Introduction
Poker is among the most popular skill-based card games in the world. You should learn the poker hand rankings if you are new to poker.
This article is spotlighting the Straight hand. Ranked fifth, this sequence of five cards boasts 10,200 possible combinations.
Uncover the nuances of its hierarchy, from the potent King-High to the modest wheel. Gain insights into how Straight fares against other hands, solving the intricacies of poker rankings. The article also sheds light on the probabilities and strategic gameplay, focusing on straight draws. Let's unlock the secrets of the Straight hand to level up your poker skills.
What is a Straight Hand in Poker?
- The Straight poker hand is fifth on the list of poker hand rankings. It has five sequential cards of different suits. Due to its nature, it is an easy hand to identify.
- A standard poker game with a 52-card deck has around 10,200 possible combinations of Straight poker hands. Each Straight hand is ranked by its highest card.
- The Ace card can be the highest or lowest based on the combinations. The highest straight combinations are Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10, also called Broadway. In this combination, Ace is the highest card.
- On the other hand, the lowest Straight-hand combination is Ace, 2, 3, 4, and 5, also called the wheel or bicycle. In this poker hand, the Ace card is the lowest.
How is a Straight Hand Ranked in Poker?
As discussed above, each Straight hand is ranked by its highest card. Thus, if the Straight begins with a King card, it's called a King-High Straight, and so on.
A Straight is a strong poker hand. However, its overall strength depends on other players' hands and whether they have a more substantial hand.
Some examples of a Straight poker hand are:
- King of Spades, Queen of Clubs, Jack of Diamonds, 10 of Spades, and 9 of Diamonds (K♠️ Q♣️ J♦️ 10♠️ 9♦️)
- Queen of Hearts, Jack of Hearts, 10 of Clubs, 9 of Spades, and 8 of Hearts (Q♥ J♥ 10♣ 9♠ 8♥)
- Jack of Clubs, 10 of Diamonds, 9 of Clubs, 8 of Spades, and 7 of Clubs (J♣ 10♦ 9♣ 8♠ 7♣)
- 10 of Diamonds, 9 of Spades, and 8, 7, and 6 of Diamonds (10♦ 9♠ 8♦ 7♦ 6♦)
- 7 of Spades and 6, 5, 4, and 3 of Diamonds (7♠ 6♦ 5♦ 4♦ 3♦)
The highest poker hand is the first one, the King-High Straight, followed by the Queen-High Straight and the Jack-High Straight, respectively.
How Does a Straight Match Up Against Other Poker Hands?
Though the overall strength of the Straight poker hand is relatively high, it lies in the middle of the poker hand ranking. Below, we're providing an overview of the different poker hands in decreased order of ranking:
Straight-Hand Rankings
- Royal Flush: Royal Flush is the highest hand in a standard poker game made from 10 to Ace cards in the same suit. For example, 10♣ J♣ Q♣ K♣ A♣️.
- Straight Flush: It combines Straight and Flush poker hands, i.e., it is made from five consecutive cards in the same suit. For example 5♣ 6♣ 7♣ 8♣ 9♣.
- Four-of-a-Kind: It is made from four cards of the same rank and a kicker. For example: A♠ A♣ A♦ A♥ 6♦.
- Full House: A full house is made from a Three-of-a-Kind and a Pair, i.e., three cards of the same rank and two from another. For example, A♠ A♣ A♦ J♥ J♦.
- Flush: A Flush is made from five cards of the same suit that are not in order. For example Q♣ 8♣ 6♣ 5♣ 3♣.
- Straight: A straight poker hand is made from five consecutive cards that are not in the same suit. For example, A♠ K♣ Q♦ J♥ 10♦.
- Three-of-a-Kind: The three-of-a-kind hand is made from three cards of the same rank and two kickers. For example: A♠ A♣ A♦ K♥ J♦.
- Two Pairs: This hand is made from two pairs of cards and a kicker card. For example: A♠ A♣ K♦ K♥ J♦.
- Pair: This hand only has a single pair of cards with the same rank. For example, A♠ A♣ Q♦ K♥ J♦.
- High Card: This poker hand does not have any combinations. In this case, the highest-ranked card is the hand rank. For example: A♠ 5♣ 3♦ 7♥ 9♦ (Ace High Card).
Probability of Getting a Straight Hand in Poker
A Straight is a firm hand, especially in short-handed play, i.e., four-handed or six-handed action. Moreover, the probability of forming a straight poker hand is double that of a flush, the next highest hand in poker hand ranking.
In Straight poker and five-card draws, i.e., poker variations that do not have hole cards, the probability of forming a Straight (excluding the Royal Flush and Straight Flush) is around 0.3925% with 253.8:1 odds of appearing.
