Article updated on January 25, 2025
Draws can be some of the most exciting hands to play in poker. The thrill of chasing that powerful poker combo to extract the maximum amount of chips from your opponents is one of the best feelings when sitting at the poker table.
The nut flush draw is one of the strongest draws in poker. But what exactly is it, and how should you play it?
Whether you’re learning the ropes or brushing up on strategy, this guide will break it down step by step.
Let’s start with the basics.
Nut Flush Draw Meaning
Flushes rank according to their highest card, then their second-highest card and so on. The term nut flush draw implies drawing to the best possible flush.
In many cases, this draw will be to the Ace-high flush, but it’s helpful to remember that the Ace-high flush is not always the absolute nuts in community card games such as Texas Hold’em and Omaha.
Stronger hands, such as full houses, are possible if the board pairs. Even in such circumstances, players may continue to refer to the Ace-high flush draw as the nut flush draw, although it is not technically the nuts if it hits.
In games without community cards, such as Seven Card Stud and Five Card Draw, the term “nut flush draw” loses some of its meaning. No flush can ever be the nuts; it’s always possible that one of our opponents has made an even stronger hand.
Still, players may refer to the Ace-high flush draw as the nut flush draw. The term better refers to the strongest possible flush rather than an unbeatable hand or, in poker terms, "the stone cold nuts".
Example of 'Nut Flush Draw' being used in a sentence -> (Hold’em):
“I had a backdoor flush draw on the flop and picked up the nut flush draw on the turn.”
Nut Flush Draw Poker Scenarios
Now you know the meaning of nut flush draw, so you're ready to hit the tables, right? Not so fast!
Understanding how the nut flush draw poker plays out in different situations is the first step for making better decisions at the table.
So, let's explore a couple of common scenarios:
Nut Flush Draw on the Flop
Let's start with the most common situation:
- Hand: A♥️8♥️
- Flop: A♠️T♥️9♥️
In this scenario, you have top pair and the nut flush draw. Any additional heart will improve your hand to the nut flush, as no flush can beat one with an Ace.
There are 13 hearts in the deck and 4 hearts between your hand and the flop. So, you have 9 outs to complete your flush (the 9 remaining clubs).
Unless the board changes, you're drawing to the stone-cold nuts because the nut flush would be the best possible hand.
One Card Nut Flush Draw on the Turn
You don't need a suited hand to have a nut flush draw. One card nut flush draws are possible, like the one below:
- Hand: Q♠️8♦️
- Board: A♠️K♠️2♥️4♠️
In the above scenario, even though you only hold the Q♠️, you still have the nut flush draw because both the A♠️ and the K♠️ are on the board.
If another spade hits on the river, you'd complete the nut flush.
Nut Flush Draw on a Paired Board
- Hand: A♥️K♥️
- Flop: Q♠️Q♥️2♥️
This scenario is totally different. While you still have the nut flush draw, the paired board allows another player to have a full house or even quads. Either of these two hands would still beat your nut flush, even if completed.
In situations like this, you should exercise caution. You have a strong but not invincible draw, and you may want to avoid overcommitting chips unless you have a strong read that your opponent(s) may be weak.
Nut Flush Draw Poker Strategy
It's common that you should always play the nut flush draw aggressively in most poker variants. While aggressively playing the nut flush draw is rarely a big mistake, it won't necessarily be the correct approach in many scenarios.
By definition, a draw won’t be the best hand. After all, it’s a type of high-card hand. T We'd still choose to play a draw aggressively despite often being an equity underdog because we can generate fold equity.
Assuming we don’t anticipate being able to get our opponent to fold, it would be correct to play draws passively and only ramp up the aggression after we hit.
- Not all nut-flush draws are created equal. In Hold’em, we differentiate between two-card and one-card nut flush draws.
- Two-card nut flush draws are stronger than one-card nut flush draws.
- Both hit with the same frequency, but two card draws carry better-implied odds since we are more likely to get a big payout.
This fact reflects the transparency of one card flushes. When we hit, it means that there will be four suited cards on the board. It doesn’t take a lot for our opponent to figure out that we might have a flush. So, our opponent would be less likely to pay out with a wide range of poker hands.
In games such as Stud, the strength of a nut flush draw will often depend on the strength of our opponents’ boards. If there is little coordination, nut flush draws are very strong.
On the other hand, if our opponents’ boards are showing a lot of coordination (especially in terms of pairs), our nut flush draws might suffer from reverse implied odds.
Nut Flush Draw – FAQ
What is a nut flush draw in poker?
A nut flush draw is when you have four cards to a flush (2 hole cards + 2 on the board OR 1 hole card + 3 on the board). Completing your flush would give you the strongest possible one.
What are the odds of hitting a flush with a nut flush draw?
On the flop, you have a ~35% chance of completing the flush by the river. On the turn, your chances of completing it on the river are ~19%.
What's the difference between a flush draw and a nut flush draw?
A flush draw means you're one card away from completing any flush. A nut flush draw specifically means you're one card away from completing the strongest possible flush.
Is the nut flush always the best possible hand?
No. The nut flush is only the best possible flush in a given situation, but it can be beaten by hands such as a full house or a four-of-a-kind.
Originally published on June 1, 2019
