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Straight (Poker)
A straight in poker is a hand that consists of 5 cards in sequence, for instance 6-7-8-9-10. In order to make a straight, all cards must not be of the same suit otherwise this would represent a straight flush which is considerable stronger.
8 
7 
6 5 4 (example straight)
In standard ranking of hands, a straight will beat three of a kind (set) or worse however is beaten by a flush or better. If is relatively common for more than one player to hit a straight in the same hand however the highest ranking straight would win. The strength of the straight is determined by the highest card, for instance 6-7-8-9-10 would be beaten by 7-8-9-10-J or better.
The board will often represent a high straight and a low straight. The board might read 6-7-8-9. You hold the 5 (the low straight or idiot end straight) and you opponent holds the ten (the high). Where the best possible straight given the board, has been hit, this would be referred to as the 'nut straight'. It is sensible however not to over commit to the low end straights, particularly in multi way pots and faced with aggression.
Another consideration is a situation whereby you are chasing outs to hit your straight. Assume that the flop comes 6-7-8 and you hold 10-4. The problem with chasing for a 5 is that this would make anyone holding a 9, a higher straight than you. It is therefore not a good idea committing a chunk of your stack trying to catch a miracle card as it might not be enough.
Common draws for straights are the back door straight which refers to a player holding 3 cards in sequence who requires the turn and river both to bring cards to make the hand. Another common draw is the gut shot straight draw which is where you have four cards to the straight and the missing card is in the middle, for instance you hold 5-6-7-9 and need the 8 to make the hand.
The odds of hitting this hand are 1 in 254.80.
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