Understanding the odds of being dealt a straight in online poker can go a long way in this riveting card game.
Landing strong poker hands is notoriously tough. But how does a straight rank as a five-card poker hand, and what are the chances of making one?
In this post, we’ll explain the exact definition of a straight in poker, the chances of getting a straight in each street and what tips you should keep in mind when playing with a straight.
WHAT IS A STRAIGHT?
A straight flush consists of five cards of consecutive rank, but formed of different suits. The following is a good example of this hand: Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8 (made up of four suits that do not match).
Remember, a straight is a distinct hand, and there are plenty of opportunities for a poker player to form one.
However, a straight classifies as mid table in terms of poker hand rankings. It can be beaten by the straight flush and a full house, while the royal flush tops the poker hand rankings. It can also get beat by a simple flush — something that newer players might fail to notice.
Do not confuse a straight with a straight flush. In a straight flush, you’ll find five cards of sequential rank and of the same suit, whereas in a conventional straight, you’ll simply find five cards of sequential rank, but of different suits.
On the other hand, a straight surpasses a three-of-a-kind and a two pair, so its importance shouldn’t be understated. Although you won’t be beating a royal flush with a straight, the odds of winning the pot increase considerably if your straight draw gets made.
ODDS OF MAKING A STRAIGHT OUT OF A 52-CARD DECK
In a 52-card deck, you can form a straight in 10 ways. Indeed, the best possible hand with the straight, is the ten-to-ace high, which is a nut straight.
If two or more straights offered up, the best hand will be the one with the higher cards. The ace assumes the high end of a broadway straight or the low end of an ace-to-five straight.
Though there are only 10 distinct ways to make a straight, with different suit combinations available, the total number of ways to make a straight rises to 10,200, excluding other flushes (royal flush).
In terms of poker probabilities, you have a 0.395% chance of landing a straight. But the odds of getting a straight in Texas Hold’Em rise significantly even without a pocket pair.
Your starting hand might make or break a straight draw, so the odds of landing a straight heavily depend on what you’re dealt. A straight made up of solely community cards is indeed possible, which then makes it a matter of who possesses the best kicker.
ODDS OF GETTING A STRAIGHT IN TEXAS HOLD’EM
The odds of landing this hand increases to 20.6-to-1 against or a 4.62% chance, and you must assemble the best five-card hand out of seven possible cards.
Getting a flush with suited connectors will bolster your chances of making one of the distinct hands in the game. And doing so with a premium-suited connector will be beneficial, as you will have a 1.29% chance of making this hand.
With some card combinations, players may have to take more risks with this flush.
ODDS OF HITTING AND FLOPPING A STRAIGHT
To make a flop on the straight draw, the poker probability stands at 0.39%. However, making two cards with a connector rises to 1.29%.
Naturally, the odds of getting a flush here with an unsuited connector will drop dramatically.
Flopping with a flush in texas hold’em will also depend on your starting hand.
Nevertheless, middling with hole cards negates the odds of flopping straight draws.
ODDS OF HITTING A STRAIGHT ON THE TURN
With an open-ended straight draw, there will be eight outs, while the gutshot has four outs.
Let’s calculate the odds of making a straight draw on the turn:
Flop to turn = 8/47 which is 0.1702 or roughly 17%.
Gutshot on the flop to turn = 4/47, which is 0.0851 or around 8.5%.
ODDS OF HITTING A STRAIGHT ON THE RIVER
Here are the chances of making a straight draw on the river:
Divide 8 by 46, which equals 0.1739 or a 17.4% chance of making this hand.
Whereas, hitting a gutshot to the river is lower – 4/46 or 8.7%.
You can reverse things by working out the probability of not hitting a gutshot on the turn:
43/47 = 0.8353 or 83.5%. So, the probability of hitting a gutshot by the river sits at 16.5%.
IMPLIED ODDS OF STRAIGHT IN POKER
Straights are quite powerful hands, and they can sway the pot odds in your favour considerably. Seeing as this hand beats anything from a three of a kind to a pair, there are definitely pots to be won if you’re dealt this hand. Conversely, hands ranging from a flush to a royal flush will beat this hand by a wide margin, which is why you should stay alert to potential straight draws or higher.
STRAIGHT TIPS
Straights can be very powerful hands in poker, especially when sitting on a high card or if you’re dealt two high-ranking hole cards.
In summary, they have excellent implied odds. But remember, not all straights are the same, so bear this in mind:
- Be aware of flush draws – Bet your hand aggressively, especially if you have a high card, but be ready to take an exit and fold if you see the potential for a flush. Remember: a straight is quite a good hand in poker, but it is beaten by way too many other hands to be worth going all in with.
- Don’t forget your position – This is crucial when flopping with random cards.
- Practice makes perfect – Practice really does make perfect when it comes to playing online poker, so feel free to hop by the poker tables of EnergyCasino to refine your flush-wielding hands!
With a selection of the finest poker variants on the market, you are free to test out the odds of making a flush as much as you want — demo modes included!
STRAIGHT STAGES PROBABILITY IN TEXAS HOLD’EM
- Odds of flopping a Straight with any starting hand = 0.39%
- Odds of hitting an open-ended Straight draw from flop to turn = 8/47 = 0.1702, equating to around 17%
- Odds of hitting an open-ended Straight draw from turn to river = 8/46 = 0.1739, equating to around 17.4%