The lowest straight in poker. The odds of hitting a straight in different types of poker. Controversial situations with a straight with an ace

Straight in poker opens a set of combinations on all five cards. Compared to the highest card, a pair, a set and two pair, the strength of a straight is determined without the participation of kickers. For this combination in Russian, the name "Street", which translates as "street", has become commonly used. On the English language adopted the name straight (straight), which means "order". A competent translation of the combination is important, although it is not of fundamental importance. What is the essence of the “Street” combination, and how can it be played correctly?

Characteristics of the Straight combination in poker

A straight is a combination of five cards in ascending order. Example - combination: 8♣9♦10 J♠Q♠. Let's take into account that a Straight can be collected only in the interval from an ace (as 1) to an ace, that is, a combination of K♣A♠2♣3♦4 is not a Straight. The strength of the Straight is determined by the highest card => the best option is 10♣J♦Q K♦A♣. The lowest poker straight is called the "wheel" and consists of the following cards: A♦2♠3 4♠5♦. A victory in poker with a straight combination is won in three hands - like a pair, top pair, doper and three of a kind, and is second only to a full house, flush, four of a kind and a straight flush. If five cards are of the same suit in ascending order, they form a straight flush 8♠9♠10♠J♠Q♠.

Straight in different types of poker

The only type of poker where the value of the straight is higher than the flush is the three-card straight. Here the hand includes three cards in ascending order - 5♣6♣7♣. In Russian poker, a Straight often consists of not only five, but also six cards. The last option is called double. The bottom line is that in this type of poker there is the possibility of rebuying the sixth card. In particular, when collecting a Straight of 6♠7♣8♣9♦10, the player has the opportunity to buy one more card. In our example, you can get a double Straight if you have 5♣ or J♦. Six cards in ascending order help to collect two Straights at the same time: from the first to the fifth card and from the second to the sixth.

Mathematical Hand Odds and Straight Draw Variations

The chance of hitting a Straight on the flop is 254 to 1, and by the river it is 20.6 to 1, that is, in practice, game participants often get an excellent opportunity to make a combination when one card is missing from a Straight. This situation is called a straight draw and is divided into two varieties:

• open straight draw;
• A "holey" straight draw called a Gutshot.

Each presented Street Poker combination has its own specifics in case of drawing. The mathematical odds of a Gutshot and an open Straight Draw are also different. The second kind gives the player the opportunity to get eight outs. For example, 10♣J♠Q♦K♣A . Each nine or ace will help form a Straight. With a Gutshot of 10♣J♦K♠A, any queen will win, that is, four outs. An open draw almost doubles your chance of winning. When evaluating mathematical odds, it is important pocket cards. For Straight, they are divided into connectors (connections) and "leaky". Connectors are cards adjacent to each other in ascending order. Let's say 7♦8♣. A "leaky" hand is distinguished by the presence of a gap between the cards: 6♣9♦. Pins are more likely to be converted to straights than holey hands. Here are examples of possible combinations with them: – 7♦8♣9♦10 J♠ – 3♠4♣5♦6 7♦ – 5♦6 7♦8♣9♠ – 6 7♦8♣9♠10♦ – 7♦ 8♣9♠10♦J – 8♣9♠10♦J Q . Now back to the "leaky" hand, where there are only four variants of Straight: - 6♣7♣8 9♦10♠ - 5♠6♣7♣8 9♦ - 2 3♦4♣5♠6♣ - 9♦10 J ♠Q♣K . Analyzing probable situations, we can conclude that hands with connectors are one and a half times more likely to form Poker Street. The advantage of Straight-draw can be considered a parallel possibility of collecting other combinations. Increases the chances of the resulting success of the "draw" with the presence of overcards or a pair. The most favorable situation is considered to be a combination with a flush draw, since your chances of success become more than 50 percent. Having two or more suited cards on the flop increases the chances of winning with a straight draw. Mathematically, nothing changes, but the win is likely to fail, since Straight loses to the flush.

How can a straight draw be played in poker?

