Flush

What’s a Flush in Poker?

A flush is a strong poker hand that consists of five cards of the same suit. It ranks above a straight and below a full house in standard poker hand rankings.

Key Points About Flushes

• All five cards must share the same suit (hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades)
• The cards don’t need to be in sequential order
• When comparing flushes, the highest card determines the winner
• A flush beats three of a kind, two pair, and one pair

Making a Flush

To make a flush, you need five cards of the same suit. Here’s an example:

This hand is an Ace-high flush in spades.

Types of Flushes

1. Nut Flush: The highest possible flush in a given situation
2. Straight Flush: A straight combined with a flush (five consecutive cards of the same suit).
3. Royal Flush: A special flush containing A-K-Q-J-10 of the same suit (the best possible hand in poker)
4. Flush Draw: When you have four cards to a flush and need one more to complete it

Flush Strategy Tips

• Play in position: Having position gives you more control and information
• Watch for paired boards: A full house beats a flush, so be cautious on paired boards
• Bet sizing matters: When you hit your flush, think about how to get maximum value
• Be aware of flush draws: Pay attention when there are three cards of the same suit on the board

Odds of Making a Flush

Understanding the likelihood of making a flush can help you make better decisions:

• Preflop to Flop: With two suited cards, you’ll flop a flush about 0.8% of the time
• Flop to Turn: With four to a flush after the flop, you’ll complete it on the turn about 19% of the time
• Flop to River: With a flush draw on the flop, you’ll complete it by the river about 35% of the time

Flush Play Examples

Example 1: Value Betting a Flush

You hold: A J

The board: K 7 4 2

You’ve made the nut flush. In this situation, you should usually bet for value, as your hand is very strong.

Example 2: Folding a Flush

You hold: 9 6

The board: Q J 3 3 3

Even though you have a flush, the board is paired with three 3s. If your opponent is betting heavily, they might have a full house, which beats your flush.

Wrapping Up: Flush Power in Poker

Flushes are strong hands that can win big pots. However, skilled players know when to fold them if the betting suggests an opponent might have an even stronger hand. Practice recognizing flush draws and considering the board texture to improve your flush play.