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What is a Flush in Poker: Understanding the Flush Hand in Poker

Image of hand holding poker chips

Every poker round counts on the value of players’ hands to be resolved. Therefore, it’s important to understand the various hands you can form while playing and their significance. Today, we’ll focus on the flush, a five-card combo that can effectively swing a poker contest in your favour. 

Let’s go! 

What is a Flush in Poker?

A flush is a hand that consists of five cards of the same suit, regardless of their numerical value. For example, if you have a hand that includes the 2, 5, 8, Jack, and King of diamonds, you have a flush. It doesn’t matter what the numerical values of the cards are as long as they are all diamonds.

How Does a Flush Compare to Other Hands?

A flush is a strong hand in New Zealand poker, but it is not the strongest. It ranks below:

  • A full house
  • Four of a kind
  • Straight flush, and 
  • Royal flush

However, a flush beats hands, such as.

  • A straight
  • Three of a kind
  • Two pair
  • One pair, and   

Note that when two players have a flush, the winner is determined by the highest card in the flush. If the highest card is a tie, then the second-highest card is used, and so on.

What Is a Flush in Poker: When to Play This Hand

The decision of when to play a flush depends on a variety of factors, such as the strength of the flush, the size of the pot, the number of players in the hand, and the betting action.

If a player has a strong flush, they may want to consider playing aggressively to try to win as many chips as possible. On the other hand, if the flush is not very strong, it may be best to play cautiously and try to make it to the showdown without investing too many chips.

Also, pay attention to the betting action and the number of players in the hand. If there are many players still in the hand, it may be best to be cautious with a flush, as there is a higher likelihood that someone has a stronger hand. Conversely, it may be a good time to play the flush aggressively and try to win a big pot if only a few players are left.