Poker
Straight flush vs flush
In poker, a straight flush is five cards of the same suit in sequence; a flush is five cards of the same suit not in sequence.
Key points
- A straight flush is the higher category because it requires both suit uniformity and a five-card sequence.3
- If a hand meets the straight flush criteria, it is classed as that hand, not as a flush.3
- A flush without sequence is ranked lower than a straight flush in the hand hierarchy.12
Where this term is used
Not the same as
- Straight flush — the higher-ranking category that requires five same-suit cards in sequence
Related terms
Poker
Straight flush poker
Explains the straight flush hand in detail and its rank in poker.
Poker
Royal straight flush
Covers the highest possible straight flush, ace-high, and its significance in poker.
Poker
Straight flush vs royal flush
Compares a generic straight flush with the specific ace-high royal flush hand.
Poker
Royal flush
Describes the royal flush, the top-ranked hand in standard poker.
Poker
Flush poker
Explains the flush hand, five same-suit cards without sequence, and its rank in poker.
Poker
Straight poker
Covers a straight hand, five cards in sequence but not all of the same suit.
Sources
- Ranking of Poker Hands pagat.com Defines straight flush and flush and states their ranking order.
- Poker Rules - Pagat pagat.com Confirms the straight flush and flush definitions and their relative rank.
- Rules of Card Games: Poker Hand Probabilities pagat.com Explains that a hand meeting straight flush criteria is not also classed as a flush.
Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.