Getting a Broadway and How to Play it

What Does Broadway Mean in Poker?

A Broadway refers to a Ten-to-Ace straight, which is a hand that can appear in both Hold’em and Omaha formats. You’ll often hear players say, “I hit Broadway” when completing this top straight.

• A Broadway is the highest straight possible in poker.
  
  

• It beats all lower straights, such as 9-high or 8-high.
  
  

• It can lose only to a flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, or royal flush.
  
  

• You can make Broadway using one or both of your hole cards.
  
  

If the board already shows Broadway (for example, 10-J-Q-K-A), then everyone holds the same straight, unless suits create flush differences.

Examples of Broadway Hands

Broadway can appear in several common scenarios in poker, depending on your hole cards and the community board. Here are some examples:

• You hold A♠ Q♠, and the board runs 10♣ J♦ K♥.  You’ve completed Broadway.
  
  

• You hold Q♣ 9♣, and the turn and river bring K♦ A♦. You make Broadway with the Ten already on board.
  
  

• The board shows 10-J-Q-K-A. In this case, everyone shares Broadway, creating a chopped pot.
  
  

If you make Broadway in position, you can often control the action, but you still need to watch for flush draws or paired boards that could potentially beat your straight.

Strategy for Playing Broadway

When you make Broadway, you hold a premium straight, but remember, it’s not invincible. You can often use it to extract value or protect against stronger hands. Here are a few strategy pointers when playing Broadway:

• Value bet confidently: You can try to bet for value against weaker straights or two-pair hands.
  
  

• Beware of flush boards: If three or more suited cards appear, a flush can beat you, so be wary of this.
  
  

• Avoid overplaying Broadway on paired boards: Full houses can trap you easily, so be careful.
  
  

• Use position to your advantage: Controlling the pot helps you size bets correctly.
  
  

Broadway is a good hand that wins big pots when played smart, but you need to have discipline to avoid donating chips when the board texture turns dangerous.