Poker Hands
In poker, it does not get much better than forming a straight flush.
What is a Straight Flush in Poker?
A straight flush is a combination of aflushand astraight.
A flush requires all 5 cards in your hand to be of the same suit.
What Beats a Straight Flush?
A royal flush is the strongest hand in the game, and it beats a straight flush.
Otherwise, the only way a player can beat your straight flush is with a better straight flush.
Straight flush hands are not determined by suits, as there is no ranking amongst the suits.
Instead, the strength of a straight flush is determined by its highest card.
For example, a 10-high straight flush will beat a 9-high straight flush.
The possibility of forming such a hand is extremely small, with odds of 72,192 to 1.
This converts into a percentage of just 0.00139%.
It all depends on what cards they have in the hole.
Here are some terms that you should know before continuing.
You do not have one yet, but you are only 1 or 2 cards away from reaching it.
For example, there is a suited draw of 8,9 and 10 among the communal cards.
Connectors (Hole Cards)
Connectors are hole cards that are in a 2-card sequence.
For example, 10+Jack or Queen+King are connectors.
For a straight flush, they must be of the same suit.
8 and 10 are one-gappers whilst 8 and Jack are two-gappers.
Flop
The flop is the make-or-break moment for a straight flush.
The best scenario is when there are three suited communal cards that complete your hand.
You already have a straight flush and there are still two cards to be drawn.
The onus is on you to raise that pot as far as your opponents will go.
If you are only missing one card, then you either have an open ended or inside 4-card draw.
For the inside draw, there is only 1 card in that deck that can finish your hand.
After the turn is dealt, you’re able to increase the size of your raise.
Do not worry about limpers leaving, as they will not bring you the big bucks.
Instead, you are relying on the players who have something to play for.
Whether they are onto a straight or a flush is irrelevant, as your straight flush beats both.
Though the odds are racked against you, it is worth holding on to the river.
In the precious chance that you do make the straight flush, it will bring ample rewards.
No one likes to fold after the river is drawn, but everyone has their own limits.
But double-check that the pot is a good size before you give them a betting ultimatum.
Now, if you did not make the straight flush, it is not the end of the world.
It is a big gamble, but there is still the possibility to bluff.
After all, up until that point you bet with confidence.
If you only missed out by one suit you still have a straight.
Should one of the cards break the sequence, then you have a flush.
These are not weak hands, but your opponent may have the same hand, or something stronger.
Best Case Scenario
The best hand is a Royal Flush, which is an Ace-high straight flush.
Outside that, the best straight flush is King-high.
This is because another player only needs to have a suited 6 to complete a better straight flush.
Conclusion
It is worth taking the risk on a straight flush.
As this hand is so rare, it also brings a lot of bluffing to the table.
