How the Rankings of Poker Hands Stack Up: A Guide to Flushes and Beyond
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Poker has a bewildering array of hands, but understanding what a flush is and how it ranks can give you a solid foundation for defeating your opponents. This guide will walk you through the basics and help you decide what beats what in poker.
What's a Flush in Poker?
A flush is when you have five cards of the same suit, but not in sequential order. For instance, if you hold 5♣, 7♣, 8♣, 10♣, and Q♣, you've got a flush. It's the fifth-highest ranking hand in poker, with higher hands like the famous royal flush being even more elusive [1].
Rarity Makes the Difference
As with many poker hands, it's rarity that decides a flush's ranking. Here's how theflush stack up against some common hands you can encounter:
Hands Above a Flush
- Royal Flush: The ultimate hand, with five consecutive cards of the same suit (A-K-Q-J-10). You can get a royal flush once in around 649,740 games [5].
- Straight Flush: Any five cards in consecutive order from the same suit. The odds of hitting a straight flush are approximately 1 in 72,193 games [1].
- Full House: Three cards of one rank and two of another (e.g., A-A-A-K-K). A full house ranks above a flush but below a straight flush [2].
If two players have flushes, the one with the highest card wins. In case of a tie, the second-highest card is used as a tiebreaker [1].
What Beats a Flush in Poker?
A flush is no match for the hands mentioned above. But there are plenty of weaker hands that will fold to your flush, such as straights and three-of-a-kind [5]. Here's a quick rundown of the hands that defeat a flush:
Flush vs. Royal Flush in Poker
The royal flush is the undisputed king of poker hands. A flush is simply a lesser version, with the same suit but not in consecutive order [5].
Flush vs. Straight Flush in Poker
A straight flush is the most powerful type of flush, as it consists of five consecutive cards from the same suit. A regular flush (suited cards not in sequence) loses to a straight flush [5].
Flush vs. Four-of-a-Kind in Poker
Four-of-a-kind, also known as quads, is a stronger hand than a flush because it involves four identical cards (e.g., four 10s). In this situation, your flush would lose [2].
Flush vs. Full House in Poker
Full houses are three-of-a-kind and a pair. If you're up against a full house, it will almost certainly beat your flush [1].
Flush vs. Straight in Poker
While a flush is stronger than a straight, a straight still beats various other hands like one pair or high card [3].
The Best Starting Hands in Poker
Knowing which starting hands to play can improve your chances of winning. Here are some top choices for exceptional hands that will help you compete:
- King-Ace, Suited or Offsuit: Suited hands have a higher likelihood of winning, thanks to the potential for straights and flushes when the action goes to the river [6].
- Pair of Jacks: While not the strongest hand, a pair of jacks has a 50% chance of winning, making it a common choice in many poker variants [6].
- Pocket Tens: Tens are rare in poker and can potentially lead to four-of-a-kind combinations. Having a pair of tens is a solid starting hand [6].
Mastering the Math of Poker
Poker is a game of strategy, skill, and math. Stay calm, understand the rankings, and focus on your hand to improve your chances of winning [7]. As you gain more experience, you'll make better decisions and become a stronger player. Good luck at the tables!
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Enrichment Data:
- Overall: In poker, the hands that beat a flush are higher in the standard hand rankings:
- Hands Superior to a Flush
- Full House: Three cards of one rank and two of another (e.g., A-A-A-K-K)
- Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 5-6-7-8-9)
- The highest in this category is the royal flush (A-K-Q-J-10 of the same suit)
- Key Clarifications:
- Flush vs. Full House: A flush loses to a full house, as the latter is rarer and higher-ranked [1]
- Suit Hierarchy: While suits have no inherent value in determining hand strength, the highest card in the flush decides tiebreakers (e.g., A♥ 9♥ 7♥ 5♥ 2♥ beats K♥ Q♥ 9♥ 7♥ 5♥)[1]
- Probabilities:
- Straight flush odds are ~1 in 72,193 pre-flop (using suited connectors)[1]
- Bad beat jackpot-qualifying hands (e.g., straight flush vs. a higher straight flush) occur at odds as low as ~1 in 950,000[4]
- Footnotes:
- [1] https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/hand-rankings-in-poker-1075674
- [2] https://www.playpokersite.com/poker-hands-ranking/
- [3] https://www.888poker.com/poker-school/articles/which-hand-beats-a-flush
- [4] https://professorjb.wordpress.com/bad-beat-jackpot/the-probability-of-a-bad-beat-jackpot-hit/
- [5] https://www.pokerlearningcenter.com/guides/types-of-poker-hands/flush/
- [6] https://www.pokernews.com/strategy-and-analysis/best-starting-hands-texas-hold-em-2019-20423.htm
- [7] https://www.bestpokersites.co.uk/strategy/cash-game/32-poker-tips-every-beginner-should-know
- In poker, a flush is the fifth-highest ranking hand, with five cards of the same suit but not in sequential order.
- The royal flush, comprising five consecutive cards of the same suit, is the ultimate hand in poker, beating all other flushes.
- The rarity of hands decides their ranking in poker, with a straight flush being more powerful than a regular flush due to its consecutive nature.
- When two players have flushes, the one with the highest card wins, and in case of a tie, the second-highest card serves as a tiebreaker.
- The highest hands that beat a flush include the full house, four-of-a-kind, and straight.
- In terms of starting hands, King-Ace, both suited and offsuit, and a pair of Jacks are popular choices among poker players.
- Poker is a game of strategy, skill, and math, where understanding hand rankings, focusing on your hand, and making calculated decisions can lead to improved winnings at the casino-and-gambling tables, including various casino-games like poker and even sports-betting.
