High Card Flush is a poker-based table game where you and the dealer each get seven cards, and the hand with the most cards of one suit wins. You bet an Ante, then fold or raise, and the longer your flush, the more you are allowed to raise: up to 3x the Ante with a six- or seven-card flush. With good strategy the house edge on the main game is about 2.6% to 2.7%.
High Card Flush at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Debut | 2011 field trial in Nevada |
| Cards | Seven to each player and the dealer, one 52-card deck |
| Bets | Ante (required), Raise, optional Flush and Straight Flush side bets |
| Dealer qualifier | Three-card flush, nine high |
| House edge (Ante and Raise) | About 2.64% optimal; 2.71% with the simple strategy below |
| Side bet house edge | Flush bonus about 7.5% to 7.8%; Straight Flush bonus 13.11% |
How to Play High Card Flush
Like Three Card Poker or Caribbean Stud, High Card Flush is played against the dealer with a single 52-card deck. Hands are ranked on flushes alone, so it is one of the easier table games to learn even if you rarely play poker.
Ante Bet
Every hand starts with an Ante, which is required. It sets the size of your Raise if you decide to play. You can also add one or both optional side bets, the Flush bonus and the Straight Flush bonus.
Evaluating Your Hand
Each player and the dealer gets seven cards face down. Rank your hand in two steps:
- Count your longest suit. This is your “maximum flush.” More cards in one suit always wins, so a four-card flush beats any three-card flush and loses to any five-card flush.
- Compare high cards. If two hands have flushes of the same length, the higher cards in the flush win, as in poker. A four-card K-Q-J-10 beats Q-J-10-9 but loses to A-4-3-2. Aces are high, and no suit ranks above another.
The best possible hand is a seven-card straight flush, A-K-Q-J-10-9-8.
Fold or Raise
After looking at your cards you either fold, losing the Ante, or raise. The Raise must be at least equal to the Ante, and the most you can raise depends on your flush:
| Your maximum flush | Largest Raise allowed |
|---|---|
| Two, three or four cards | 1x the Ante |
| Five cards | 2x the Ante |
| Six or seven cards | 3x the Ante |
Winning Hands
The dealer then reveals and ranks the dealer’s hand the same way. The dealer needs at least a three-card flush with a nine high to qualify.
- Dealer does not qualify: your Ante pays even money and your Raise pushes.
- Dealer qualifies and you win: your Ante and Raise both pay even money.
- Dealer qualifies and wins: you lose the Ante and the Raise.
- Exact tie: the Ante and Raise both push.
Side bets are then settled on their own paytables.
High Card Flush Strategy and Odds
A simple strategy that comes close to optimal:
- Raise the most you are allowed with any four-card or longer flush.
- Raise with a three-card flush of 10-8-6 or better.
- Fold everything else.
That strategy carries a house edge of about 2.71%. Optimal play is only a little better, at about 2.64%. Hands with a three-card J-9-6 or better are clear raises, 9-7-4 or worse are clear folds, and the hands in between are close calls.
With good strategy you will raise about 67.86% of hands. The dealer qualifies about 75.36% of the time, and you tie the dealer only about 0.08% of the time.
High Card Flush Side Bets
Flush Bonus
The Flush bonus pays when your hand has a flush of four or more cards, whether or not you beat the dealer. Paytables vary by casino. Two common versions:
| Hand | Paytable 1 | Paytable 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 7-card flush | 300 to 1 | 300 to 1 |
| 6-card flush | 100 to 1 | 75 to 1 |
| 5-card flush | 10 to 1 | 5 to 1 |
| 4-card flush | 1 to 1 | 2 to 1 |
| House edge | About 7.8% | About 7.5% |
Straight Flush Bonus
The Straight Flush bonus has the biggest payout in the game. It pays on straight flushes of three or more cards:
| Hand | Pays |
|---|---|
| 7-card straight flush | 8,000 to 1 |
| 6-card straight flush | 1,000 to 1 |
| 5-card straight flush | 100 to 1 |
| 4-card straight flush | 60 to 1 |
| 3-card straight flush | 7 to 1 |
The house edge on this paytable is 13.11%, about five times the edge on the main game. Both side bets are long shots best kept small.
High Card Flush History
High Card Flush completed a field trial in Nevada in 2011, when Caesars Entertainment offered it exclusively. Galaxy Gaming, a Las Vegas table game company, bought the worldwide rights from Red Card Gaming in September 2012, and the game is still listed among Galaxy Gaming’s products.
High Card Flush FAQ
What does the dealer need to qualify in High Card Flush?
At least a three-card flush with a nine high. If the dealer does not qualify, your Ante pays and your Raise pushes.
How much can you raise in High Card Flush?
Up to 1x the Ante with a flush of four cards or fewer, 2x with a five-card flush, and 3x with a six- or seven-card flush.
What is the house edge in High Card Flush?
About 2.64% with optimal strategy and 2.71% with the simple strategy above. The side bets are much higher: roughly 7.5% to 7.8% on the Flush bonus and 13.11% on the Straight Flush bonus.
For more table games played against the dealer, see our guides to Four Card Poker, Crazy 4 Poker and Three Card Poker.
Gamble responsibly. If gambling stops being fun, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET.