WHAT IS FLUSH IN POKER?

Flush hands come by more often than one may think.

Although not as powerful as other poker hands, a flush beats quite a number of hands, which is why this poker hand is a great tool to win a pot or two.

In this blog, we at LV BET have explored the strength, probability and effectiveness of the flush poker hand in the context of multiple poker variants, but especially Texas hold’em.

FLUSH IN POKER HAND RANKINGS

Sitting somewhere in the middle of the poker hand rankings, the flush ranks lower than a royal flush, a straight flush, a four of a kind and a full house, but it is still a strong hand.

If you want to find out more about traditional poker hand rankings, feel free to check out our dedicated blog.

The hierarchy of poker rankings typically follows this order in Texas hold’em poker games:

1. Royal Flush: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten, all in the same suit. For example, ace, K, Q, J and 10 is called a royal (straight) flush. This is the best hand that sits at the top of the hand rankings.
2. Straight Flush: Straight flushes are made up of five consecutive cards of the same suit, but not the highest-ranking ones.
3. Four of a Kind: Also called quads, this hand includes four cards ranked equally.
4. Full House: Full houses comprise three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank.
5. Flush: Five cards of the same suit, not in consecutive order. An ace, 10, 6, 3 and 2 of spades make an ace-high flush, since the ace is the highest-ranking card in the hand. A king high flush would be K, Q, J, 8 and 3 of clubs, for example.
6. Straight: Five consecutive cards of different suits. (3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 makes a seven high straight). Ace to five makes an ace-high straight. A Broadway Straight refers to a 10 to A straight.
7. Three of a Kind: Three cards of equal rank make a three of a kind. An example of a three of a kind is three aces.
8. Two Pair: Two sets of pairs is called a two pair.
9. One Pair: Two cards of the same value make a one pair. For example, two 10s make a pair. Pair hands lose to all poker hands except high card hands. A pair wins against lower-ranked pairs, as well.
10. High Card: The highest card in your hand when no other combinations are present.

HOW IS A FLUSH STRUCTURED?

A flush is a five-card hand where all cards belong to the same suit.

It ranks just below full houses and above a straight in the hand hierarchy.

A flush consists of five cards in sequential order and the same suit, but the numerical order of the cards in such hands doesn’t matter.

For instance, a hand containing 2, 5, 7, 9, and King of hearts is a flush, as they all share the same suit, even though they are not in consecutive numerical order.

FLUSH IN POKER – THE CARDS SAME SUIT

For a hand to qualify as a flush, all five cards must belong to the same suit.

It doesn’t matter which suit the five cards have, as long as all five cards are made up of hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades, the hand will qualify as a flush.

This uniformity in suits is what defines the power of a flush.

WHAT BEATS A FLUSH ON THE POKER TABLE?

One glance at the poker hand rankings chart shows that certain poker hands beat the flush hand.

The poker hands are: royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind and full house.

This makes flushes a medium-tier poker hand on paper, however, it still can be used to win the pot most of the time.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ROYAL FLUSH AND FLUSH IN POKER?

One of the most sought-after hands in poker is the royal flush, but it’s often confused with a regular flush due to their similarities.

The key distinction lies in the specific cards that make up the hand.

• Flush: A flush consists of any five cards of the same suit, and their numerical order does not matter. For example, a hand with 2, 5, 7, 9, and king of hearts is a flush because all the cards belong to the hearts suit.
• Royal Flush: A royal flush is the highest-ranking hand in poker and is essentially a specific type of flush. It consists of the five highest-value cards of the same suit: ace, king, queen, jack, and 10. These cards form a sequence within the flush, and they are also the highest cards in their respective suits.

Seeing as the royal flush is rarer than the flush, it is a stronger hand. In fact, it is the best possible hand in the game.

To get a deeper insight into the odds of hitting a royal flush, check out our article on royal flush odds.

IS FLUSH ALWAYS BETTER THAN A STRAIGHT FLUSH?

A common misconception is that a flush is superior to a straight flush, but this is not true.

A straight flush, which consists of five sequential cards of the same suit, is a more powerful hand than a simple flush hand.

To understand the differences and advantages of a straight flush, you can explore our dedicated article on straight flush in poker.

