Is There a 4 Card Straight in Poker?

In poker, a straight is a hand that contains five cards in sequential order, with no gaps. A straight is often described as “one high card away” from a royal flush, which contains Ace-King-Queen-Jack-Ten of the same suit.

A four-card straight is also sometimes called an open-ended straight, since it can be completed from either end by adding either a Three or a Six. For example, Ace-Two-Three-Four can be completed with a Five or a Seven.

PRO TIP:In poker, a 4 card straight is an invalid hand, as the lowest possible straight requires 5 cards. However, in some variations of poker (such as Razz) a 4 card straight is a valid hand.

While a four-card straight is technically possible, it is extremely rare. In fact, there are only four ways to make a four-card straight in poker: Ace-Two-Three-Four, Two-Three-Four-Five, Three-Four-Five-Six, and Four-Five-Six-Seven.

So while it is possible to make a four-card straight in poker, the odds are highly against it. If you’re dealt a hand with four cards in sequential order, your best bet is to play it as a flush or straight draw and hope to hit your card on the next deal.