Can you have a straight starting with a king?
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Ethan Moore
Works at the International Labour Organization, Lives in Geneva, Switzerland.
As a subject matter expert in the field of poker hand analysis, I'm here to provide you with a detailed explanation regarding the formation of poker hands, specifically focusing on straights and the role of a king in such hands.
In poker, a straight is a hand that contains five consecutive cards of different suits. The concept of a straight is quite straightforward, but there are nuances to consider when it comes to the value of the cards and how they fit into this hand type.
Firstly, let's define the term "straight." A straight in poker is a sequence of five cards in ascending order. For example, a hand containing a 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 would be considered a straight. The sequence can start at any point within the deck, which means that an ace can serve as the low end of the straight (A-2-3-4-5) or the high end (10-J-Q-K-A).
Now, let's address the misconception presented in the reference material. It is stated that "a straight can't 'wrap around'; a hand with queen, king, ace, 2, 3 would be worthless (unless it's a flush)." This statement is partially incorrect. In traditional poker, an ace can indeed be used as both the highest and lowest card in a straight. Therefore, a hand containing a queen, king, ace, 2, and 3 would not be worthless; it would actually be a very strong hand known as a "broadway" straight, which is a straight that runs from ace to king (A-K-Q-J-10).
However, the reference to a flush is also important. A flush is a poker hand where all five cards are of the same suit but not in a sequence. If the mentioned hand (queen, king, ace, 2, 3) were all of the same suit, it would indeed be a flush, which is typically a stronger hand than a straight unless the straight is a "broadway" straight.
To further clarify, here are some examples of straights:
1. Lowest Straight: A-2-3-4-5 (where the ace is the lowest card)
2. Middle Straight: 9-10-J-Q-K (a typical example of a straight)
3. Highest Straight: 10-J-Q-K-A (where the ace is the highest card, known as a "broadway" straight)
It's important to note that in some variations of poker, such as Ace-to-Five Lowball, the ace can be used as the highest card in a straight only if it is specifically allowed by the rules of the game. In such cases, a straight to the ace (A-2-3-4-5) would be a strong hand, but a straight that includes an ace as the highest card would not be recognized.
In conclusion, a straight is a valuable poker hand that requires a sequence of five cards in ascending order. The ace is a unique card that can be used as both the lowest and highest card in a straight, with the exception of certain game variations. Understanding the composition and value of straights is crucial for any poker player looking to improve their game.
In poker, a straight is a hand that contains five consecutive cards of different suits. The concept of a straight is quite straightforward, but there are nuances to consider when it comes to the value of the cards and how they fit into this hand type.
Firstly, let's define the term "straight." A straight in poker is a sequence of five cards in ascending order. For example, a hand containing a 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 would be considered a straight. The sequence can start at any point within the deck, which means that an ace can serve as the low end of the straight (A-2-3-4-5) or the high end (10-J-Q-K-A).
Now, let's address the misconception presented in the reference material. It is stated that "a straight can't 'wrap around'; a hand with queen, king, ace, 2, 3 would be worthless (unless it's a flush)." This statement is partially incorrect. In traditional poker, an ace can indeed be used as both the highest and lowest card in a straight. Therefore, a hand containing a queen, king, ace, 2, and 3 would not be worthless; it would actually be a very strong hand known as a "broadway" straight, which is a straight that runs from ace to king (A-K-Q-J-10).
However, the reference to a flush is also important. A flush is a poker hand where all five cards are of the same suit but not in a sequence. If the mentioned hand (queen, king, ace, 2, 3) were all of the same suit, it would indeed be a flush, which is typically a stronger hand than a straight unless the straight is a "broadway" straight.
To further clarify, here are some examples of straights:
1. Lowest Straight: A-2-3-4-5 (where the ace is the lowest card)
2. Middle Straight: 9-10-J-Q-K (a typical example of a straight)
3. Highest Straight: 10-J-Q-K-A (where the ace is the highest card, known as a "broadway" straight)
It's important to note that in some variations of poker, such as Ace-to-Five Lowball, the ace can be used as the highest card in a straight only if it is specifically allowed by the rules of the game. In such cases, a straight to the ace (A-2-3-4-5) would be a strong hand, but a straight that includes an ace as the highest card would not be recognized.
In conclusion, a straight is a valuable poker hand that requires a sequence of five cards in ascending order. The ace is a unique card that can be used as both the lowest and highest card in a straight, with the exception of certain game variations. Understanding the composition and value of straights is crucial for any poker player looking to improve their game.
2024-05-23 12:36:06
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Works at Google, Lives in Mountain View, CA
Project: Scoring Poker Hands. An ace can be the lowest card of a straight (ace, 2, 3, 4, 5) or the highest card of a straight (ten, jack, queen, king, ace), but a straight can't "wrap around"; a hand with queen, king, ace, 2, 3 would be worthless (unless it's a flush).
2023-06-06 08:18:12
Julian Turner
QuesHub.com delivers expert answers and knowledge to you.
Project: Scoring Poker Hands. An ace can be the lowest card of a straight (ace, 2, 3, 4, 5) or the highest card of a straight (ten, jack, queen, king, ace), but a straight can't "wrap around"; a hand with queen, king, ace, 2, 3 would be worthless (unless it's a flush).
