A Flush in poker is a powerful five-card hand consisting of all cards of the same suit, regardless of their numerical rank. For instance, five hearts, five diamonds, five clubs, or five spades constitute a flush. It ranks as one of the stronger hands in poker, sitting above a Straight but below a Full House in the traditional hand rankings.
Example
Imagine you are playing Texas Hold’em. Your hole cards are A♠ K♠. The community board cards are Q♠ 7♠ 2♠ 9♥ 3♦. In this scenario, you would form a Flush using your Ace and King of spades along with the Queen, Seven, and Two of spades from the board. Your hand would be an Ace-high Flush (A♠ K♠ Q♠ 7♠ 2♠). If another player had J♠ T♠ with the same board, they would have a King-high Flush (K♠ Q♠ J♠ T♠ 7♠), which your Ace-high Flush would beat.
Strategy Tip
When you have a “flush draw” (four cards of the same suit and needing one more to complete the flush), it’s crucial to consider your pot odds and implied odds before calling a bet. A nut flush draw (drawing to the highest possible flush) is a very strong semi-bluffing hand, as it has significant equity if called and hits. However, be cautious when drawing to a non-nut flush, especially on boards that are paired or have potential straight draws, as a smaller flush can easily be beaten by a higher flush, a full house, or even four of a kind. Always evaluate the board texture and your opponent’s likely holdings.
FAQ
- Q: What beats a flush?
- A: A Flush is beaten by a Full House, Four of a Kind, a Straight Flush, and a Royal Flush.
- Q: Can two players have a flush in the same hand? How is the winner determined?
- A: Yes, it’s possible for multiple players to have a flush. In such cases, the winner is determined by the highest-ranking card within their flush. For example, an Ace-high flush beats a King-high flush. If the highest card is the same, the next highest card is compared, and so on, until a winner is determined or the pot is split if all five cards are identical.
- Q: Is a flush stronger than a straight?
- A: Yes, a flush is always stronger than a straight. A flush requires all five cards to be of the same suit, while a straight requires five consecutive cards of any suit. The rarity of hitting a flush makes it rank higher than a straight.