Poker has quickly become what is possibly the most popular game in casino history. Poker tables have stood the test of time and spread far and wide, taking over gambling venues one casino at a time. How? Well, poker is one of those games that is not only based on luck but involves some level of skill as well. Many players have jumped at the chance to improve their knowledge on poker, and we can’t say we blame them.
There is much to know about this impressive table, but one topic of interest has always been poker odds — more specifically, the odds of earning specific hands. With this article, we will explore the odds of earning the second-highest ranking hand in poker and how knowing straight flush odds can tie into your strategy.
WHAT IS A STRAIGHT FLUSH?
A straight flush is one of the most powerful hands in online poker, losing only to a royal flush. It is a distinct hand, as it will be in sequential order. The five-card poker hand will be of the same suit, and a high straight flush can be beneficial. There are nine possible ways to make straight flushes with four suits, including spades, reaching a total number of 36 combinations.
We have used the following example to show you how it’s done.
- Hearts – 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Ace.
Our rankings denote in descending order the best possible hand to the worst poker hands.
- Royal Flush (best hand)
- Straight Flush
- Four-of-a-kind
- Full House
- Flush
- Straight
- Three-of-a-kind
- Two Pair
- A Pair
- High Card
ODDS OF MAKING A STRAIGHT FLUSH OUT OF A 52-CARD DECK
Any flop will give you a chance of making this type of hand with three cards providing you have a solid pre-flop strategy.
In a 52-card poker game, there are a number of ways to form a straight flush. You will have a 36 in 2,598,960 chance of making this poker hand with five cards, which equates to 0.00139%.
ODDS OF GETTING A STRAIGHT FLUSH IN TEXAS HOLD’EM
Through the years, more and more poker variants started to pop up, expanding the creative possibilities this game can offer. Naturally, with more poker variants sporting varied rules, this altered the odds of earning different hands, like the straight flush.
While the odds of drawing a straight flush in five-card poker are low, the probability of earning this poker hand improves slightly for Texas hold’em as a straight flush is one of the most distinct hands. Players will need to land the best five-card hand from a possible seven.
So, with a starting hand and the five community cards, you will have a 0.0279% chance of making a straight flush. You should use suited connectors in poker to get the strongest hand when playing Texas hold’em.
ODDS OF HITTING A STRAIGHT FLUSH ON THE FLOP
Flopping with this hand rarely happens. There are 19,600 different three-card combinations that could fall on the flop.
To be dealt this kind of hand, the chances of landing two hole cards represent a 1 in 19,600 chance (0.005%).
ODDS OF HITTING A STRAIGHT FLUSH ON TURN
Things heat up on the poker probability front for getting this kind of flush on the gutshot and open-ended draws with five cards.
Gutshot draws – Features one from a 47-card deck equating to 2.1%.
Open-ended draws – With two outs in the pack, the odds are 2/47, which is roughly 4.3%.
ODDS OF HITTING A STRAIGHT FLUSH ON RIVER
You can work out the chances of hitting the straight flush poker hand by calculating the chances of not hitting it with three cards and subtracting from 100.
The odds of not hitting a straight flush on the turn or river in poker = 44/46 (roughly 91.6%). The chances of making it will be 100-91.6% which is 8.4%.
IMPLIED ODDS OF A STRAIGHT FLUSH
A straight flush can be made with two hole cards, and they can carry excellent implied odds when hitting, as opponents will be forced into forming strong worse hands. While the straight flush should never be folded, the odds are better when no higher hand is possible.
It is important to note that straight flushes made with both hole cards always carry better-implied odds than straight flush hands made with one hole card.
STRAIGHT FLUSH TIPS
Apart from understanding the odds and how a straight flush can be formed with different suits, there are a few more things you can keep in mind as you play if you really want to become an ace player.
Here are a few tips that you should take advantage of when trying to form a straight flush card combination with your hole cards:
- Stay calm and wait for your opponent to push things by calling all in.
- Avoid catching the bottom end with two cards, as this will give your opponent the initiative.
- Use a strategy to help make smarter and more informed decisions as you bet.
- The odds of earning a straight flush are low, so if you earn a low-ranking hand, do not risk your bankroll trying to earn a better one.
- Set a loss limit to prevent depleting your bankroll too quickly.
If you’re on the hunt for some more poker tips and tricks, at EnergyCasino, we’ve got no shortage of them! Check out our blog for the full scoop on all things poker. The straight flush is not the only hand we delve into either.
On that note, here are the odds of earning a straight flush depending on the stage of the round:
STRAIGHT FLUSHES STAGES PROBABILITY IN TEXAS HOLD’EM
- Flopping the straight flush with A2s 0.01%
- Flopping the Straight Flush with T9s 0.02%
- Flopping the Straight Flush with T8s 0.02%
- Flopping the Straight Flush with T7s 0.02%
- Catching the Straight Flush Gutshot from flop to turn 2.13%
- Catching the Straight Flush open ender from flop to turn 4.26%
- Catching the Straight Flush Gutshot from turn to river 2.17%
- Catching the Straight Flush open ender from turn to river 4.35%
- Catching the Straight Flush Gutshot from flop to river 4.3%
- Catching the Straight Flush open ender from flop to river 8.42%