When people learn poker, one of the first hand questions is simple but essential: what is a straight in poker? Knowing exactly how a straight ranks, how it forms, and how to play it changes decisions at the table. In this article I’ll explain the rules, show clear examples, outline the math behind straights, and share practical strategy drawn from experience so you can recognize, value, and protect this hand in cash games and tournaments.
Definition and ranking
A straight in poker is any five cards in numerical sequence, regardless of suit. For example: 4-5-6-7-8 is a straight; Q-K-A-2-3 is not (because the sequence wraps only with the ace as high or low, not both). Straights rank above three of a kind and below a flush. A straight cannot include duplicated ranks (pairs) and the suits do not matter when comparing two straights—only the highest card in the sequence matters.
Key rules to remember
- The ace can be used as either the highest card (10-J-Q-K-A) or the lowest (A-2-3-4-5), but it cannot “wrap around” (Q-K-A-2-3 is invalid).
- If two players both have straights, the straight with the higher top card wins (10-J-Q-K-A beats 9-10-J-Q-K).
- A straight flush (five consecutive cards of the same suit) outranks a straight.
Common examples
Here are straightforward examples you’ll see in games:
- 3-4-5-6-7 — a seven-high straight
- A-2-3-4-5 — a five-high straight (wheel)
- 10-J-Q-K-A — the highest straight
Compare: 7-8-9-10-J beats 5-6-7-8-9 because the highest card in the first straight is a Jack and in the second it’s a 9.
Probability: how rare is a straight?
Understanding frequency helps you place the proper value on straights. In classic 5-card poker there are C(52,5) = 2,598,960 possible hands. There are 10 sequences possible (A-5 up to 10-A) and for each sequence there are 4^5 suit combinations. That gives 10 × 4^5 = 10,240 straight hands including straight flushes. Removing the 40 straight flushes produces 10,200 plain straights.
That means the probability of being dealt a straight in a five-card hand (excluding straight flushes) is 10,200 ÷ 2,598,960 ≈ 0.3925% (about 1 in 255). Including straight flushes the probability is 10,240 ÷ 2,598,960 ≈ 0.394%.
Straight draws and odds (Texas Hold’em)
Most modern poker is Texas Hold’em, and straights often develop from draws. Two common draw types on the flop:
- Open-ended straight draw (OESD): four in sequence where either end completes the straight (e.g., you hold 8-9 and the flop is 6-7-x). You have eight outs (four of each end) to complete the straight.
- Inside or gutshot straight draw: missing one middle card (e.g., you hold 8-9 and the flop is 7-J-x). You have four outs.
Practical odds from the flop:
- Open-ended draw to hit by the turn: 8/47 ≈ 17.0%.
- Open-ended draw to hit by the river (either turn or river): ≈ 31.5%.
- Gutshot draw to hit by the turn: 4/47 ≈ 8.5%.
- Gutshot draw to hit by the river: ≈ 16.5%.
These percentages help you compare pot odds and expected value when deciding to chase.
How to play straights: strategy and table-sense
In my years at the felt, straights are deceptively tricky. They’re powerful but vulnerable. Here are practical strategic principles:
- Value bet thinly when the straight is the nut or close to it. If the board’s highest possible straight is yours, get chips in the pot.
- Be cautious on paired or heavily draw-completing boards. A paired board can produce a full house for an opponent; three cards of one suit combined with a straight make you susceptible to a higher flush.
- Consider blockers: if you hold a card that would complete competing straights (for instance you hold the Queen that would otherwise allow an opponent to make a higher straight), you can be more confident about betting.
- Multiway pots change math. A made straight versus many opponents often loses to two-pair-turning-full-house or to a flush—tighten up your value bets and consider pot control.
- When on a draw, weigh implied odds carefully. Chasing a draw into a big raise without position is often a losing play.
Common mistakes
Players frequently overvalue straights in certain situations. Typical errors include:
- Assuming a made straight is automatically the best hand without reading the board texture.
- Ignoring reverse implied odds—when your straight could become second-best after river action.
- Failing to consider how many combos of higher straights or flushes are possible from the remaining unseen cards.
Real-world scenario: an anecdote
I’ll never forget a mid-stakes cash game hand where I flopped an open-ended draw with 9♥10♣ on 7♦8♠2♣. I called a small raise to see the turn, picked up the 6♣ (completing my straight), and then faced a massive river shove. The river put two clubs on board making a possible flush; my opponent’s line and timing made me suspect a flush or a slow-played set turned into a full house. I folded and later found out I folded the best hand—my opponent had bluff-shoved with a missed draw. That hand taught me a core lesson: board texture and opponent tendencies often matter more than a checklist of outs.
Variations and edge cases
Different poker variants change how straights behave:
- Omaha makes straights more common because players use exactly two hole cards plus three board cards, which multiplies combinations.
- In community-card games like Texas Hold’em, you must always consider the five-card board—sometimes the best five-card hand is the board itself, leading to chop pots.
- Some regional or home rules may rank straights or wheel straights differently; always confirm rules before a session.
Practical drills to improve
Practice with intent. A few exercises that helped me improve:
- Run simulations or use hand-history review software to study how often straights hold at showdown in realistic spots.
- Play focused sessions where you intentionally track every time you make a straight and the final outcome—did you win more often when betting for value or when checking behind?
- Study opponents: players who over-fold to aggression are target-rich when you hit a straight; aggressive players who chase draws can turn a made straight into a bluff-catcher.
Resources and further reading
If you want a concise primer or quick refresher on what is a straight in poker, several reputable poker sites and strategy forums provide hand-rank charts, simulation tools, and practice drills. For games that differ from Hold’em—like Teen Patti or Omaha—check the rules and strategic write-ups for those specific variants.
FAQ
Q: Is A-2-3-4-5 the weakest straight?
A: In terms of highest card it’s the weakest straight (five-high), but in many situations it still beats a lot of hands and has good hidden strength because opponents often misjudge it.
Q: Can suits affect a straight?
A: The suit does not affect the ranking among straights, but suits matter because they determine flush possibilities that can beat your straight.
Q: How to tell if I have the “nut straight”?
A: The nut straight is the highest possible straight on that board. If no higher card exists to form a straight than the one you hold, you likely have the nut straight—unless a straight flush is possible.
Closing
Straights are elegant hands: simple in definition but rich in strategic nuance. By learning how to identify them precisely, by understanding the math of draws, and by sharpening your sense for when they are best or second-best, you’ll make better decisions and win more pots. If you’d like a quick reference or practice games, check out what is a straight in poker for resources and rule variations across popular games.