The straight is difficult to recognize by opponents, which is its indisputable advantage. In most situations, you should play a straight draw. The exception is when a pair appears on the flop. Potentially, opponents can count on either a three of a kind or a full house. Playing this hand is not always advisable if the opponent has an overpair. In other cases, straight draws are desirable to play actively, trying to maximize the pot, taking into account the position:

• early position. On a table with a solid number of poker players, you need to check into the pot. If there were re-raises and promotions after your turn, you need to reset the cards.
• Middle position. If there is a raise from opponents in early position, you should enter the game with a call. If there is a parallel chance to collect another combination, a raise should be made.
• late position. In this case, it is possible to play aggressively and raise. In particular, if before that the opponents called several times. It is required to take into account the potential combinations of the opponent. If the players in the hand have chances for a flush, then you need to fold.

With a Gutshot, the number of outs is halved. For this reason, it is desirable to eliminate aggression with him in the middle and early positions. The maximum is a call, and when the opponents reraise, they fold. If the flop came two or large quantity suited cards, you must discard the cards. In late position, taking into account the behavior of opponents, you can raise or just call the bet.

Conclusion on a straight in poker

In poker, a straight is a strong combination that allows you to build a solid pot due to its invisibility. The ideal pocket card for Straight is connectors. The player who wins the hand is determined based on the seniority of the Straight. The straight is inferior to the full house, flush, straight flush, four of a kind, and royal flush. If there are two or more suited cards on the flop and you have a Gutshot or Straight Draw, fold your hand. If you follow these simple recommendations, you can increase your income when using Street.

The strength of a straight in poker

A straight is a strong hand in poker, as it is often possible to hit the nuts with this hand, provided that there are no pair cards and three or more cards of the same suit on the table. In addition, it must be taken into account that the opponent cannot have a higher Straight.

Junior and Senior Street

According to poker rules, a straight can start with or end with an ace. As a result, the ace is not only the highest, but also the most junior card, which replaces the unit. Ace occurs in combination only in two cases:

• Lowest Straight - from Ace to Five;
• senior straight - from ten to ace.

Bank split

Please note that in the combination of Straight, the suit is unimportant. Therefore, if two or more players equal combinations Straight, there is a division of the pot. Otherwise, the pot goes to the player whose Street is higher, in particular: Player 1 has collected 7♦8♣9♦10 J♠; Player 2 collected 6 7♦8♣9♠10♦. In this situation, the victory goes to player 1, since his straight is higher - that is, the straight to the jack.

Gutshot and Straight Draw

A straight draw is a situation where you do not have a full straight in your hand, but the next card helps to collect it. For example, your cards are a jack and a queen, and there are a ten, a king, and a two on the table. In this case, you need an Ace or a Ten to make a Straight and you have eight outs to win. A gutshot is an unfinished Straight, and only one card is missing to complete it. In particular, your cards are five and an ace, and there are two, jack and three on the table. As a result, to assemble a Street, you need a four. Here you only have four outs to win.

straight flush

A straight flush is the highest hand in poker and can only be beaten by a royal flush. Straight Flush - the same Straight, that is, cards in order, but they all have the same suit.

These are winning combinations of cards (the so-called "poker hands"). In this article you will find descriptions of all poker combinations with pictures and visual examples for Texas Hold'em, Omaha and other types of this card game. Let's start with the highest combination and describe them in descending order.

Card combinations in ascending order

We can represent poker card combinations in ascending order as the following sequence:

Royal Flush (Royal Flush; Royal Flush) > Straight Flush (Straight Flush; Straight Flush) > Four of a Kind > Full House > Flush > Straight > Set (Trips; Three of a Kind) > Two Pairs (Two Pairs) > Pair (One Pair) > High Card (High Card)

Do not forget that sometimes the combinations of player cards are the same. In this case, victory is determined by the seniority of the cards involved in the combination.

Royal Flush

Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten of the same suit. In fact, it is a suited senior straight. The rarest and strongest combination in poker.

Straight Flush

Any five cards in a row in order of seniority and the same suit. If two players have a Straight Flush, then the winning combination is last card older. A straight flush can start with an Ace or end with an Ace (Royal Flush).

Kare (Four of a Kind)

Four cards of the same rank. If two players have collected the same four of a kind, then the one who has the highest "kicker" (fifth card) wins. For example: on the table 8,8,8,8,7 both players have collected four of a kind. One has K2 in his hands, the other has Q6. The first player with a combination of 8,8,8,8,K will win.

Full House

Three cards of the same rank and a pair of any two cards. If both players have collected a Full House, then the winner is the one whose three of a combination of seniors. If three cards are equal, a pair is compared, the one who has it higher wins.

Flush

Five cards of the same suit. The sequence can be any. If both players have a Flush, then the player with the highest card in the combination wins. If the highest Flush card is common, then the next highest card is compared.

Straight with an ace (Ace-high Straight)

Five cards in a row in seniority with an ace. The suits of the cards are different. If the ace is the highest card in the combination, then this is the strongest straight (A, K, Q, J, T). If the ace is the lowest card, then this is the weakest straight (A,2,3,4,5).

Street (Straight)

Five cards in a row by seniority. The suits of the cards are different. If both players have collected a Straight, then the one in whose combination the last card is higher wins. In this case, the Ace can be considered as the highest card in the combination, and the lowest. The oldest street is A,K,Q,J,T. The lowest street is A,2,3,4,5.

Set or Three of a Kind

Three cards of the same rank. In our example, these are three Aces and two additional cards, which are considered a kicker and are taken into account if both players have the same Set or Three of a Kind.

Two pairs

Two cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. In our case, these are two Aces and two Kings. If both players have collected a combination of Two pairs, then they are compared, and the one whose highest pair is higher wins. If the players have the same Two Pair, then the winner is the one whose fifth card (kicker) is higher.

Pair (One pair)

Two cards of the same rank. In the example, two Aces will become a pair. If both players have collected a Pair, then they are compared by seniority. If the opponents have the same Pair, then the winner is determined by the highest additional card (kicker). If they are equal, then the second and third additional cards are compared.

High card

Any five cards, which do not add up to any of the above combinations. The winner is determined by the highest card. If both players have the highest card equal, then the second, third, fourth and even fifth cards are compared. If all cards are equal, then the players simply split the pot.

Poker combinations (video)

Examples

To make it easier for you to remember these simple rules, we have written several examples where we clearly show how the combinations are formed and how the cards of the players are compared.

Pair

You win because your two Kings are higher than your opponent's two Queens. The older the couple, the stronger it is.

Two pairs

You win because your two pair 77 and 44 are higher than your opponent's (66 and 55). The comparison here takes place on the top pair, i.e. 77 vs 66.

Set or Three of a Kind

You win because your KKK 3 is higher than your opponent's 3. Kings are older than Jacks, as well as 555 is stronger than 444.

Straight

Despite the fact that both players have collected a Straight, it is you who wins, because. your top bottom card is higher (J versus 10). In fact, there is a comparison: J, 10, 9, 8, 7 versus 10, 9, 8, 7, 6.

Flash

You win, because your flush is higher than your opponent's flush. In this case, the combinations are compared according to the highest card, where the Ace is stronger than the King.

Full house

Both players made a Full House combination, having a common three of 555 at the bottom. In this situation, the pair that you have is compared (99 > 66). But most often these combinations have a different triple at the base, which determines the winner. For example: AAA99 is stronger than KKKQQ.

Kare

You win because you hit quads of four sevens against a Full House of three kings and two sevens. If among the five cards on the table there are 4 of the same value, say 8,8,8,8,5, then the winner is the one who has senior card.

straight flush

You win, because your Straight Flush is over. The opponent has the highest card in the combination is 9, and you have Jack (J). In such a comparison, the one whose closing card is higher always wins.

Royal flush

You collected the strongest combination and won by showing a Royal Flush of 10,J,Q,K,A of the same suit. There is nothing older than this combination.

If the players have no combinations at all, then the winner is the one with the most high card. If the combinations or all cards are the same, then the winnings are divided between the players.

Common mistakes (Not the most obvious things in poker hands)

Flush over (>) straight!

This deserves separate consideration. It must be remembered that poker combinations are arranged in ascending order (seniority) not just like that, but according to logic: the stronger the combination of cards in hold'em, the less often it falls out. In the problem of the street< флеша, на первый взгляд, всё не так очевидно - на самом деле, всё в порядке, сейчас объясним почему.

When we have a flush draw, we kind of have 9 outs to improve. An open-ended straight draw involves only 8 cards. Paradox! The answer is on the surface - it's just that flush is more beautiful. In fact: XXs will improve to a flush draw 10.9% of the time and make a flush 0.8%. For a straight draw, the probabilities will be different: 10.4% for an open-ended straight draw, and 1.3% for a straight.

I'll take it on kicker!

The kicker does not exist for all poker hands. A pair, two pair, a set and four of a kind (if four of a kind is on the board) - an ace or a king up your sleeve can come in handy here. He, like a red diploma when entering a university, will allow you to become the coveted owner of the bank, all other things being equal.

kicker- this is a card that does not make a combination, but is taken into account when determining the winner if the players at the table have collected the same combinations. For example, both players have collected a pair of queens. The winner is the one with the highest card in hand, in addition to the queens. If there are 4, 6, Q, 9, 2 on the board, one of the players has KQ, and the other has JQ, then the one with the king kicker wins.

Sometimes the kicker can be shared, and then the opponents simply share the pot. A classic example: a board with any two pairs and an ace. In general, try not to call early position raises with marginal hands like T3o.

Decision.

In this case, it is better to re-raise and fold to aggression. (Do not thank!)

Be sure to learn all the poker hands in order of seniority, because without this it will be very difficult for you to understand your position at the table.

How the combination is made

poker hand- this is a set of 5 cards that form one of the combinations: high card, pair, two pair, set, straight, flush, four of a kind, straight flush or royal flush.

All combinations in Texas Hold'em and Omaha consist of 5 cards. Both player cards and common cards on the table. The main rule is that only those cards that give the maximum possible combination in the hand are taken into account.

There are X ways to use cards when making combinations in Hold'em:

• 2 player cards + 3 cards on the table. For example, the player has QJ on the board A8Q2J. The combination will be QJ for the player + QJA on the board.
• 1 player card + 4 cards on the table. For example, the player has 85 on the board 8K7Q4. The combination "pair" will be obtained from the player's 8 + 8KQ7 on the board.
• 0 player cards + 5 cards on the table. For example, player JQ has 5,6,7,8,9 on the board. The combination “common straight” will be obtained exclusively from the cards on the board.

Low combination- this is the combination that has the least significance of all possible in the hand. If the player has A8 on the board A7542, then his low combination is 24578. You need to collect low combinations in some types of poker, for example, in Omaha Hi-Lo.

Hand in poker- one fully played hand at the table. Players often say “played 500 hands today” when referring to 500 hands.

Starting hands- these are the cards that the player receives at the beginning of the distribution and decides whether he should play with them or not. In Texas Hold'em, these are 2 "starting" cards in hand.

Distribution of cards by seniority

The seniority of cards in poker is not much different from the rules of others card games. The weakest card is 2 and the strongest is Ace. There are no goats. The suit does not play a role.

The seniority of cards in poker (from the weakest to the strongest):

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, T, J, Q, K, A.

Congratulations! Now you know all combinations of cards in poker! It's time to visit the "Poker School" section, where you will find simple and understandable educational articles, as well as receive no deposit bonuses that will allow you to start playing online poker for money without investing a penny of your own funds.

In addition to Flush and Four of a Kind, Street is also a popular "character" in many poker movies. In practice, this combination is very common. This is a pretty significant poker hand that is not easy to play.

The combination is so diverse that it exists in several versions. Classic Straight is a set of consecutive cards of different suits.

For example, a combination of five consecutive cards that begins with an Eight and ends with a Queen can be considered a Straight.

Rules for constructing a Street

If it is already more or less clear what a Straight is in poker, then it is not entirely clear how such a combination can be made during the game.