On the other hand, for Texas Hold'em, the most popular poker variant, the odds of a Straight hand appearing are much higher. The probability of a Straight hand appearing, excluding the Straight and Royal Flush, is around 4.62% with 20.6:1 odds of appearing.
Straight Poker Probability Table
| POKER HANDS | FREQUENCY | PROBABILITY (%) | ODDS (~) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Royal Flush |
4 |
0.000154% |
1 in 649,740 |
|
Straight Flush |
36 |
0.00139% |
1 in 72,193 |
|
Four-of-a-Kind |
624 |
0.0240% |
1 in 4,165 |
|
Full House |
3,744 |
0.1441% |
1 in 694 |
|
Flush |
5,108 |
0.1965% |
1 in 509 |
|
Straight |
10,200 |
0.3925% |
1 in 255 |
|
Three-of-a-Kind |
54,912 |
2.1128% |
1 in 47 |
|
Two Pair |
123,552 |
4.7539% |
1 in 21 |
|
Pair |
1,098,240 |
42.2569% |
1 in 2.4 |
|
High Card |
1,302, 540 |
50.1177% |
1 in 2 |
What is a Straight Draw?
A Straight Draw is when you have four cards and need only one more to form a Straight.
A Straight is not always the winning hand, but it can be if you play it correctly. As a seasoned poker player, it would be easy to recognise a Straight hand forming in a combination of your hole cards and community cards.
It will provide you with more betting opportunities early in the game. However, it would be best if you were always wary of another player forming a Straight Flush or a higher Straight.
There are two common types of straight draws:
- An Open-ended Straight Draw has four straight cards and can be completed at either end.
- The Inside Straight Draw has four outs on either end and needs the inside card for the straight.
It is more profitable to bet on an Open-ended Straight than an Inside Straight, as the probability of the former is higher.
What can a straight hand beat?
You can beat straight by making Flush, Full House, Four-of-a-kind, Straight Flush, or Royal Flush.
How to play straight in Texas hold'em
To form a straight, you must arrange five cards in a consecutive order. There are two types of straight draws:
- Open-ended straight draw: As the name suggests, the hand is open-ended. You just need one card on either side to complete your straight. You have 3-4-5-6; you need 2 or 7 to complete your straight. This gives you eight outs, meaning eight possible cards to complete.
- Inside straight draw: Here, you need a specific card in the complete to complete the straight. For example, 3-4-5-6, and you need a 7. This gives you four outs, meaning four possible cards to complete.
You should bet with straights when you have good odds; others might have stronger hands, so be careful. Straight works well when you already have favourable hole cards, like two out of five cards are already there.
How to play a straight in Pot Limit Omaha
Making a straight in Omaha is easy since you get four-hole cards instead of two. However, the probability of being dealt a straight in a pre-flop round is relatively low. The probability increases in the flop round and rises until the River. So, from 0.65% in the pre-flop, you reach 32% in the River.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Wrap-around Straight?
A Wrap-around Straight combines the lower and higher straight with an Ace card in the middle. For example, J-Q-K-A-2, K-A-2-3-4, etc. These Straights are generally not allowed in standard poker.
Is A-2-3-4-5 hand better than 2-3-4-5-6?
No. Though the A-2-3-4-5 hand contains an Ace, it is the lowest Straight. This is because the rank of a Straight is determined by its highest card, and a 6-high Straight would beat a 5-high Straight.
Why are wrap-around Straights not allowed in standard poker?
In poker, the Ace card is a corner card when part of a combination, i.e., it should occupy either a high or low position. Since the Wrap-around Straight does not follow this rule, it is not allowed in standard poker.
Do suits matter in the ranking of Straight poker?
No, Straight poker ranking is done solely based on card ranks, not their suits. However, if all the cards are of the same suit, it would be a Straight Flush, which ranks higher than a Straight poker hand.
What is a straight in poker?
A straight is five consecutive cards in a sequential order. If you are playing Omaha, there's a possibility that you can make many straights in poker.
Conclusion
The Straight poker hand, consisting of five sequential cards from different suits, carries substantial weight in poker rankings. Its strength lies in its simplicity and ease of identification.
Understanding how a Straight is ranked, recognising its potential in various scenarios, and being mindful of draw possibilities contribute to a player's overall strategy. While a Straight may not be the pinnacle hand, its significance in the poker landscape is undeniable.
Being adept at identifying and capitalising on Straight draws adds an extra layer of skill to one's poker repertoire, making it a valuable asset in the game.
Straight Flush vs Quads
Three of a kind
