straight/flush odds

why does a flush rank higher in regular poker but lower than a straight in 3 card poker? just wondering.

[BruceZ]

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why does a flush rank higher in regular poker but lower than a straight in 3 card poker? just wondering.

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There are more 5 card straights than 5 card flushes with 5 or 7 cards, but there are more 3 card flushes than 3 card straights.

5 cards:
straights: 10*(4^5 - 4) = 10,200
flushes: 4*C(13,5) = 5148

3 cards:
straights: 12*(4^3 - 4) = 720
flushes: 4*C(13,3) = 1144