You can create a combination in three ways:

• No pocket cards. The set includes only cards from the table. If there are no three cards of the same suit on the board, and there is the most senior Straight, which starts with a Ten and ends with an Ace, then it is quite safe to play. In other situations, you should always remember that one of the opponents may have a higher Straight.
• With a single pocket card. The power of evaluating such a layout should be studied based on the composition of the cards. But even here one should not discount the incredible formation by opponents of senior or equivalent in rank Straights. The value of the Straight increases if a pocket card enters the middle of the combination. If this card closes the sequence, then it is possible that the opponents have collected the highest-strength Street.
• With a couple pocket cards. In this case, the possibility that one of the opponents will also build a Straight is sharply reduced. It is recommended to play such a layout more boldly, especially if three cards of the same suit are not visible on the table. You need to be very careful about those hands in which a pair of premium cards is not enough to form a Straight, and the opponent conducted unfriendly trades preflop.

In most hands, the highest straight poker hand can be determined based on observation of the opponent. In a number of situations, it is not necessary to bet big money, taking possession of the desired combination, since there is always a threat that the opponent has built a more powerful Straight.

Circular Street

Straight in poker, all variants of which we will describe in the article, can be not only classic. There is such a thing as a circular Street. Not everyone, even a highly professional poker player, knows about this layout, since both the term itself and its combination are not defining, that is, the combination is not relevant for all poker disciplines.

But such formation at the discretion of the organizers or referees of the games may be allowed. Often the circular Straight takes place in tournaments, and especially in those where fast play is provided.

The essence of the circular Straight is that the combination can begin and end with absolutely any cards in order. For example: Two - Ace - King - Queen - Jack or Four - Three - Two - Ace - King.

From the described construction, we can conclude that such a hand greatly increases the possibilities of poker players for a combination of Straight. True, here you must always keep in mind that in any case, the victory will be for those of the gamers who manage to build a hand with the highest card.

The main variants of the Street

There are two main variations of the Straight in poker. And every poker player who wants to succeed in the world famous game must know them. These types of combinations must be distinguished in order to be able to realistically assess your chances of winning.

The name of the Straight Draw combination has been heard by any person who shows at least a minimal interest in the art of poker. The English spelling of the word looks like this: Staightdraw.

You can talk about the presence of a Straight Draw in a hand in a situation where a poker player needs only one card to build a full-fledged combination. In addition, there is such a term as an open-ended draw. A similar situation looks like this: a gamer has collected four cards in succession, but he lacks the last, fifth one.

Another type of Straight poker combination is a hand called Gutshot. It is also not a full-fledged Street. One card is missing from the center of the set.

So, if a player has collected a Seven - Six and a Four with a Three, then in order to have a full-fledged Straight, he lacks the Five in the middle of the combination.

At the gaming table, such sets as Gutshot and Straight Draw are often formed. But, even having formed this or that combination, it is impossible to absolutely say that the poker player will be able to create a full-fledged combination of Straight. Here, much, if not all, depends on the emotions and character of the gamer, as well as on the specific situation. You just have to remember that you can't play an open-ended draw or a gutshot every time.

Keep in mind that this behavior is not typical of tight aggressive gamers. In exceptional cases, the player still manages to get the missing card. But much more often it happens that a gamer loses an impressive stack, trying to create a Straight.

Straight Flush

In poker, you can collect one more Straight, which will be called a Straight Flush. Only His Majesty the Royal Flush can beat the combination. A straight flush is a set of five consecutive cards of the same suit.

Victory in numbers

It will not be superfluous to know the number of options available for the formation of the Street. So, each poker player has a 4.62% chance that they will collect a combination. This figure is relevant even before the receipt of the first cards.

Thus, a straight will fall out in every 20th deal. If there is a draw on the flop, then the probability of getting a Gutshot increases by 17%, and it becomes 32% more for an open-ended draw.

In order to be able to calculate all the options of the Straight, you need to study your own hole cards. With cards whose value difference is five units, even the thought of a Straight should be abandoned. If this difference is smaller, then it is quite possible to collect a combination.