PROBABILITY OF HITTING FLUSH IN POKER

Here’s a breakdown of the probability involved in making flush poker hands in every street.

1. Flop: Before the flop, players start with two hole cards. After the flop, you will see three community cards. If you have a flush draw (for example, two cards of identical suit in your hole cards), you have roughly a 19.6% (2 multiplied by 9.6%) chance of completing your flush by the river.
2. Turn: After the flop, there are four community cards revealed (three on the flop and one card on the turn). If you have a flush draw after the turn, your chances improve. You now have approximately an 18.5% (2 multiplied by 9.25%) chance of hitting your flush on the river.
3. River: By the river, all five community cards are revealed, and you will have your two cards. If you have a flush draw after the river, you have a 35.0% (9 outs out of a total number of 47 remaining cards) chance of hitting your flush on the river.

FLUSH POKER EXAMPLES

Let’s dive into some practical examples of flushes in poker.

These examples will help you visualise what a flush looks like and how it can be formed.

1. Example 1: A player has the ace, 4, 6, 9, and queen of spades. This hand is a flush because all cards are of identical suit, even though they are not in consecutive numerical order.
2. Example 2: A player holds the 2, 5, 8, jack, and king of hearts. This hand is also a flush because all cards belong to identical suit, hearts.
3. Example 3: In a game, a player is dealt 3, 6, 8, 10, and ace of diamonds. This constitutes a flush, as all the cards are from the diamond suit.

HOW TO PLAY FLUSH IN TEXAS HOLD’EM AND OMAHA POKER

Flushes can be powerful weapons in poker, especially in popular poker variants like Texas Hold’em and Omaha.

Here’s how you can play flushes effectively in these games.

FLUSH IN TEXAS HOLD’EM

In Texas Hold’em, if you have a flush, it’s crucial to assess the community cards on the table.

If there are three or four cards of identical suit on the board, and you hold the fifth card of that suit, you have a “nut flush.”

This means you have the best possible flush, and it’s often a winning hand. In this case, betting or raising can be an effective strategy to maximise your winnings.

However, if there are multiple players with the same suits and the possibility of a higher flush, it’s essential to be cautious.

In such situations, consider your opponents’ tendencies and the overall betting action before deciding your next move.

FLUSH IN OMAHA

In Omaha, where you receive additional hole cards compared to Texas hold’em, the dynamics of playing a flush are slightly different.

The potential for strong hands is higher, given the additional hole card.

Having the nut flush in Omaha is an excellent position, since it means you hold the highest possible flush. Be aggressive with your betting in such cases, as you’re likely to have the best hand.

If you have four cards of identical suits in your hand and there are two more matching cards on the board, you have a strong flush hand draw.

This gives you a high probability of completing your hand. Consider raising or calling to build the pot.

Finally, be cautious when playing non-nut flushes, as it’s possible for opponents to have a higher flush. Pay attention to the community cards and the betting action to make informed decisions.

CONCLUSION – FLUSH IS THE ULTIMATE POKER HAND RANKINGS

The flush is a strong hand in the world of poker, and understanding its nuances is vital for success at the poker table.

It’s not the strongest hand, but it ranks high in the hierarchy, making it a valuable asset in your poker strategy.

By comprehending the structure of a flush, its ranking among other hands, and how to play it in different variants, you can enhance your poker skills and increase your chances of winning.

FAQ

✅ WHEN DOES FLUSH WIN?

A flush wins when no other player at the table holds a higher-ranked hand.

It’s crucial to be aware of the hand rankings and understand the odds of other players having a stronger hand to determine when a flush will win.

✅ WHAT IF TWO PLAYERS IN THE SAME HAND HAVE A FLUSH?

If two or more players have flushes in the same hand, the player with the highest-ranked flush wins.

If two players have the same flush, that is, flushes of the same rank (for example, both have an ace-high flush), the pot is split between them.

However, it is very rare that players have the exact same rank of a flush, so one player will outright lose out in most cases.

✅ WHAT IS THE VALUE OF ACES IN FLUSH?

In a flush, the value of the ace can vary. It can be used as the highest card in the ace-high flush, or it can be the lowest card in a 5-high flush. The second-highest card a flush can have is a king, making it a king high flush.