High Card Flush: the longest flush wins
High Card Flush is a table game where you and the dealer each get seven cards. Only your best flush counts: the most cards of one suit. A longer flush beats a shorter one; equal length goes to high cards.
Reviewed Oct 15, 2026
Answer first
90s- 01Seven cards each; you keep the cards of your longest suit.
- 02Raise 1x with 2 or 3 suited, up to 2x with 4, up to 3x with 5 or more.
- 03The dealer needs a 3-card 9-high flush to qualify.
Key numbers
High Card Flush in four numbers
In short
Key takeaways
- Count your suits first; length beats rank.
- If the dealer does not qualify, the Ante pays and the raise pushes.
- A good rule: raise with a 3-card flush of jack-high or better.
- The side bets pay on your hand alone.
On the felt
Finding your flush
Your seven cards
Four hearts
Dealer flush
Three spades, qualifies
Result
4-card flush beats 3-card flush
Off-suit cards do not count at all.
Raise sizes
| Your longest flush | Max raise |
|---|---|
| 2 or 3 cards | 1x Ante |
| 4 cards | 2x Ante |
| 5, 6 or 7 cards | 3x Ante |
The size you may raise depends on flush length.
How a round works
You place an Ante and any side bets. Everyone gets seven cards face down. You sort your cards by suit and find your longest flush. Then you fold, losing the Ante, or raise.
The dealer reveals. If the dealer lacks a 3-card flush with a 9 or higher, the Ante pays even money and the raise is a push. If the dealer qualifies, the better flush wins both bets.
Pay table
Common Flush bonus paytable
Glance before you bet
| Your flush | Pays |
|---|---|
| 7 cards | 300 to 1 |
| 6 cards | 100 to 1 |
| 5 cards | 10 to 1 |
| 4 cards | 1 to 1 |
Paytables vary by casino.
Comparing flushes
First compare length: four suited cards beat three, whatever their ranks. With equal length, compare the highest card, then the next, and so on. A 4-card flush A-10-6-3 beats K-Q-J-9.
If both flushes are exactly equal, the bets push.
Sequence
Simple strategy
Step 01
Two cards suited
Fold.
Step 02
3-card flush below J-high
Fold.
Step 03
3-card flush J-high or better
Raise 1x.
Step 04
4-card flush
Raise 2x.
Step 05
5 or more suited
Raise 3x.
Why the rule works
Folding weak three-card hands saves raises that would lose against a qualified dealer. Experts fine-tune the line with the second and third cards, for example raising J-8-6 but folding J-7-2, but the jack-high line is close.
Always raise the most allowed with four or more suited cards.
Floor rules
High Card Flush terms
Know before you sit
- Flush
- Cards of one suit in your hand.
- Qualify
- Dealer has a 3-card 9-high flush or better.
- Raise
- Second bet after looking.
- Push
- Bet returned, no win or loss.
Where you find it
High Card Flush shows up in many US casinos and some online sites with licensed table games. Tables usually have low minimums, often $5 to $15, because the game is easy to learn.
Some casinos use a slightly different qualifier or paytable; check the felt.
How often each flush length comes (rough)
| Longest suit | About |
|---|---|
| 2 cards | About 1 in 5 |
| 3 cards | About 3 in 5 |
| 4 cards | About 1 in 5 |
| 5 cards | About 1 in 35 |
| 6 or 7 cards | About 1 in 480 |
Rough figures for seven cards.
Common mistakes
- Counting all seven cards
- Only the longest suit counts.
- Raising every hand
- Fold weak 3-card flushes.
- Under-raising 5+ suited
- Raise 3x.
- Expecting side bets to need a dealer win
- They pay on your hand.
Keep reading
Related pages
Go play
Where to play in Las Vegas
Tap a resort — each row opens that casino’s White Gambling page (hours, game mix, floor facts). Venues with this game in official counts, sorted high to low.
Open a casino page
Real listings · not adsAfter the 90 seconds
Questions before and after you play
A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.
01Basics
What wins in High Card Flush?
The longest flush wins. With equal length, the higher cards win. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
How many cards do I get?
Seven. Only the cards of your longest suit count. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Does a straight matter?
Only for the Straight Flush side bet, not the main game. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
02Dealer
When does the dealer qualify?
With a 3-card flush that has a 9 or higher. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
What if the dealer does not qualify?
The Ante pays even money and the raise is returned. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Who wins ties?
Equal flushes push. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
03Strategy
When should I fold?
Fold two-card flushes and three-card flushes below jack-high. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Can I raise 3x with four suited?
No, a 4-card flush allows up to 2x. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Are the side bets good value?
They usually carry a higher edge than the main game. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Sources
- Wizard of Odds — High Card Flush Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry)The gaming industry’s standard reference for casino-game math, by actuary Michael Shackleford. Not an official registry; our calculators compute these numbers independently. · accessed Oct 15, 2026Rules, odds and house edge
- Nevada Gaming Control Board · accessed Oct 15, 2026Approved games and gaming revenue reports
- UNLV Center for Gaming Research Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Research library on casino games and gambling
- National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER