Poker Glossary
Poker glossary

Broadway

Broadway is the highest straight, ten through ace; the word is also used for any card from ten to ace.

The simple explanation

Broadway is the highest straight, the one from ten to ace. The name also covers the cards themselves: any card from ten to ace is a Broadway card. A hand like king-queen is called a Broadway hand because both cards are Broadway cards.

A closer look

Broadway cards are high and make strong top pairs, but they are often dominated by better ones. A ten-to-ace straight is the best possible straight and is also the royal flush if the cards are of the same suit. Starting hands of two Broadway cards are strong in hold'em, and the connected ones have straight potential at the top end. The opposite end of the scale is the wheel, the lowest straight.

A practical example

A player has 10♥ J♦ Q♣ K♠ A♥: Broadway.

Full explanation

Broadway is the highest straight, ten through ace; the word is also used for any card from ten to ace.

Broadway is the highest possible straight, made of ten, jack, queen, king and ace. Players also use the word for the high cards from ten to ace themselves.

A hand with two Broadway cards, such as ace-queen or king-jack, is a Broadway hand. These hands win with strong pairs but can also be dominated by hands with a higher kicker.

If the five cards are of one suit, the Broadway straight is a royal flush.

The lowest straight, ace to five, is called the wheel.

The highest straight

No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake

Read the example transcript

Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).

  1. Flop · Pot: 12 chips

    A’s ace-king connects with the queen and jack. A ten would complete the highest straight.

    Board: Queen of clubs (Qc)Jack of spades (Js)2 of diamonds (2d)

    • Player A BTN / SB Ace of clubs (Ac)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
    • Player B BB 9 of hearts (9h)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
  2. Turn · Pot: 12 chips

    The ten gives A T-J-Q-K-A: Broadway, the highest straight.

    Board: Queen of clubs (Qc)Jack of spades (Js)2 of diamonds (2d)10 of clubs (Tc)

    • Player A BTN / SB Ace of clubs (Ac)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
    • Player B BB 9 of hearts (9h)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0

Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.

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