What defines a straight flush?

• A. All cards of the same suit
• B. Cards are in sequential order with the same suit
• C. All cards must be the same nominal
• D. Three of a kind in the same suit

Answer: (B)

A straight flush is defined as a hand where the cards are both in sequential order and of the same suit. This means that not only do the cards follow one after the other in numerical value, but they also share the same suit, such as all being hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades. For example, a sequence like 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of hearts would constitute a straight flush, as each card is in order and of the same suit.

The other options highlight different hand types in poker but do not correctly describe a straight flush. All cards of the same suit alone would define a flush, which does not require the cards to be in sequence. Similarly, having all cards be of the same nominal value would define a four of a kind or three of a kind, depending on how many cards are involved, but does not consider suit or sequence. Finally, three of a kind in the same suit pertains to a particular combination that also does not reflect the criteria for a straight flush, focusing instead on the repetition of ranks.