If you are new to poker, one of the first things you will need to learn is the hierarchy of hands. Understanding which hand beats another is critical to your success at the table. In this article, we will discuss what a straight beat in poker and how it ranks against other hands.
First, let’s define what a straight is. A straight is a hand made up of five cards in sequential order but not necessarily of the same suit.
For example, a 2-3-4-5-6 would be a straight. The highest-ranking straight possible is an ace-high straight, which consists of A-K-Q-J-10.
So, how does a straight rank against other hands? A straight beats any hand that does not contain a pair or better. This means that a straight beats all hands except for flushes, full houses, four-of-a-kind, straight flushes, and royal flushes.
To make it easier to understand, here is a list of all hands ranked in order from highest to lowest:
1. Royal Flush
2. Straight Flush
3. Four-of-a-kind
4. Full House
5. Flush
6.
Straight
7. Three-of-a-kind
8. Two Pair
9. One Pair
10. High Card
As you can see from this list, the only hands that beat a straight are those that rank higher than it – flushes and above.
It’s essential to note that if two players have straights, the player with the highest card wins the hand (i.e., if one player has 5-6-7-8-9 and another has 6-7-8-9-T, then the second player wins because their highest card is higher).
In conclusion, understanding what a straight beat in poker and how it ranks against other hands is crucial knowledge for any beginner player. Remember always to pay attention to your opponents’ hands and play strategically to maximize your chances of winning. Good luck at the tables!
