilities, and the percentage of combinations you can make.
Want to dive ahead in the exciting world of poker playing? If so, you need to start learning the terms related to poker, including all the winning hand rankings.
What Is a Straight Flush in Poker?
A straight flush is the second-highest winning hand in standard poker, second only to the royal flush. It is made of 5 cards of the same suit in a consecutive sequence. You can have a straight flush using any five sequential cards of the same suit, for example, 2♣ 3♣ 4♣ 5♣ 6♣.
A royal flush is another term for the highest straight flush (from 10 to Ace card), making it the most important and winning hand in poker.
Straight Flush examples:
An example of a straight flush in poker is 2♠ 3♠ 4♠ 5♠ 6♠. In this hand, all five cards are of the same suit (spades) and in a consecutive sequence. This hand is classified as a straight flush because it combines the characteristics of a flush and a straight.
Another example of a straight flush could be 8♣ 9♣ 10♣ J♣ Q♣ based on the similar logic explained above.
Royal Flush examples:
A royal flush is the highest straight flush possible in poker, including cards 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace, all of the same suit. Below is an example of a royal flush of diamonds:
10♦ J♦ Q♦ K♦ A♦
This hand ranks as the strongest in poker and cannot be beaten by any other hand.
How Does a Straight Flush Hand Rank?
A Straight Flush is the second strongest poker hand, and it consists of five consecutive cards all of the same suit, for example, 5♣ 6♣ 7♣ 8♣ 9♣. A straight flush hand ranks just below a Royal Flush. Being the second strongest hand in poker, a straight flush can beat all the other hands like four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two Pairs, one pair, and a high card.
How Does a Straight Flush Hand Match Up?
When matched against other hands like four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, and a high card, a Straight Flush always wins as it is the second strongest hand in poker. A Royal Flush is the strongest hand in poker, and it will beat a Straight Flush every time in a match.
Straight Flush Poker Probabilities
Texas Hold’em Probabilities-Preflop
Hand | Probabilities |
---|---|
Straight Flush |
0.00139% |
Royal Flush |
0.000154% |
Flop |
0.0012% |
Turn |
425.00% |
River |
4.35% |
Pot Limit Omaha Probabilities-Pre-flop
Hand | Probabilities |
---|---|
Straight Flush |
0.00139% |
Royal Flush |
0.000154% |
Flop with suited cards |
0.00578% |
Flop with connectors |
0.04625% |
Turn |
4.44% |
River |
4.54% |
You have 0.0012% of combination provided you have two suited cards. Similarly, you can make the combinations mentioned above for Turn and River, provided you have two suited cards from the table for the Turn and two suited cards on the table for the River.
How to play a Straight Flush?
If you are playing a game of Texas Hold’em and you want to know how to play a straight flush, below are the following steps to be kept in mind:
- Ensure that the cards in the flop round on the table do not lead to a Royal Flush, the only hand stronger than a Straight Flush.
- When combined with the cards on the table, make sure that the hole cards in your hand follow a sequence of cards of the same suit.
- For example, if you hold 6♠ and 9♠ as hole cards, and the five community cards are 5♠ 7♠ 8♠ J♠ Q♠, then you make a straight flush with 5♠ 6♠ 7♠ 8♠ 9♠. If no other player holds a stronger straight flush or a royal flush, your hand is the strongest possible in this situation.
- If suppose another player holds cards 9♠ and 10♠, then they also have a straight flush, i.e., 8♠ 9♠ 10♠ J♠ Q♠. This straight flush is stronger than the 5♠ 6♠ 7♠ 8♠ 9♠ straight flush. Hence, the other player wins the hand.
Lowest Straight Flush in Poker
A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest straight flush in poker. Here, the Ace is used as 1.
Which Poker Hands Are Better than a Straight Flush?
Technically, since a royal flush is just the highest straight flush, it is unbeatable in a standard deck poker game. Typically, this means that if you have a straight flush, you can beat 4 As since that is a 4-of-a-kind poker hand.
You should also remember that for a straight flush, the Ace card can participate as both the low card for the A to 5 combo and the high card for the 10 to A combo. If two players have a straight flush, then the highest card or the card suits will be compared to declare the winner.
What Are the Rankings of Other Poker Combos?
Other than the royal and straight flush poker combinations, other poker hands can help you win the game. We have mentioned all the winning poker hands in the decreased ranking order below.
- Royal Flush - Combination of 10 to A cards in the same suit, ex., 10♣ J♣ Q♣ K♣ A♣
- Straight flush - Five cards of the same suit in a given sequence, ex., A♣ 2♣ 3♣ 4♣ 5♣
- Four of a Kind - All four cards are of the same rank in different suits, ex., A♣ A♦ A♥ A♠
- Full House - Three cards of the same rank with a pair, ex., 4♣ 4♠ 4♦ 8♣ 8♥
- Flush - Any 5 cards of the same suit, but none in a sequence, ex., K♣ 10♣ 7♣ 6♣ 4♣
- Straight - 5 cards not in the same suit, but in a sequence, ex., 7♣ 6♠ 5♠ 4♥ 3♥
- Three of a Kind - Three cards of the same rank, ex., 4♣ 4♠ 4♦
- Two Pair - Two different pairs, not necessarily of the same sequence, ex., 5♠ 5♣ 3♥ 3♣
- One Pair - Two cards of the same rank, ex., 5♠ 5♣
- High Card - When you have none of the above hands, it is a high card. You can only play the highest-ranking card on its own.
What Is the Probability of Getting a Straight Flush in Poker?
If you are an established poker player, you already know that poker and probability go hand in hand. Poker players should learn about probability so that they can strategize to improve their odds of winning. An exceptionally proficient poker player can calculate the probability of each 5-card poker hand appearing during the game.
The probability of a straight flush (excluding the royal flush) appearing in the game is around 0.00139%, i.e., 72,192.33:1 odds in a 5-card poker game. These odds are significantly higher in 7-card poker variants like Texas Hold'em poker games, i.e., 3,589.6:1 odds with a 0.0279% probability.
If these odds feel like they are not in your favour, don’t fret. You can increase your odds of winning and having a straight or royal flush poker hand by paying close attention to your and your opponent’s cards.
Rules of Straight Flush
Here are some basic rules of straight flush:
- When making a straight flush, remember that all five cards should be in consecutive order and belong to the same suit.
- If there’s a tie, the player with the highest ranking straight flush wins. For example, 9 straight flush beats 7 straight flush.
- A straight flush is the strongest hand; only a royal flush can beat the hand.
- There is a possibility of making 40 straight flushes and 4 royal flushes.
Texas Holdem Straight flush Poker combinations
There are 10,240 straight poker hands, and here are the combinations you can make considering the betting rounds:
Hand | Combinations (%) |
---|---|
Pre-Flop |
0.00139% |
Flop |
0.0012% |
Turn |
4.25% |
River |
4.35% |
Difference Between Straight And Straight Flush?
The table highlights the differences between a Straight and a Straight Flush:
Difference | Straight | Straight Flush |
---|---|---|
Composition |
Five consecutive cards of any suit. |
Five consecutive cards of the same suit. |
Suits |
Should have multiple suits |
Should have only one suit |
Hand Ranking |
Sixth strongest hand in poker |
Second strongest hand in poker |
Example |
5♦, 6♣, 7♠, 8♥, 9♦ |
5♦, 6♦, 7♦, 8♦, 9♦ |
Can Beat |
Three of a Kind, Two Pair, Pair, and High Card |
Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, Pair and High Card |
Gets Beaten By |
Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, and Flush |
Royal Flush |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is straight flush poker hand rank?
Straight Flush is the second strongest poker hand, being only weaker than Royal Flush, the strongest hand in poker.
How rare is a Straight Flush?
A straight flush is one of the rarest events in poker, with the probability of getting a straight flush being 0.00139%. In poker, 2,598,960 hand combinations are possible, out of which only 36 Straight Flushes can be made, which makes its probability (36/2,598,960), i.e., 0.00139%.
What are the two main aspects of a straight flush?
One aspect is that the cards should be of consecutive ranks, and the second aspect is that they should be of the same suit.
What beats a Straight Flush?
Only a Straight Flush of a higher rank or a Royal Flush can beat a Straight Flush.
Is it possible for a Straight Flush to lose in a poker showdown?
Yes, a Straight Flush can lose in a poker showdown. Only a Royal Flush or a stronger Straight Flush of stronger rank can beat it in a showdown.
Conclusion
As we learnt, a straight flush is the second strongest hand in poker, and only a royal flush can beat the hand. To win with a straight flush, you need to strategise your game. This comes with practice. So, download the Adda52 poker app today, create your private table or join other cash or tournaments and practice. Practice will help you come up with new strategies and will also help you understand the game better.