Steel Wheel
A steel wheel is a straight flush from ace to five, A-2-3-4-5 of one suit. It is the lowest straight flush but still beats four of a kind.
The simple explanation
The wheel is the lowest straight, with the ace counting as low. When all five cards are of the same suit, it is a steel wheel. In low games it is also the best possible hand, and in hi-lo games it can win both halves.
A closer look
In high-only poker, the steel wheel is a straight flush, so it is beaten only by higher straight flushes and royal flushes. In A-5 lowball and in hi-lo, it is also the best possible low hand. It is extremely rare, and players like to tell stories about hitting it.
A practical example
You hold A♣ 5♣ and the flop is 2♣ 3♣ 4♣. You have a steel wheel.
Full explanation
A steel wheel is a straight flush from ace to five, A-2-3-4-5 of one suit. It is the lowest straight flush but still beats four of a kind.
A steel wheel is a straight flush from ace to five.
It is the lowest straight flush.
It beats four of a kind.
The ordinary wheel is the same straight in mixed suits.
Alternative spelling: steelwheel, steel-wheel
A steel wheel
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
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).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)55 of clubs (5c) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB KKing of diamonds (Kd)KKing of hearts (Kh) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 before the flop.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)55 of clubs (5c) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB KKing of diamonds (Kd)KKing of hearts (Kh) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B calls. Each player has put in 6 chips.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)55 of clubs (5c) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB KKing of diamonds (Kd)KKing of hearts (Kh) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player A has ace, two, three, four and five of clubs. An ace-to-five straight flush is a steel wheel.
Board: 22 of clubs (2c)33 of clubs (3c)44 of clubs (4c)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)55 of clubs (5c) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB KKing of diamonds (Kd)KKing of hearts (Kh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.