Ignorant End
The ignorant end is the lower end of a straight in a game with community cards. A straight that uses the low end of the sequence can be beaten by a higher straight.
The simple explanation
If the board is 6-7-8-9 and you hold a 5, you have 5-6-7-8-9. Another player with a 10 has a higher straight. Your straight is at the ignorant end.
A closer look
The name warns players that a low straight can be dangerous: they may not see that a higher card would give a better straight. In Hold'em and Omaha, check whether the board lets another player make a higher straight. The danger is bigger on a board that has four cards in a row, because many hands can make a straight.
A practical example
The board is 6♣ 7♦ 8♠ 9♥ 2♣ and a player holds 5♥ K♦. He has the ignorant end: a ten would beat him.
Full explanation
The ignorant end is the lower end of a straight in a game with community cards. A straight that uses the low end of the sequence can be beaten by a higher straight.
The ignorant end is the low end of a straight.
It is a term for community card games.
A higher card can make a better straight.
Be careful on boards with four connected cards.
The lower end of a straight
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
A holds 4♣2♦ and B holds 9♣T♦. The next shared card will complete different straights for the two players.
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).
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
A holds 4♣2♦ and B holds 9♣T♦. The next shared card will complete different straights for the two players.
Board: 55 of hearts (5h)66 of diamonds (6d)77 of clubs (7c)
- Player A BTN / SB 44 of clubs (4c)22 of diamonds (2d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 99 of clubs (9c)1010 of diamonds (Td) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Turn · Pot: 12 chips
A makes 4-5-6-7-8, the bottom end. B makes 6-7-8-9-T, a higher straight. A’s eight-high straight loses to B’s ten-high straight.
Board: 55 of hearts (5h)66 of diamonds (6d)77 of clubs (7c)88 of spades (8s)
- Player A BTN / SB 44 of clubs (4c)22 of diamonds (2d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 99 of clubs (9c)1010 of diamonds (Td) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.