What Is a Flush in Poker? Ranking, Examples & Rules

A flush is five cards of the same suit in any order. It ranks #5 in poker hand rankings — it beats a straight but loses to a full house. A flush is one of the most common strong hands you’ll make in Texas Hold’em.

Example

The cards do not need to be in sequence. As long as all five share the same suit, it’s a flush.

Where Does a Flush Rank?

See the complete hand rankings guide for tiebreakers, kickers, and detailed examples.

How Does a Flush Work?

A flush is formed when you have five cards that are all the same suit — all hearts, all diamonds, all clubs, or all spades. The ranks of the cards don’t matter as long as they share a suit.

When two players both have a flush, the highest card determines the winner. If both players share the same high card, compare the second-highest, then the third, and so on.

The Ace-high flush wins because Ace beats King as the highest card. Suit does not matter for tiebreaking — no suit ranks higher than another.

What Beats a Flush?

A full house beats a flush. A flush beats a straight.

What Are the Odds?

In a five-card deal, the probability of being dealt a flush is 0.1965% — roughly 1 in 509 hands. In Texas Hold’em (seven cards available), the odds of making a flush by the river are about 3.03%.

FAQ

Does a flush beat a straight?

Yes. A flush (#5) always beats a straight (#6). This is one of the most common points of confusion for new players.

What if two players have a flush?

The player with the highest card in their flush wins. If the highest cards match, compare the next highest, and so on. If all five cards are identical in rank, the pot is split.

Does the suit matter?

No. Suits have no ranking in standard poker. A heart flush is not stronger or weaker than a spade flush.

For the complete guide to all 10 poker hands, see our poker hand rankings. Need a quick reference? Download our poker cheat sheet.