A royal flush is something to behold in almost all the poker variants in the world.
With only one distinct way to make a royal flush, it is safe to state that most poker players never see a royal flush with their own two eyes, no matter how many hundreds of thousands of poker hands they play.
Join us as we dive into this extraordinary poker game occurrence which sees the rarest poker hand of them all: the royal flush.
If Lady Luck grants you this poker hand, you must definitely know how to best utilise it and steal the pot, no questions asked.
ROYAL FLUSH IN POKER HAND RANKINGS
In the standard poker hand rankings of Texas hold’em, the royal flush represents the top hand.
The hierarchy of poker hands typically follows this order:
- Royal Flush: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten, all in the same suit.
- Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit, but not the highest-ranking ones.
- Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank.
- Full House: Three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank.
- Flush: Five cards of the same suit, not in consecutive order.
- Straight: Five consecutive cards of different suits. (3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 makes a seven high straight).
- Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank.
- Two Pair: Two sets of pairs.
- One Pair: Two cards of the same rank.
- High Card: The highest card in your hand when no other combinations are present.
Want to know more about poker hands to start playing poker more effectively?
Check out this detailed article regarding poker hands.
HOW IS A ROYAL FLUSH STRUCTURED?
As we’ve mentioned previously, there’s only one distinct way of making a royal flush: ace, king, queen, jack and 10 of the same suit.
There is only one specific royal flush, so it must not be confused with similar hands such as straight flushes and a king high flush.
The beauty of the royal flush lies in its simplicity — it’s a clear and straight forward poker hand to identify and value. As long as your five cards meet these criteria, you have a royal flush.
ROYAL FLUSH IN POKER – THE CARDS SAME SUIT
The royal flush is unique in more ways than one. Not only is it made up of the highest-ranking card in the game (ace) but the five cards must have all the same suit.
The suit can be hearts, diamonds, spades or clubs. As long as players get the sequence straight through the community cards, the royal flush stands.
WHAT BEATS ROYAL FLUSH ON THE POKER TABLE?
The royal flush being the best five-card hand in the poker game begs the question of what can beat a royal flush.
The answer is that nothing beats a royal flush, since it is the best possible hand when it comes to Texas hold’em hands.
In other poker games, especially ones with specific house rules and wild cards, the royal flush might not be the best five-card hand. That said, the royal flush beats all the other hands in the most popular forms of poker.
It is worth mentioning that a royal flush can be stopped, however; that is, with another royal flush.
If two royal flush hands go head to head, the winner of the pot is decided through the kicker. If the kickers are the same, the pot is divided.
IS ROYAL FLUSH ALWAYS BETTER THAN STRAIGHT FLUSH?
While the royal flush is unbeatable, it’s crucial to clarify the distinction between a royal flush and a straight flush.
A straight flush is made up of a straight five cards of the same suit, such as 6-7-8-9-10 of hearts.
The key difference is that a royal flush contains the highest-ranking cards (ace, king, queen, jack, and 10) of its suit, while a straight flush contains any sequence of five sequential cards of the same suit.
You can learn more about the straight flush in poker by checking out this informative article on straight flush in poker.
PROBABILITY OF HITTING ROYAL FLUSH IN POKER
The probability of hitting a royal flush in a standard 52-card deck varies slightly depending on the variant of poker you’re playing.
In Texas Hold’em, your chances of being dealt a royal flush are approximately 1 in 30,939 hands.
In Pot Limit Omaha, where you receive four hole cards instead of two, the odds are even more remote.
The probability of landing a royal flush in Pot Limit Omaha is therefore about 1 in 165,964 hands.
If you want to explore the Royal Flush’s odds in more detail, we’ve got an in-depth article on royal flush odds for you.
ROYAL FLUSH POKER EXAMPLES
In the game of poker, there are only four variations of a royal flush:
- A, K, Q, J and 10 of hearts
- A, K, Q, J and 10 of clubs
- A, K, Q, J and 10 of spades
- A, K, Q, J and 10 of diamonds
In other words, a ten to ace straight of the different four suits is all there is to a royal flush, but how can a poker player make this hand, exactly?
TEXAS HOLD’EM ROYAL FLUSH
In Texas Hold’em, your goal is to create the best hand using a combination of your two hole cards and the five cards on the board. Consider the following example:
Your cards in the hole: ace of spades, king of spades
Community cards: queen of spades, jack of spades, 10 of spades, 8 of diamonds, three of clubs
In this scenario, you have the ace, king, wueen, jack, and 10 of spades, forming a royal flush in the suit of spades.
No hand beats this, so you are guaranteed to win the pot, as no other hand can match it.
OMAHA ROYAL FLUSH
Omaha is a game of poker that provides even more potential for creating a royal flush, as you have four hole cards to work with. Here’s an example:
Your cards in the hole: ace of hearts, king of hearts, queen of hearts, jack of hearts
Comm. Cards: 10 of hearts, 8 of spades, 6 of hearts, 3 of diamonds, 2 of Hearts
In this case, you have the ace, king, queen, jack, and 10 of hearts, forming a royal flush in the suit of Hearts.
Once again, your hand is unbeatable, and you are assured of winning the pot.
HOW TO PLAY ROYAL FLUSH IN TEXAS HOLD’EM AND OMAHA POKER
The royal flush is the dream hand for every poker player. When you find yourself in possession of this unbeatable combination, it’s essential to make the most of it.
Here are some strategies for playing a royal flush effectively in both Texas Hold’em and Omaha.
ROYAL FLUSH IN TEXAS HOLD’EM
- Conceal Your Strength: When you have a royal flush, it’s crucial not to tip your opponents off immediately. You want them to believe they have a chance of winning. So, consider making modest bets to entice them to stay in the hand.
- Build the Pot: As the hand progresses, increase your bets to build the pot. You want your opponents to invest more chips before you reveal your unbeatable hand.
- Don’t Slow Play Too Much: While you can employ a bit of slow play to lure opponents, don’t overdo it. You don’t want to risk letting others hit a straight flush or a four of a kind on the turn or river.
- Bet Aggressively: Once the betting rounds reach the river and it’s time to show your hand, bet aggressively to extract the most value from your royal flush.
ROYAL FLUSH IN OMAHA
In Omaha, you have four cards in the hole to work with, which increases the potential for royal flush opportunities. However, it also means your opponents might have strong hands. Here’s how to navigate a royal flush in Omaha:
- Select Your Best Hand: In Omaha, you must use exactly two of your cards and three of the comm. cards to form your hand. Be strategic in selecting the best two cards to combine with the comm. cards that can give you a royal flush.
- Assess the Board: Keep an eye on the comm. cards and the possible royal flush combinations on the board. If there are already three cards of the same suit on the board, you may have a better chance of hitting a royal flush.
- Position Matters: Pay attention to your position at the table. If you’re in a late position, you can gauge the strength of your opponents’ hands before deciding how aggressively to bet.
- Extract Value: When you have a royal flush in Omaha, use it to extract maximum value. Be aware of potential opponents’ poker hands and bet accordingly.
CONCLUSION – ROYAL FLUSH IS THE ULTIMATE POKER HAND RANKINGS
The royal flush is the epitome of poker hand rankings, representing the most sought-after and powerful combination in the game. Its rarity and unbeatable status make it the crown jewel of poker hands.
Whether you’re playing Texas Hold’em or Omaha, the royal flush is the hand you dream of and strive to achieve.
Understanding its structure, the odds of hitting it, and how to play it effectively can really improve your poker skills.
Keep in mind that while the royal flush is a remarkable hand, it’s not something you can rely on in every game.
Poker is a game of skill, strategy, and adaptation, and knowing how to play various hands in different situations is the essence of poker skills, which can bring you closer to success at the table.
FAQ
✅ WHEN DOES ROYAL FLUSH WIN?
A royal flush beats all the other poker hands in any situation where it is in play: two pair, flush, full house and other such hands. It is the highest-ranking hand in poker, and there is no circumstance where it is not the winning hand.
Therefore, if you have a royal flush, you are guaranteed to win the hand.
✅ WHAT IF TWO PLAYERS IN THE SAME HAND HAVE A ROYAL FLUSH?
If two players both have a royal flush in the same hand, the pot is typically split between them. In most poker games, when two or more players have the same hand, the pot is divided equally among them. Since a royal flush is unbeatable, no player can have a better hand, so they share the winnings.
✅ WHAT IS THE VALUE OF ACES IN ROYAL FLUSH?
In a royal flush, the ace holds a high value, as it’s the highest-ranking card in the hand. The ace is the card that gives the royal flush its name and is considered the most significant card in this hand.
However, it’s worth noting that in other contexts or specific game variations, aces can hold different values.
✅ WHAT ARE OTHER NAMES FOR A ROYAL FLUSH?
In Texas hold’em hands, the royal flush is the best hand in the game. Other names for a royal flush are ‘Broadway Straight’ and an ace high straight flush.
The latter cannot consist of an ace, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and be considered a royal flush, however.
It’s important to understand that the royal flush represents these specific cards: A, K, Q, J, 10.
There is only one distinct way to make a royal flush, no matter what (online) poker game is being played.
✅ WHICH ONLINE CASINO CAN I USE TO START PLAYING ROYAL FLUSH HANDS?
LV BET offers a wide selection of poker games that can be tried and tested for free.
That said, there is no legitimate game that can guarantee royal flush poker hands.
Your best bet is learning the poker hand rankings, working on identifying how the four suits come into play and simply gaining experience.
The royal flush stands at the very top of the poker hand hierarchy since it is the rarest hand in the game.
✅ HOW DOES A ROYAL FLUSH WORK IN FIVE CARD DRAW POKER?
In this poker variant, the royal flush is an exceptionally strong hand, as well.
That said, unlike in other variants like Texas hold’em and Seven Card Stud poker, you can actively work to improve your hand towards a royal flush if you start with the right cards.