Updated on June 20, 2025
What is Broadway in Poker? “Making Broadway” isn’t a term just for starlets and theatre kids. No, there is another way you can make Broadway — and it may be even more lucrative.
Because when you make Broadway in poker, you are likely to get paid!
Why the Name “Broadway”?
“Broadway” gets its name from the famed New York theatre district, hosting all “the big actors” on the most prestigious stage.
To “make Broadway” means to make a very powerful show-stopper -worthy hand.
What are Broadway Cards in Poker?
Before delving into what is Broadway in poker, you will need to know what are Broadway cards in poker.
There are only five Broadway cards in poker: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten.
This group encompasses all the face cards + the ten. Every face card qualifies as a Broadway card.
Common Broadway Starting Hands
Broadway cards make up many of the most premium starting hands in Texas Hold’em.
Hands like the following:
- A♠️K♦️ (Ace-King)
- Q♥️J♠️ (Queen-Jack)
- K♣️Q♣️ (King-Queen suited)
- A♦️J♦️ (Ace-Jack suited)
These hands have the potential to hit top-pair-top-kicker and can also form Broadway straights with the right board. Because of this, many Broadway starting hands are playable from early or middle position — and are even worth raising preflop.
Remember that just because your hand contains Broadway cards doesn’t mean you’ll get to Broadway.
A poker hand like A♥️Q♠️ is very strong, but if the board comes 7♣️9♦️3♠️, you’re not going anywhere near Broadway.
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What Is Broadway in Poker?
“What is a Broadway in poker?” you may ask. (Or, more commonly, “What is Broadway in poker?”)
Achieving Broadway means you have made a straight containing exactly all five Broadway cards. So, your hand consists of Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten.
Making Broadway means you have achieved the highest straight possible in poker. Starting with strong Broadway cards is like having access to a poker cheat sheet.
What Is a Straight in Poker?
A straight in poker is five consecutive cards in running order. For example, 7♣️8♦️9♠️10♥️J♣️is a straight from the Seven to the Jack.
A Broadway Straight in poker is when the following five cards in running order form the highest possible straight –
10♠️J♣️Q♥️K♦️A♠️
A Broadway Straight in poker is a powerful hand and will oftentimes be the best hand when it’s time for everyone to show their cards. Some hands beat it, too, though.
Here are the poker hand rankings for reference:
- Royal Flush - A♠️K♠️Q♠️J♠️10♠️
- Straight Flush - 5♥️6♥️7♥️8♥️9♥️
- Four-of-a-Kind - J♣️J♦️J♥️J♠️3♠️
- Full House - 10♥️10♦️10♣️4♥️4♣️
- Flush - 2♣️6♣️9♣️J♣️K♣️
- Straight - 7♠️8♦️9♣️10♥️J♦️
- Three-of-a-Kind - 8♣️8♠️8♦️Q♥️2♠️
- Two Pair - K♠️K♦️3♣️3♥️9♦️
- One Pair - 6♠️6♣️A♦️10♠️4♥️
- High Card - A♣️9♠️7♦️5♥️2♣️
Remember that in Texas Hold’em, you hold two cards, but your final hand consists of five.
You can combine zero, one or two of your private hold cards with the public community cards.
For example:
Hole Cards: Q♠️J♣️
Community Cards: 10♥️K♦️A♣️ 4♦️2♠️
Broadway Straight: 10♥️J♣️Q♠️K♦️A♣️
Even though you don’t have an Ace, King, or 10 in hand, the board completes Broadway with your Q‑J.
Why Are Broadway Straights More Likely to Win BIG?
Remember that poker is not only about what you have — it’s about what your opponent has, too.
Winning big pots is about relative hand strength - not absolute hand strength.
For example, even though four-of-a-kind (quads) is a very high-ranking holding, it isn’t usually very profitable.
The poker probability that your opponent has a good enough hand to pay off a big bet is unlikely.
Here’s what we mean:
Let’s say the board is: J♠️J♥️J♦️3♣️ 2♦️
Your hand: A♥️J♣️
That’s amazing — you’ve hit Quads.
But since you have the only remaining Jack in the deck, you know your opponent does not have a Jack.
What hand can they have that they feel good about here? Unfortunately for you, not much.
But the great part about hitting Broadway in poker is that you are likely to get value from your opponents.
Here’s why.
Let’s say the board is: K♦️Q♠️8♥️A♣️5♣️
Your hand: J♦️10♠️
Congratulations — you’ve hit Broadway! Even better, you’re likely to get paid.
There is a very high likelihood that your opponent has a strong hand, too.
- They could’ve easily flopped a King.
- Or perhaps they called a bet on the flop with a hand like AJ, and now they hit the Ace.
- Maybe they hit both the King and the Ace!
- Or they are holding KQ — another common and reasonable two-pair poker combo.
You beat all the three-of-a-kind (set) holdings. They could have three eights, three Aces, three Kings, three Queens, etc… and you beat all of them! Your hand is incredibly strong — and highly concealed.
Since a Broadway straight is also the highest straight, you may also find yourself in a situation where you beat your opponent in a straight vs straight match-up.
You may get lucky with this favourable set-up:
- Board: QJ5T6
- Your hand: AK
- Your opponent’s hand: 98
You both have a straight! But your Broadway straight is far superior. Although this type of configuration is unlikely, it does occur. You can imagine how crushed your opponent will be when they call your bet and see the bad news.
Heck, your opponent could even have another straight — like King-Nine — and you still win!
What Is Good Broadway Poker Betting Strategy?
Because there is such a high likelihood that your opponent has a substantial holding when you make Broadway, you should almost always BET BIG.
- Do not “slowplay” and try to induce your opponent with weak baby bets.
- When you hit Broadway, you need to size up.
- Large-sized bets are key here.
Is your opponent going to want to fold a King-Queen two pair or an Ace? Probably not.
Your focus when you hit Broadway should be on maximising value. Focus on increasing your margin — winning as much as you possibly can — because your opponent is likely to also have a very good hand.
Conclusion: Broadway Is a Showstopper Hand
Regardless of the types of poker games, few hands command as much quiet confidence as Broadway. It’s not just the glitzy name — it represents the pinnacle of straight-making potential and often flies under the radar until it’s too late for your opponent to escape.
Whether you’re holding two Broadway cards or drawing to that coveted straight, knowing how to recognise, build, and bet Broadway is an essential part of every winning poker strategy.
So, the next time you flop Broadway, lean into the moment.
You’ve got a hand worthy of the spotlight — and maybe even a standing ovation when you rake in the pot.
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