When playing poker, combinations are very important knowledge. According to them, the winner in the distribution is determined. There are 10 poker hands in total, including Straight. It is the sixth most important combination of cards in classic poker games. That is why he is able to give the player a win in the hand. Today we will dwell in detail on what is Straight in poker and how to play it correctly.

Straight - five consecutive cards at face value. One or more pieces must be different in suit. If all cards are of the same suit, then it will be another combination - Straight Flush. It is the second most important, but it is quite difficult to collect it.

The probability of forming Straight is 1 in 254.

The straight wins over all layouts located below it in the hierarchy table - over Pair, Two Pair, Three of Kind. However, he loses to Flush, and higher combinations. This combination is remarkable in that it can form different ways. Let's look at all the variants of Straight in poker:

• A-2-3-4-5 - this alignment is commonly called the "wheel". It is the oldest combination in (Omaha Hi/Low, Badugi, Razz and others). However, in the format disciplines, High is the weakest.
• 10-J-Q-K-A is the oldest alignment of the Straight. It will definitely bring the player victory if another of the opponents makes a similar combination, but with other figures.
• 3-4-5-6-7, 6-7-8-9-10 are other varieties of this combination that can be presented in other variations. The main thing is that the figures go in rank strictly in order.

As mentioned above, in one hand, several players can collect a Straight at once. In this case, the participant who has such a combination is stronger takes the pot. The seniority of such a combination is evaluated according to the card of the highest rank.

Let's look at an example. The following cards are on the board: 5-9-8-A-7. The first poker player has 6-10, and the second has 6-K. It turns out that here are compared next hands: 6-7-8-9-10 and 5-6-7-8-9. The bank is taken by the first player, since he used a ten when compiling the layout.

Sometimes in a hand, Straight can be the same for two or more poker players. In this case, the bank is divided equally between them.

You can often hear from players about Straight draw, "holey" and double-sided Straight. What is meant by this? In short, unfinished combinations. But let's look at everything in more detail:

• A straight draw is an unfinished combination that lacks one of two cards to complete. For example, such a layout might look like this: 5-6-7-9. As you can see, 8 is missing here to get a full combination and qualify for the pot.
• A holey straight is also called a gutshot. It is understood as a layout of 4 cards, while it lacks the middle figure to complete the combination. Here a prime example gutshot: 10-J-K-A. As you can see, there is not enough queen here to complete the poker combination.
• Bilateral Street - an unfinished layout that can be completed from two sides at once. For example, 7-8-9-10 - here you can add a six at the beginning or a jack at the end. Then a full hand will be obtained.

Of course, an open-ended straight is more promising for a player than a gutshot: the first hand has twice as many outs as the second hand. So, if there is a draw, the player can immediately use 8 cards to make a combination, and with a gutshot, only 4 pieces.

Combination rules

The combination of Straight in poker gives good chances of winning. But it is important to know how to play it correctly. To begin with, if there is an overpair and a flush draw on the board, then it is better to fold your hand. There is high risk lose.

If you have a straight draw, then in early position it is better to skip the move if there are many opponents in the hand. If your opponents raise or re-raise, then fold.

If you have a similar hand in middle position, you should call the bet from your opponent in early position. Raise if you have the opportunity to get not only a Straight, but also a stronger combination.

In late position with this hand, stick to a more aggressive strategy, especially if the board opens up a flush opportunity as well. Here you can resort not only to raises, but also re-raises. But you should not make too big raises, so as not to knock out all opponents from the game.

The gutshot is played differently. It gives half the chance of getting a full-fledged combination, which is why you need to act as follows:

• in early or middle position you need to play more softly - call raises, but do not resort to re-raising. If one of the opponents made an even greater increase, then go to the pass;
• Raise in late position if your opponents check.

When the flop comes with suited cards in the presence of a gutshot, then fold without hesitation. There is a high chance that one of the opponents will collect a stronger hand in the current hand.

Results

A straight is a pretty strong combination. Its main advantage is that it remains invisible to opponents. That is why, with the right approach, you can make a successful draw of it and pick up a large pot at the end. But do not forget that such a hand is only the sixth in importance and can lose to higher combinations.