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A straight can be a strong hand, but without knowing exactly what one is, you might miss the chance to win big.
To make matters even more complicated, there are different straight poker hands that are better than others, as well as hands that are even stronger than a straight.
So, let’s take a minute to look at what is a straight in poker and how to use it.
What is a Straight?
A straight in poker is a hand that is made up of five cards in sequential rank, not all of the same suit.
In the most popular seven-card poker games like Texas Hold ’em, or nine-card games like Omaha, or even the five-card stud game variants, you will need five sequential cards in a row to make a straight.
Straights can be comprised of cards of any suit; they only need to be in order. However, straights are ranked by the highest card in the sequence, meaning a 6? 7? 8? 9? 10? beats a 5? 6? 7? 8? 9?.
Remember, even in seven-card games, you still only need five cards from either your hand or the community board to make a straight, and in most games, only the five highest-sequence cards will play.
Straights can not wrap around, for instance, J Q K A 2. The Ace is the highest-ranked card in a straight that runs A? K? Q? J? 10?, and you will hear this hand referred to as Broadway when it is not suited.
Straight Examples
Whether you’re playing at one of the best online poker sites or in Las Vegas, the types of straights remain the same. Here’s a few straight poker hands to get to know:
5? 6? 7? 8? 9?
This is a straight from 5 to 9, often called a “Nine-high straight”.
10? J? Q? K? A?
This is a straight from 10 to Ace, often called a “Broadway”.
3? 4? 5? 6? 7?
This is a straight from 3 to 7, often called a “Seven-high straight”.
A? 2? 3? 4? 5?
This is a straight from Ace to 5, often called a “Wheel” or “Five-high straight”. Note that in this case, the Ace is counted as the lowest card.
Where Does a Straight Rank in Poker?
If you’ve been dealt a straight, you should fancy your chances. But remember, out of ten possible rankings in a game like Texas Hold ’em, a straight ranks only number five.
And if your opponent can use the board to make a higher straight than you, caution is in order.
| Poker Hand | Description | Example |
| Royal Flush | A straight from 10 to ace with all cards of a matching suit | 10? J? Q? K? A? |
| Straight Flush | A straight with cards of a matching suit | 5? 6? 7? 8? 9? |
| Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same value | A? A? A? A? X |
| Full House | One pair and one set | K? K? 4? 4? 4? |
| Flush | Any five cards of the same suit | 5? 9? 10? K? J? |
| Straight | Five cards in sequential order, but without matching suits | 2? 3? 4? 5? 6? |
| Three of a Kind (or a Set of Trips) | Three cards of the same value | A? A? A? X X |
| Two Pair | A pair plus another different pair | A? A? 6? 6? X |
| Pair (or Two of a Kind) | Two cards of the same value | J? J? X X X |
| High Card | A hand with no other value than that of its highest card | K? J? 2? 8? 6? |
A flush is the next best hand to a straight, but you will have a straight much more often than a Flush, so it is important that you play this hand correctly. Check out our poker strategy guide for more tips on how to play a straight.
When you are dealt a straight made up of only one suit, you have a straight flush, which, as you can see, is the second highest hand, beaten only by the royal flush, which, while it lacks the straight in its name, is also a straight.
Difference between a Straight and a Straight Flush
A straight flush is, as the name implies, both a straight and a flush. For example, 5?, 6?, 7?, 8?, 9?, or five sequential cards of the same suit.
This hand is quite rare. You can expect to see a straight about one in every 250 hands in Texas Hold ’em, but a straight flush about one hand out of slightly more than 72,000.
Just like our regular straight, the highest straight flush wins.
But the rarest straight is the royal flush, occurring in only one hand out of about 650,000. This is the highest hand in most poker games.
A royal flush is A K Q J 10, all of the same suit, and is the highest poker hand, the absolute nuts. Learn more about the different types of poker hands with our guide.
What Beats a Straight in Poker?
A straight is going to win an awful lot of pots, but it is beaten by any kind of flush, which is five cards of the same suit. A poker straight vs flush will always result in a flush win.
Still, you should see a standard flush only once in 508 hands.
It is also beaten by a full house, which is three of a kind and an added pair, and then the four-of-a-kind, which is also quite rare at once in every 4,100 hands.
Then there are the two rarer types of straights we have discussed, the straight flush and royal flush, which will also beat a straight.
Pros and Cons of a Straight
Pros 
- Straight poker hands are very good and should win most pots and, when played properly, provide lots of value.
- Straights, especially those that come on the flop or turn, are great times to slow-play the other players into giving you more value.
- A nut straight is hard to outdraw due to the sequential unsuited cards on the board that give you a straight, and which is unlikely to improve your opponent’s flush or full house draws that might see you beat.
Cons 
- Sequential cards on the board are very likely to raise alarm bells with other players recognizing the danger.
- Straights that aren’t the nut (the best possible) can be outdrawn or beat on the turn or river.
- Straight draws made up of too many of the same suit may appear to represent opportunity but your hand crushed when it comes to a poker straight vs flush
How to Use a Straight in Poker
Whether you are playing at a live casino or a no limits tournament at the Borgata, a lot of how you play a straight, like pretty much everything in poker, is going to depend. There are no hard and fast straight poker rules.
Understanding Outs
Outs are the cards that can complete your straight. If you have four connected cards, you have eight outs—cards on either end that can complete your hand.
For example, with 3?, 4?, 5?, 6?, any 2 or 7 would give you a straight. This is called an open-ended or outside straight draw, and it’s often worth playing aggressively due to the higher number of outs.
An inside straight draw, like 3?, 4?, 6?, 7?, only has four outs, making it a weaker draw that you might play more cautiously unless the pot odds are highly favorable.
Pot Odds and Implied Odds
If the pot odds justify calling, it’s often worth staying in the hand. However, consider implied odds as well—what the pot could grow to if you hit your straight and get more action from your opponents.
If you believe your opponents will continue to bet into you, it might justify a more aggressive play even with a weaker draw.
Playing Aggressively vs Cautiously
When you have a strong straight draw, especially an open-ended one, playing aggressively can pressure opponents into folding weaker hands.
On the other hand, if you suspect your opponents are on stronger draws or if the board is particularly coordinated (e.g. three cards to a flush), a more cautious approach might be better.
In these cases, you might want to check or call rather than bet or raise, controlling the pot size until you see if your draw completes.
Be Aware of Opponents and Read Table
Pay attention to the board and your opponent’s actions. Sequential cards on the board could indicate that others are also on a straight draw.
If your opponents are cautious, you might take control with well-timed bets; if they’re aggressive, be careful, as they might have a stronger hand.
Playing straight poker hands effectively takes experience, and you’ll need to get comfortable with the nuances over time. Remember, you’re only likely to see a straight every few hundred hands, so making the most of these opportunities is crucial.
What is a Straight in Poker: Verdict
Now you should know what is a straight in poker. This hand provides a lot of opportunities to put more chips in your stacks when played correctly.
A straight is a superb hand to have and is only beaten by a handful of other collections of cards. There are no set poker straight rules, but you will get the hand of how to use one with practice.
