Quick facts by PokerStrategy
- A Broadway straight is the highest possible straight in poker.
- Broadway cards are the cards that are used to make the Broadway straight: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten.
- Some Broadway hands, such as ace-king suited, are among the strongest starting hands in the game.
- It’s important not to overplay weaker, offsuit Broadway hands.
What Is a Broadway Hand in Poker?
A Broadway hand in poker refers to the highest possible straight, made up of A-K-Q-J-T. It can also refer to any of the cards that make up this straight. For example, if someone has K-Q, then they have two Broadway cards.
A Broadway straight is a very strong hand that is highly ranked and hard to beat. Meanwhile, Broadway cards often form some of the strongest starting hand combinations in poker. This page explores both uses of the term “Broadway”.
Broadway Straight Hand Ranking in Texas Hold’em
A straight is ranked sixth in the poker hand rankings, above three of a kind, two pair, one pair, and high card hands in Texas Hold’em and other poker games. It is ranked below a royal flush, a straight flush, four of a kind, a full house, and a flush.
Although straights technically rank in an average position, they are still strong hands that should often be played for value.
Broadway vs Other Straights
The Broadway straight is the strongest of all the straights. It is made using the highest five cards in the deck, A-K-Q-J-T, and so it will always win against lower combinations.
For example:
Player A: A♣ K♥
Player B: 9♥ 8♣
Flop: Q♥ J♣ T♦
In this case, Player A has the Broadway straight, which beats Player B’s lower straight.
Broadway Straight Strategy
If you manage to make a Broadway straight, you’ll often have a very secure hand. It’s a bonus if you use two of your hole cards to make the straight, as your hand will also be well disguised, making it easier to find value.
When it comes to hands that can beat you, your main concern is flushes if the board contains three or more of the same suit. Of course, depending on the board texture, opponents could also have hands as strong as four of a kind or a straight flush, but these are rare enough that they won’t often cause you issues.
If the board texture is very dangerous, then you can use pot control by checking or flat calling on one or two streets with your Broadway straight to make it to showdown. For the most part, though, you’ll be looking to bet and raise for value and get paid by pair, two pair, and trips.
How to Play Broadway Straight Draws?
With a Broadway straight draw, you’ll need to consider your pot odds carefully when deciding whether to call to see the next card.
A flopped open-ended Broadway straight draw hits on the turn around 17 percent of the time, and around 31 percent of the time by the river. Meanwhile, a flopped backdoor Broadway straight draw only hits on the turn around 8.5 percent of the time and 16.5 percent by the river.
Typically, then, you’ll need generous pot odds of 2:1 to call even with an open-ended straight draw. However, another perk of having a Broadway draw is that you’ll often have overcards that can also improve your hand.
For example, if you have K-Q on a J-T-2 board, you can complete the straight with a nine or ace and can also improve by hitting a pair of kings or queens. Flush draws and even backdoor flush draws can also enhance the equity of your hand, making it possible to call.
There’s also a more aggressive betting line you can take with Broadway straight draws, and that’s to bet or raise with them as a semi-bluff. This gives you multiple ways of winning the pot. You can either win it when opponents fold or by improving on the next street.
Broadway Starting Card Combos and Rankings
The cards that are used to make the Broadway straight are known as Broadway cards. They are Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of any suit.
Some Broadway hands are among the strongest starting hands in poker, offering lots of potential to make high top pairs, two pair, straights, and so on. At online poker sites, they are especially valuable as they perform well against looser opponents and the fast pace of the game.
In order of strength, here are the Broadway poker starting hand combinations:
Premium broadways: AK, AQ
Strong broadways: AJ, AT, KQ, KJ
Playable broadways: QJ, KT, QT, JT
Suited Broadways are stronger because they can also make flushes, straight flushes, or even a royal flush, as well as giving you additional playability when you have a strong draw.
How to Play Broadway Starting Hands
With premium and strong Broadway starting hands, you can open-raise from pretty much any position, especially with hands like A-K. You can also three-bet if someone has raised before you.
Weaker Broadways are more speculative. They can be outkicked even if you play top pair, but are among the strongest suited connectors in the game if played for straight and flush potential.
In any case, Broadway hands need to hit something postflop to retain their equity. Thankfully, you’ll make a pair nearly one-third of the time and, when you do, you’ll usually be ahead. Add straight and flush draw potential, and you’ll often pick up something playable.
If you miss with a Broadway starting hand and the action becomes significant, you’ll have no choice but to fold.
That doesn’t mean you should fold every time you miss. For example, if you are in position and have initiative, you’ll have to weigh up whether to make a continuation bet with overcards or to check back to see a free card.
Common Mistakes With Broadway Hands
- Not finding value: If you’ve managed to make a strong Broadway hand, such as the Broadway straight, you should be looking to extract maximum value from opponents who can’t fold top pair and two pair type hands.
- Overplaying weaker broadways: Weaker Broadway hands, such as KT and QJ, are not actually very playable, as higher kickers can often dominate them. You can raise these from a late position, but will usually open-fold from an early position.
- Overvaluing off-suit hands: Suited Broadway hands are much stronger than off-suit hands. It’s not just the additional equity from the potential of hitting a flush, but also the extra playability when you pick up a strong draw.
- Not being able to fold when you miss: Having a strong Broadway hand preflop, or a Broadway straight draw on the flop, is exciting, but if you miss, then you have to know when to fold. As with any drawing hand, you shouldn’t be calling down if the pot odds and other factors aren’t favourable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Broadway draw in poker?
A Broadway draw is a hand that is drawing to the top straight (A-K-Q-J-T) with three or four of the five cards needed to make the hand.
What is a Broadway flop in poker?
A Broadway flop in poker is one that includes several Broadway cards that are needed to form the Broadway street, such as Q-J-T.
Is ten a Broadway card?
Yes, a Ten is a Broadway card as it is used to form the Broadway straight.
Why is it called Broadway straight?
The term “Broadway” may come from the famous theatre district in New York, home to the most prominent actors.
Is a Broadway straight the best straight in poker?
Yes, a Broadway straight is the strongest straight in poker, made of the highest five cards in the deck.
What is the difference between Broadway cards and a Broadway hand?
Broadway cards refer to any cards that make up part of the Broadway straight, whereas a Broadway hand includes two of those cards as a starting hand, or may also refer to the completed Broadway straight.
What beats a Broadway straight in poker?
Although the Broadway straight is the highest possible straight, it is still beaten by flushes, full houses, four of a kind, straight flushes, and royal flush.