Gutshot
A gutshot is a straight draw that needs one specific inside rank to complete, such as 9-8-6-5 needing a 7. It has 4 outs, about 16.5% from flop to river.
A gutshot, or inside straight draw, is a straight draw that can only be completed by one specific rank in the middle of your cards. For example, holding A♣ J♦ on a flop of K♠ Q♥ 4♣, you need exactly a ten to make A-K-Q-J-T. With only one rank to hit and four cards of that rank in the deck, a gutshot has 4 outs, half as many as an open-ended straight draw.
Gutshot odds
| Situation | Chance to hit | Odds against |
|---|---|---|
| Flop to turn (4 of 47) | about 8.5% | 10.75 to 1 |
| Turn to river (4 of 46) | about 8.7% | 10.5 to 1 |
| Flop to river (two cards) | about 16.5% | about 5 to 1 |
The rule of 2 and 4 estimates 16% with two cards to come and 8% with one, which is close enough at the table.
Worked example: the price matters
You hold 9♥ 8♥ and the turn board is J♠ 7♦ 2♣ K♥. You need a ten for J-T-9-8-7: a gutshot. The pot is 80 and your opponent bets 40. You must call 40 to win 120, so pot odds require 25% equity (40 divided by 160). Your draw hits only about 8.7% of the time. The call is clearly unprofitable on pot odds alone, and even implied odds would need you to win a very large amount extra when you hit.
Now say your opponent bets only 8 into 80. You call 8 to win 88, needing about 8.3% equity. Your 8.7% is just enough, and any extra you win on the river makes the call better.
Making gutshots more valuable
- Extra outs. In the first example, A♣ J♦ on K♠ Q♥ 4♣ also has overcards. An ace may give you the best hand too, though those outs are less reliable than the ten.
- Double gutshots. Some hands have two inside draws at once. Holding J♠ 9♠ on K♦ T♣ 7♥, a queen or an eight completes a straight, for 8 outs in total.
- Semi-bluffs. A gutshot can be a reasonable hand for a small bet or a semi-bluff on boards where your opponent is likely to fold, because folds win you the pot now and the draw is a backup.
Common mistakes
- Calling big bets with only 4 outs. This is one of the most common leaks for beginners. A gutshot is a weak draw on its own.
- Drawing to a non-nut straight. If the completing card also gives an opponent a higher straight or puts a fourth suited card on the board, your outs are not clean.
- Forgetting both streets cost money. The 16.5% figure assumes you see both cards for the price of one bet.
Frequently asked questions
How many outs does a gutshot have?
Four: the four cards of the single rank that fills the gap in your straight.
What are the odds of hitting a gutshot?
About 16.5% from the flop to the river, and about 8.5% to 8.7% with one card to come.
Why is it called a gutshot?
Because you need a card that lands in the middle, or gut, of your straight rather than on either end.
Related poker terms
- Outs — Outs are the unseen cards that will improve your hand to the likely winner. Counting them is the first step in working out your odds on a draw.
- Open-Ended Straight Draw — An open-ended straight draw is four consecutive cards that any of two ranks can complete into a straight. It has 8 outs, about 31.5% from flop to river.
- Straight — A straight is five cards in consecutive rank of mixed suits, such as 9-8-7-6-5. It beats three of a kind and loses to a flush.
- Pot Odds — Pot odds compare the cost of a call to the size of the pot you could win, telling you the minimum equity you need for a call to be profitable.
- Implied Odds — Implied odds count the extra chips you expect to win on later streets when you hit, making some calls profitable despite poor direct pot odds.