The community cards are 7♥ 8♥ 9♥ 10♣ K♠. You hold J♣ 2♦ and make a jack-high straight, 7-8-9-10-J. Your opponent holds A♥ Q♥, completing an ace-high flush with five hearts. Despite your five-card sequence, the flush wins because it ranks higher than a straight. The question that decides the pot is which hands rank above it: in standard rankings, four hand categories do, and the flush is the one you will face most often.
Hands That Beat a Straight
In standard poker hand rankings, four hands rank above a straight:
- Flush: Five cards of the same suit, in any rank order. A flush always beats a standard straight.
- Full House: Three cards of one rank matched with two cards of another rank.
- Four of a Kind: Four cards of the exact same rank.
- Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards that all share the exact same suit.
A royal flush is simply the highest possible straight flush (an ace-high straight flush). Because a royal flush is the top variation of a straight flush, it also beats a straight.
If an opponent shows any of these four hand categories at showdown, your straight loses.
Quick Reference: Full Hand Rankings
| Rank | Hand |
|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Flush |
| 2 | Straight Flush |
| 3 | Four of a Kind |
| 4 | Full House |
| 5 | Flush |
| 6 | Straight |
| 7 | Three of a Kind |
| 8 | Two Pair |
| 9 | One Pair |
| 10 | High Card |
Hands Ranked Below a Straight
While a straight loses to flushes and higher combinations, it stands firmly above several common card holdings. A straight beats the following four hands:
- Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same numerical rank alongside two unrelated cards.
- Two Pair: Two distinct pairs of cards accompanied by a fifth unmatched kicker.
- One Pair: A single matched pair of cards with three unrelated kickers.
- High Card: Any hand that fails to make at least a single pair.
When exploring what is poker, beginners quickly realize that pairs and two pairs appear frequently. A straight outranks all four of these hands at showdown.
How a Straight Is Formed
A straight consists of five cards in consecutive rank order with mixed suits. An example of a straight is 7-8-9-10-J. If the suits are mixed, it is evaluated as a standard straight.
The ace serves a unique, flexible role when building straights. An ace can be used as the lowest card in the sequence or as the highest card:
- The lowest straight: A-2-3-4-5, widely known as the “wheel.”
- The highest straight: 10-J-Q-K-A, often called “broadway.”
Because the ace can only sit at the very bottom or the very top of a run, it cannot connect cards in the middle of a sequence.
When multiple players complete a straight in games like those described in our guide on how to play Texas Hold’em, rank sequence determines the winner. A straight with a higher top card beats a straight with a lower top card. For instance, 6-7-8-9-10 beats 5-6-7-8-9. If two players share the exact same rank sequence, the pot is split equally. Suits are never used to break ties in poker.
Common Mistakes Beginners Make
Beginners run into three main points of confusion when evaluating straight combinations:
- Believing Suits Upgrade a Straight: Some players mistakenly assume that a straight made of hearts or spades beats a straight made of lower-ranked suits. In standard poker, suits have no ranking hierarchy. Suits never upgrade a straight, and suits are never used to break ties. Suits only matter when completing a flush, and even then, only card ranks break ties between flushes.
- Attempting a Wrap-Around Straight: A common error is attempting to use the ace to connect high and low cards, such as Q-K-A-2-3. This combination is not a straight in standard rules. The sequence must run uninterrupted either up to the ace or starting from the ace.
- Confusing a Straight with a Straight Flush: Because both involve five cards in numerical order, new players sometimes mix them up. A standard straight contains mixed suits. A straight flush requires all five cards to share the same suit, and it ranks well above a straight.
FAQ
Can you make a wrap-around straight like Queen-King-Ace-Two-Three?
No. In standard poker rules, wrap-around straights are completely invalid. The ace can serve as the lowest card (A-2-3-4-5) or the highest card (10-J-Q-K-A), but it cannot bridge the gap between a king and a two.
What is the lowest straight in poker?
The lowest straight is A-2-3-4-5, where the ace acts as a one. This specific five-card hand is commonly referred to as the wheel.
To compare hands at showdown, identify each player’s best five-card hand from their hole cards and the community board, then use the ranking order above.