Straight Flush Hand in Poker

Definition: A Straight Flush is five consecutive cards of the same suit (for example, 9-8-7-6-5 of spades).

A Straight Flush is one of the strongest poker hands. It ranks just below a Royal Flush and is beaten only by a higher straight flush (or a Royal Flush, which is the highest straight flush).

The Straight Flush appears near the top of poker hand rankings and consists of five consecutive cards in the same suit.

Royal Flush note: The best possible straight flush is the Royal Flush, made up of A-K-Q-J-10 in the same suit:

A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠

A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ 10♥

A♣ K♣ Q♣ J♣ 10♣

A♦ K♦ Q♦ J♦ 10♦

The suit itself is irrelevant for ranking. Any A-K-Q-J-10 straight flush is a Royal Flush, and all Royal Flushes are equal in rank.

Here’s an example of a regular Straight Flush:

9♠ 8♠ 7♠ 6♠ 5♠

How a Straight Flush is ranked: The ranking is determined by the highest card in the straight (not the suit). For example, a 10-high Straight Flush beats a 9-high Straight Flush in any suit.

How Does a Straight Flush Hand Rank?

Mini-summary: A Straight Flush is an elite hand that is beaten only by a higher straight flush (including a Royal Flush).

In a 52-card deck, there are 40 possible straight flush combinations. As discussed earlier, this poker hand ranks near the top of the hand ranking list. It beats almost every other hand in most poker games.

Special case: The lowest straight flush (A-2-3-4-5 in the same suit) is commonly called a Steel Wheel in many poker contexts:

5♠ 4♠ 3♠ 2♠ A♠

How Does a Straight Flush Hand Match Up?

Mini-summary: A Straight Flush beats every hand below it, but loses to a higher straight flush (and a Royal Flush).

A Straight Flush is an extremely strong hand, but it is not unbeatable. If two players make a straight flush, the higher straight flush wins.

The most important comparison is that a Royal Flush is the highest straight flush, and it beats every other straight flush.

Hands that rank below a Straight Flush include Four-of-a-Kind.

In poker, Four-of-a-Kind is also known as Quads and is made up of four cards of the same rank.

The best Four-of-a-Kind hand is Quad Aces:

A♠ A♦ A♣ A♥

Straight Flush Poker Probabilities

Now, we’ll look at the pre-flop, flop, turn and river probabilities of making a Straight Flush in both Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha.

Straight Flush – Poker Hand Ranking FAQs

What is a Straight Flush in poker?

A Straight Flush is a poker hand made up of five consecutive cards of the same suit, such as 2-3-4-5-6 of diamonds. It combines both a straight and a flush.

How rare is a Straight Flush?

A Straight Flush is extremely rare. The probability of being dealt a Straight Flush in a standard poker game is approximately 1 in 72,193.

What beats a Straight Flush?

A Royal Flush is the only hand that beats a Straight Flush. All other poker hands rank below it.

Can a Straight Flush be tied?

Yes. If two players make the same Straight Flush (same highest card), the hand is tied and the pot is split.

How does a Straight Flush compare to other poker hands?

A Straight Flush is the second-highest-ranking hand in poker. It ranks below a Royal Flush and above Four of a Kind.

Is a Straight Flush the same in all poker variants?

Yes. Across major poker variants such as Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven Card Stud, a Straight Flush always has the same ranking.

Can you get a Straight Flush in Omaha Poker?

Yes. A Straight Flush can be made in Omaha Poker, but players must use exactly two hole cards and three community cards to form the hand.

What are the odds of getting a Straight Flush on the flop in Texas Hold’em?

The odds of flopping a Straight Flush in Texas Hold’em are approximately 1 in 3,590.

Can a Straight Flush lose in a showdown?

Yes. A Straight Flush can lose only to a Royal Flush or to a higher Straight Flush.

Summary: A Straight Flush is one of the rarest and strongest poker hands, beaten only by a Royal Flush or a higher straight flush.

Straight Flush Probabilities in Texas Hold’em

Summary: A Straight Flush is extremely rare pre-flop, but the odds increase sharply once a suited structure appears on the board.

Takeaway: Without a suited board, a Straight Flush is almost impossible — the hand only becomes realistic once a strong flush structure is already present.

Straight Flush Probabilities in Pot Limit Omaha

Summary: In Pot Limit Omaha, Straight Flush probabilities increase post-flop due to four hole cards, but still require very specific suited structures.

Takeaway: Omaha offers more drawing potential than Hold’em, but a Straight Flush still depends on precise suited combinations and board texture.

Straight Flush Odds – Quick Answers

What are the odds of completing a Straight Flush by the river?

After flopping a suited structure, the probability of completing a Straight Flush by the river is approximately 4.3%–4.5%, depending on the poker variant.

Is a Straight Flush more likely in Omaha than in Hold’em?

Yes. Pot Limit Omaha offers higher post-flop Straight Flush probabilities than Texas Hold’em due to four hole cards, although the hand remains rare overall.

Visit our Straight Flush odds article for a full mathematical breakdown.

Now that you’ve got the Straight Flush down pat, we’ll move on to the next hand on the list: the Royal Flush .