Flush vs. Straight: Which Hand Wins in Poker

Introduction

Poker is a game of skill, and one of the most important concepts to master is understanding hand rankings. While most players know that a flush beats straight, the reasoning behind this ranking is less commonly understood.

In this article, you will discover why a flush is higher than a straight in Poker.

Poker Hand Rankings

Here's a list of poker hand rankings from highest to lowest:

1. Royal Flush
2. Straight Flush
3. Four of a Kind
4. Full House
5. Flush
6. Straight
7. Three-of-a-Kind
8. Two Pair
9. One Pair
10. High Card

A flush ranks higher than a straight one because it is statistically harder to form a flush than a straight one.

Definitions

• Flush: A hand where all five cards are of the same suit but do not need to be in sequence. For example, A♠ 10♠ 7♠ 4♠ 2♠ is a flush.
• Straight: A hand where all five cards are in sequential order, but not all are of the same suit. For example, 9♠ 8♣ 7♥ 6♦ 5♠ is a straight.

Why Does a Flush Beat a Straight?

Here are the reasons why flush is ranked higher than straight.

1. Probability:

There are 52 cards in a standard poker deck and 2,598,960 possible 5-card poker hands.

• Flush Probability: A flush requires 5 cards of the same suit. There are 4 suits and 13 cards in each suit. The number of ways to form a flush is lower than a straight one. Specifically, the number of flush hands is 5,108 (excluding straight flushes).

Example  -

•  After being dealt 2 hole cards, the likelihood of a flush depends on the community cards. Your starting hand is A♥ Q♥.
• You need 3 more hearts from the 5 community cards to complete your flush.
• The chance of getting a flush on the flop (the first 3 community cards) is about 0.841%. If you do not make the flush on the flop, the probability increases as more community cards are revealed, but overall, the odds of hitting a flush are relatively low.

• Straight Probability: A straight one requires 5 consecutive cards. There are many more ways to form a straight than a flush, with 10,200 combinations (excluding straight flushes).

Example -

• You are holding 10♠ 9♠. You need to find cards that complete a sequence like 8-7-6 or J-Q-K.
• The chance of making a straight on the flop is about 1.31%, and like a flush, the probability changes as more community cards are revealed. But generally, it is more common to hit a straight than a flush due to the flexibility in card suits.

2. Mathematical Reasoning:

To find out the answer to ‘Does straight beat a flush?’, it is important to know that Poker hand rankings are based on the difficulty of forming different hands. A flush involves all five cards being the same suit, which limits the pool of available cards for that hand. In contrast, a straight allows cards of different suits as long as they are in sequence, making it more likely to occur. The math supports this hierarchy:

• Odds of making a flush: 0.197% (roughly 1 in 509 hands)
• Odds of making a straight: 0.392% (roughly 1 in 255 hands)

This difference in probability is why a flush does beat a straight in cards.

Flush vs. Straight Examples

Example 1: 

Player A's Hand (Flush):
A♠ 9♠ 7♠ 4♠ 2♠ (Ace-high flush)

Player B's Hand (Straight):
10♣ 9♦ 8♠ 7♣ 6♦ (Ten-high straight)

• Player A has a flush since all five cards are spades.
• Player B has a straight because the cards are in sequential order (10-9-8-7-6) but are from different suits.

In this situation, Player A wins because a flush beats a straight. The flush is harder to achieve than a straight, as it requires all cards to be from the same suit.

Example 2:

Player C's Hand (Flush):
K♦ J♦ 10♦ 7♦ 3♦ (King-high flush)

Player D's Hand (Straight):
K♣ Q♦ J♥ 10♠ 9♠ (King-high straight)

• Player C holds a diamond flush. Although the cards are not sequential, the flush still wins, as all five are from the same suit.
• Player D has a straight (K-Q-J-10-9), with cards in a sequence but from different suits.

Once again, Player C wins with the flush because it is a rarer hand to make than a straight one.

Why Is It Harder to Get a Flush Than a Straight?

In a deck of 52 cards, for a straight, you only need to find cards in a sequential order, which can involve cards from any suit. This gives you more flexibility when forming a straight. For a flush, all five cards must be from the same suit, which reduces your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does a flush beat a straight in poker?

A flush beats a straight because it is statistically harder to make. The chances of getting a flush are lower than hitting a straight due to the need for all five cards to be of the same suit rather than simply consecutive. This increased difficulty forming a flush makes it a higher-ranking hand in poker. While both hands are strong, the rarity of the flush justifies its superior ranking. This ranking system applies universally in most poker variants, including Texas Hold’em and Omaha.

How to play a flush draw versus a straight draw?

It is important to consider your pot odds and implied odds while playing a flush draw. A nut flush draw can give you an upper hand as a flush is stronger than a straight, allowing you to play aggressively if necessary. However, with a straight draw (especially open-ended), being cautious when considering the pot odds

When should you fold a straight or flush?

It is advisable to fold when there is a strong possibility of getting a better hand, such as flush or full house by folding. Whenever your opponent bets continuously using suited cards on the board, it is often wise to quit. Similarly, folding a flush is recommended when there’s a higher flush (especially when you hold a weak flush) or when a full house is possible. In both cases, discipline is key. Overvaluing either hand, especially in multi-way pots or against strong opponents, can lead to significant losses.

Can a straight flush beat a regular flush?

A straight flush holds the highest rank and surpasses a regular flush. It is formed when five sequential cards of one suit are combined, like 10♥, 9♥, 8♥, 7♥ and 6 ♥. Notably, nothing tops the royal flush (ten through ace in matching suits), making it unbeatable. While strong, regular flushes cannot compete with the power of a straight flush due to the difficulty of achieving both a straight and a flush in one hand.

Conclusion

‘Does a straight beat a flush?’ The answer is a definite no. A flush beats a straight in poker because it is mathematically harder to achieve. The number of possible flush combinations is significantly lower than straight combinations, making flushes rarer and more valuable. Understanding this hierarchy is essential for mastering poker hand rankings and strategy.