How Rare Is a Royal Flush in Poker? Odds, Tips, and Winning Strategies
A royal flush is the ultimate poker hand. In most variants of the game, it is the best possible hand. In video poker, it usually triggers a jackpot; in Texas Hold’em, it guarantees a winning hand, and if you draw a royal flush in Five-Card Draw, you can bet your way to a big payout.
But how rare is a royal flush, what are the odds of landing one, and how do those royal flush odds compare to other poker hands?
What is a Royal Flush in Poker?
A royal flush is a five-card hand featuring consecutive cards of the same suit going from the ten to the ace. So, a ten, jack, queen, king, and ace of hearts would constitute a royal flush.
How Rare is a Royal Flush in Poker?
There are four ways to make a royal flush using a standard 52-card deck, as you can draw this hand from each of the four suits. A 52-card deck has 2,598,960 possible five-card hands, equating to total odds of 4/2,598,960 or 1 in 649,739. For this reason, many poker players go their entire careers without ever drawing a royal flush.
How Rare is a Royal Flush in Texas Hold’em?
The above royal flush odds apply to five-card poker games, but the outcome is slightly different with Texas Hold’em. The goal is still to make a five-card hand, but with the player’s two hole cards and the five community cards, seven cards are on the table, increasing the chances of drawing big hands.
The odds of drawing a royal flush in Texas Hold’em are 30,939 to 1, equating to a percentage probability of 0.0032%. This is only true when all five community cards are out, as the odds of flopping a royal flush are the same as in five-card poker games (1 in 649,739).
Chances of a Royal Flush Compared to Other Poker Hands
To better understand royal flush odds, we must compare them to other poker hands. When we do this, you can see that not only is it rare, but the odds are significantly greater than any other hand:
|
Hand |
Total Possible Hands | Odds |
|
Royal Flush |
4 |
649,739 to 1 |
|
Straight Flush |
36 |
72,192.33 to 1 |
|
Four of a Kind |
624 |
4,164 to 1 |
|
Full House |
3,744 |
693 to 1 |
|
Flush |
5,108 |
507 to 1 |
|
Straight |
10,200 |
253 to 1 |
|
Three of a Kind |
54,912 |
46 to 1 |
|
Two Pair |
123,552 |
20 to 1 |
|
One Pair |
1,098,240 |
1.3 to 1 |
| High Card (No Pair or Higher) | 1,302,540 |
0.99 to 1 |
How Do You Play a Royal Flush?
How you play it depends on when and how you get it. In Draw games, your hand is better disguised so that you can get more value out of it. Just keep increasing the pot without making it look like you have a strong hand.
In Texas Hold’em, the best way to play big hands like this is to disguise your hand and let others bet. For instance, if you flop a royal flush, a good strategy is to check and hope that someone else bets. You can then call and play passively to make it look like you are trying to catch a big hand.
In such cases, the best you can hope for is that the board pairs and your opponent scores a set or even four of a kind. They could also have a straight or a flush, in which case they will likely bet until the river card and call everything you throw at them. It doesn’t matter how much they bet or how aggressive they are, as you can’t lose, so there is no reason to fold. Spend time contemplating each move, though, as you want to make it seem like calling/raising is a tough decision.
Summary: Royal Flush Probability
A royal flush is an almost mythical hand that every player dreams of drawing, giving them a poker story they will tell for years to come. It’s exceedingly rare, though; many players never draw the hand.
If talk of big hands has put you in the mood for a few games of poker, play online video poker now and see if you can draw one yourself!
Poker Common Queries
How uncommon is a royal flush?
A royal flush is by far the rarest poker hand. In five-card variations such as Draw and Stud, the odds of being dealt a royal flush are 1 in 649,739. For Texas Hold’em, which uses two hole cards and five community cards, the odds are 1 in 30,939.
What is the chance of getting a royal flush?
You have a 649,739 to 1 chance of drawing a royal flush in most poker games.
Is a royal flush rarer than a straight flush?
Yes, a royal flush is a straight flush that uses the highest-value cards in any suit.
Is it possible for two players to get a royal flush?
It is possible but unfathomably rare. In Texas Hold’em, it is only possible if all five cards needed for the royal flush are drawn from the community cards. In this case, everyone in the hand has a royal flush, ending in a tie.
Has anyone ever got a royal flush?
Players always draw these hands, especially in Texas Hold’em. You don’t have to look hard to find stories of players who have drawn this hand and gone on to win big. Many YouTube videos also chronicle the times this hand has appeared in big cash games and tournaments.
Is a royal flush hard to get?
Yes, it is incredibly rare, although it’s much more common in Texas Hold’em than in other game variations.
>Is a royal flush unbeatable?
Yes. It is the highest-possible hand in poker, so that nothing can beat it. Two players can have a royal flush, but this is very rare. If it occurs, the pot will be split.
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