Broadway is a term used in poker to refer to the highest possible straight hand, consisting of the cards A, K, Q, J, and 10. It is also known as the royal straight or royal flush. Broadway hands are extremely powerful and considered the best possible straight hand in most poker variants.
In poker, the ranking of hands is determined by the highest card in the hand. The Ace (A) holds the highest rank, followed by the King (K), Queen (Q), Jack (J), and then the 10. When a player holds these five cards in sequence, regardless of the suit, they have a Broadway hand.
For example, if the community cards on the table are As (Ace of Spades), Kc (King of Clubs), Qd (Queen of Diamonds), Jh (Jack of Hearts), and 10s (10 of Spades), any player holding a Broadway hand will have a straight from Ace to 10. This is the highest possible straight and cannot be beaten by any other straight hand.
Broadway hands are often played aggressively as they have a strong chance of winning. Players who hold Broadway hands have a good chance of making the nuts (the best possible hand) or having a strong hand that can win against other players.
However, it is important to note that Broadway hands are not as common as other straight hands in poker. They require specific combinations of cards and luck to be dealt. Players should be cautious when assuming their hand is Broadway, as they may be beat by a higher-ranked straight if another player holds a higher sequence of cards.
In conclusion, Broadway in poker refers to the highest possible straight, consisting of the cards A, K, Q, J, and 10. It is a powerful hand and often played aggressively. Understanding the ranking of hands in poker, including Broadway, is crucial for players to make strategic decisions during the game.