Straight (poker)

Readers note: If your web browser does not display the card suit symbols below, see the section below.

A poker hand such as Q♣ J♠ 10♠ 9♥ 8♥, which contains five cards of sequential rank, of varying suits. Ranks above Three of a kind and below a Flush.

Two straights are ranked by comparing the high card of each. Two straights with the same high card are of equal value, and split any winnings (straights are the most commonly tied hands in poker, especially in Community card games).

Straights are often described by the highest card, as in "queen-high straight" or "straight to the queen".

Examples:

8♠ 7♠ 6♥ 5♥ 4♠ ("eight-high straight") defeats 6♦ 5♠ 4♦ 3♥ 2♣ ("six-high straight")
8♠ 7♠ 6♥ 5♥ 4♠ ties 8♥ 7♦ 6♣ 5♣ 4♥

Aces are a special case here: a hand such as A♣ K♣ Q♦ J♠ 10♠ is an ace-high straight (or "broadway"), and ranks above a king-high straight such as K♥ Q♠ J♥ 10♥ 9♦. But the ace may also be played as a 1-spot in a hand such as 5♠ 4♦ 3♦ 2♠ A♣, called a Wheel or "bicycle" or five-high straight, which ranks below the six-high straight 6♠ 5♣ 4♣ 3♥ 2♥. The ace may not "wrap around", or play both high and low in the same hand: 3♣ 2♦ A♠ K♠ Q♣ is not a straight, but just ace-high no pair. The wrap-around is, however, one of the Unconventional hands used in some home games.

When Wild cardss are used, the wild card becomes whichever rank is necessary to complete the straight. If two different ranks would complete a straight, it becomes the higher. For example, in the hand J♦ 10♠ 9♣ (Wild) 7♠, the wild card plays as an 8 (of any suit; it doesn't matter). In the hand (Wild) 6♥ 5♦ 4♥ 3♦, it plays as a 7 (even though a 2 would also make a straight).

The general rule about poker hands having only five cards (see Poker/Hands) may come into play here. If playing a seven-card game you end up with K♠ K♣ K♥ Q♠ J♦ 10♦ 9♣, and your opponent has K♦ Q♦ J♥ 10♥ 9♠ 8♠ 7♣, your hands are tied. The best five-card poker hand you can make is a king-high straight, and the best hand he can make is also a king-high straight. The fact that you also have three kings and he also has a seven-card-long straight are both irrelevant. Of course, if his hand were instead A♥ K♦ Q♦ J♥ 10♥ 9♠ 8♠, his ace-high straight would defeat your king-high.

In Mexican stud, because the 8s, 9s, and 10s are removed from the deck, a hand such as 6-7-J-Q-K counts as a straight (to the king).

See also : Poker

Readers note: This section uses the letters c, d, h, and s to indicate card suits.

A poker hand such as Qc Js 10s 9h 8h, which contains five cards of sequential rank, of varying suits. Ranks above Three of a kind and below a Flush.

Straights are often described by the highest card, as in "queen-high straight" or "straight to the queen".

Examples:

8s 7s 6h 5h 4s ("eight-high straight") defeats 6d 5s 4d 3h 2c ("six-high straight")
8s 7s 6h 5h 4s ties 8h 7d 6c 5c 4h

Aces are a special case here: a hand such as Ac Kc Qd Js 10s is an ace-high straight (or "broadway"), and ranks above a king-high straight such as Kh Qs Jh 10h 9d. But the ace may also be played as a 1-spot in a hand such as 5s 4d 3d 2s Ac, called a Wheel or "bicycle" or five-high straight, which ranks below the six-high straight 6s 5c 4c 3h 2h. The ace may not "wrap around", or play both high and low in the same hand: 3c 2d As Ks Qc is not a straight, but just ace-high no pair. The wrap-around is, however, one of the Unconventional hands used in some home games.

When Wild cardss are used, the wild card becomes whichever rank is necessary to complete the straight. If two different ranks would complete a straight, it becomes the higher. For example, in the hand Jd 10s 9c (Wild) 7s, the wild card plays as an 8 (of any suit; it doesn't matter). In the hand (Wild) 6h 5d 4h 3d, it plays as a 7 (even though a 2 would also make a straight).

The general rule about poker hands having only five cards (see Poker/Hands) may come into play here. If playing a seven-card game you end up with Ks Kc Kh Qs Jd 10d 9c, and your opponent has Kd Qd Jh 10h 9s 8s 7c, your hands are tied. The best five-card poker hand you can make is a king-high straight, and the best hand he can make is also a king-high straight. The fact that you also have three kings and he also has a seven-card-long straight are both irrelevant. Of course, if his hand were instead Ah Kd Qd Jh 10h 9s 8s, his ace-high straight would defeat your king-high.

In Mexican stud, because the 8s, 9s, and 10s are removed from the deck, a hand such as 6-7-J-Q-K counts as a straight (to the king).

See also : Poker