What is a Flush in Poker?

A Flush is one of the highest hands consisting of five cards of the same suit, regardless of whether they are sequential or not. This means that if gamblers have five cards of hearts, diamonds, clubs or spades in their hands, they have a Flush.

The Flush is considered one of the best hands in poker because of its relatively low probability of falling out and its ability to beat several other combinations. However, it is important to understand that it can still be surpassed by more outstanding combinations such as Full House, Royal Flush, and others. Keep reading to learn more about the Flush and the probability of getting it!

What Does a Flush Look Like?

Visualizing a Flush in poker is relatively simple. This is a combination in which all five playing cards are of the same suit, regardless of their sequence. Here are what combinations can look like:

• A ♠ K ♠ 10 ♠ 5 ♠ 2 ♠;
• D ♥ J ♥ 10 ♥ 7 ♥ 5 ♥;
• 10 ♦ 9 ♦ 6 ♦ 4 ♦ 3 ♦;
• J ♣ 8 ♣ 7 ♣ 3 ♣ 2 ♣.

How Does Flush Rank?

When ranking a Flush, the value of the cards is considered, not their suits. If multiple players have a Flush, the winner is the one with the highest-ranking combo. For example, a Flush with an Ace as the highest card will beat a Flush with a King as the highest card.
It’s also worth noting that a Flush with cards A-J-8-6-2 beats a combination of A-J-7-6-2. This occurs because in the first combination, the third card, 8, has a higher rank than the 7 in the second combination. All such combinations are evaluated by the same analogy.

What Beats a Flush?

Flush ranks 5th in the general hierarchy of poker combinations. This means that there are 4 other combinations that can beat it, namely: 

Thus, being in the 5th position, the Flush is still a strong combination because it is able to beat 5 others below.

Ways to Approach the Flush

Flush can seriously affect your success within the game. There are several ways in which players can get Flush, namely:

• Use community cards effectively. In Texas Hold’em, five community cards are dealt, and you can use any combination of them with your private cards to collect a Flush;
• Aim to get a Flush Draw. If you have four cards of the same suit on the flop or turn, you have a Flush drawing, meaning you need another card of the same suit to complete the Flush.

Strategy to Play Flush

By incorporating these strategies into your gameplay, you can effectively use the power of Flush and strengthen your position:

• Pay close attention to how your opponents place bets. If they seem overly confident, they may have chances for a strong hand, or it may indicate a bluff. Make a careful calculation and distinguish the difference in the position of the players;
• Choose bets that will keep weaker hands in the pot and increase the size of the pot;
• Analyze the situation in the game. If the poker table shows the probability of stronger combinations (for example, a paired board indicates the possibility of a Full House), be careful even if you have a Flush;
• Control your emotions during game sessions. Avoid reckless bets as they can be harmful for your bankroll;
• Manage your bankroll and don’t just chase winnings.

Flush Probabilities 

Here is a table showing the probability of a Flush at different stages of the Texas Hold’em game session: