Flushes

Playing a Flush

Playing Flush Draws

Interactive Tutorial

Flushes

A flush is a very strong hand whenever it is created using three board cards and two pocket cards. It's a very happy moment when you hit your flush!

A flush is less strong when it is created using four or five board cards. We'll deal with those situations first.

A Flush Using Four or Five Board Cards

Your Cards			The Board:

In this case you are making a flush with the highest spade in your hand. Indeed, it is simply a case of "high spade wins." (Unless somebody happens to hold two spades that make a straight flush, which is rather unlikely).

You generally want the King or the Ace to continue to the river, if people are betting.

If you are playing only one or two opponents, then any spade eight or higher is likely good enough for you to call it down. Versus an aggressive opponent, known to bluff in these situations, any spade will do.

Without the Ace, however, you don't wish to be calling raises. It is just too easy to be beat.

In actual fact, playing this hand with anything other than an ace takes skill, knowledge of your opponents, bravery and a bit of luck. Everyone loves to bluff you in these situations.

The bigger the pot, the more likely you should bite the bullet and call somebody down, with any spade, or other strong hand.

The more aggressive and "bluffy" your opponent is, the more likely you should call him or her down.

a flush using three board cards