Definition: A Straight is a poker hand made up of five consecutive cards, regardless of suit.
The Straight ranks fifth in the standard poker hand rankings list and is made up of five sequential cards.
The strongest possible straight is A-K-Q-J-10, also known as Broadway. Straight combinations go all the way down to A-2-3-4-5, which is known as the Wheel or Bicycle in poker terminology.
A♠ K♦ Q♥ J♣ 10♠ – Broadway
A♦ 2♣ 3♠ 4♥ 5♦ – Wheel (Bicycle)
When it comes to straights, the suits are not important. Instead, straights are ranked solely by their highest card.
How Does a Straight Hand Rank?
In a 52-card deck, there are 10,200 possible Straight hand combinations and 10 distinct Straight ranks. Each Straight is ranked by its highest card.
Here are some examples of Straight hands:
K♣ Q♠ J♦ 10♥ 9♦
Q♥ J♥ 10♣ 9♠ 8♦
J♠ 10♦ 9♣ 8♥ 7♠
10♠ 9♦ 8♥ 7♣ 6♦
The best Straights are determined by the highest card, not the suit. For example, a Queen-high Straight beats a Jack-high Straight regardless of suits.
How Does a Straight Hand Match Up?
A Straight is the fifth strongest hand in the poker hand ranking system. A Flush ranks directly above it, while Three of a Kind ranks directly below.
Despite its mid-range ranking, a Straight is still a formidable hand in Hold’em and can often win at showdown when no flush or higher straight is possible.
Straight Poker Probabilities
Quick comparison: Straights occur more frequently in Pot Limit Omaha than in Texas Hold’em due to additional hole cards and wrap draw possibilities.
Below are the pre-flop, flop, turn, and river probabilities of making a Straight in both Texas Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha.
| Stage | Texas Hold’em | Pot Limit Omaha | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-flop | 0.39% | 0.39% | Based on 5 cards randomly drawn from a full 52-card deck (excluding straight & royal flushes) |
| Flop | 1.30% | 4.90% | Hold’em: 2 connected cards · Omaha: 4 connected ranks |
| Turn | 16.90% | 17.78%+ | Open-ended and wrap straight draws |
| River | 17.20% | 18.18%+ | Depends on draw type (open-ended, wrap, inside) |
Key takeaway: Straight draws develop much faster in Omaha than in Hold’em, making made straights more common but often less dominant.
Straight – Poker FAQs
What is a straight in poker?
A straight is made when holding five cards of consecutive rank. The Ace can be used as either the highest or lowest card, but it must appear at the start or end of the sequence.
Which straight wins in poker?
The strongest straight is Broadway (A-K-Q-J-10), while the weakest straight is the Wheel (A-2-3-4-5). Straights are ranked by their highest card.
Is a straight a strong hand in Hold’em?
Straights are usually strong in Hold’em, but their value depends on board texture. They are strongest when the board is unpaired and no flush is possible.
Does a straight beat a flush?
No. A flush always beats a straight in standard poker hand rankings.
What is a wrap-around straight?
A wrap-around straight is a sequence where the Ace appears in the middle, such as Q-K-A-2-3. These hands are not valid in most poker variants.
How often does a straight occur in Texas Hold’em?
The probability of making a Straight in Texas Hold’em is approximately 0.39%, excluding straight and royal flushes.
Now that you’ve got the Straight down pat, we’ll move on to the next hand on the list. It’s called the Flush.
