In poker, a “straight” is a hand that consists of five consecutive cards of different suits. The rank of the straight is determined by the highest card in the sequence. Aces can be used as either the highest card (above the King) or the lowest card (below the 2) in a straight, depending on the specific rules of the game being played. Here are a few examples of straights:
- Ace-High Straight (Broadway Straight): A-K-Q-J-10. This is the highest possible straight and is often referred to as a “Broadway” straight.
- Ten-High Straight: 10-9-8-7-6. This is an example of a straight without any face cards.
- Five-High Straight (Wheel): 5-4-3-2-A. In some variations of poker, the Ace can be used as the lowest card, creating a “wheel” or “bicycle” straight, which is the lowest possible straight.
- Jack-High Straight: J-10-9-8-7. This is an example of a straight that includes a Jack as its highest card.
Is J Q K A 2 a straight in poker?
No, in most standard poker games, the combination you mentioned, J-Q-K-A-2, is not considered a valid straight. A standard poker straight consists of five consecutive cards of any suit. For example, 3-4-5-6-7, 9-10-J-Q-K, or A-2-3-4-5 are all valid straights.
However, there is a poker variant called “Deuce to Seven” or “Kansas City Lowball” where the hand you mentioned, J-Q-K-A-2, is considered the best possible low hand. In Deuce to Seven, straights and flushes do not count against a hand, and the goal is to have the lowest possible hand. In this variant, A-2-3-4-5 is actually a high hand and not a straight.
It’s important to be aware of the specific rules of the poker variant you are playing, as different games may have different hand rankings and rules. In most common poker variants, the hand J-Q-K-A-2 does not form a straight.