Broadway is the highest possible straight in poker, consisting of ace-king-queen-jack-ten (A-K-Q-J-T) in any combination of suits. It’s poker’s version of a royal straight, minus the matching suits that would make it a royal flush.
In Texas Hold’em and Omaha, Broadway represents one of the strongest possible hands, ranking just below flushes and better hands in the standard poker hierarchy. The term comes from New York’s famous Broadway street, suggesting this straight runs through the “main street” of high card values. While any player can make a straight from five to ace or six to ten, Broadway stands alone as the only straight that uses all the highest cards in the deck.
The probability of flopping Broadway with two suited Broadway cards is approximately 0.3%, making it a rare but powerful holding. When the board shows three or four Broadway cards, multiple players often share the pot with the same Broadway straight.
How Strong Is Broadway?
Broadway sits in the middle of poker hand rankings, stronger than any lower straight, three of a kind, two pair, or one pair, but vulnerable to flushes, full houses, and better hands.
| Hand | Result vs Broadway |
|---|---|
| Any flush | Beats Broadway |
| Lower straight (9-high to K-high) | Loses to Broadway |
| Set/Three of a kind | Loses to Broadway |
| Two pair | Loses to Broadway |
| Full house | Beats Broadway |
| Four of a kind | Beats Broadway |
| Straight flush | Beats Broadway |
| Royal flush | Beats Broadway |
The true strength of Broadway depends heavily on board texture. On a rainbow board like A♠K♦Q♣J♥T♣, you have the absolute nuts. But on a suited board like A♥K♥Q♥J♦T♠, any two hearts make a flush that beats your straight.
Broadway vs King-High Straight: which wins?
Broadway (A-K-Q-J-T) always beats a king-high straight (K-Q-J-T-9) because the ace makes it the highest possible straight. In poker, ace plays both high (in Broadway) and low (in the wheel: 5-4-3-2-A), but when comparing straights, the highest top card wins.
Key Facts
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Cards needed | A-K-Q-J-T in any suits |
| Ranking | Highest possible straight |
| Beats | All lower straights, sets, two pair, one pair |
| Loses to | Any flush or better |
| Probability (by river with 2 Broadway cards) | ~4.3% |
| Split pot frequency | High when 4+ Broadway cards on board |
Pro Tip: When you hold two Broadway cards and the flop brings two more, you have eight outs to Broadway (any of the remaining Broadway cards). But beware, those same cards might complete someone else’s flush draw.
Hear It at the Table
Key Takeaway
Broadway is the ace-high straight (A-K-Q-J-T), the highest possible straight in poker. While it’s a strong hand that beats all lower straights and sets, it’s vulnerable to any flush or better. The key to playing Broadway profitably is recognizing when you have the nuts versus when the board texture makes your straight second-best.
