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.
In poker, outs are the cards still in the deck that would turn your hand into the probable winner. If you are behind and drawing, your outs are your path to the pot. Counting them accurately lets you estimate your chance of hitting, which you then compare with your pot odds to decide whether to continue.
Common draws and their outs
A few situations come up again and again, and it is worth memorizing them:
- Flush draw: 4 cards of one suit, needing a fifth. 13 cards per suit minus the 4 you see = 9 outs.
- Open-ended straight draw: four in a row, such as 8-9-10-J, completed at either end = 8 outs.
- Gutshot: one specific rank fills the inside of the straight = 4 outs.
- Two overcards to the board, hoping to pair: 6 outs (3 of each rank).
- Pocket pair hoping to make a set: 2 outs.
- Flush draw plus open-ended straight draw: 9 + 8 = 17, minus the 2 cards counted twice = 15 outs.
Turning outs into odds
On the flop there are 47 unseen cards (52 minus your 2 and the 3 on the board). On the turn there are 46. Here are exact chances for common out counts:
| Outs | Flop to turn (1 card) | Turn to river (1 card) | Flop to river (2 cards) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4.3% | 4.3% | 8.4% |
| 4 | 8.5% | 8.7% | 16.5% |
| 6 | 12.8% | 13.0% | 24.1% |
| 8 | 17.0% | 17.4% | 31.5% |
| 9 | 19.1% | 19.6% | 35.0% |
| 12 | 25.5% | 26.1% | 45.0% |
| 15 | 31.9% | 32.6% | 54.1% |
For a fast approximation at the table, use the rule of 2 and 4.
Worked example: counting real outs
You hold J♠ 10♠ on a flop of Q♦ 9♣ 4♠. You have an open-ended straight draw: any king (K-Q-J-10-9) or any 8 (Q-J-10-9-8) completes it. That is 4 kings + 4 eights = 8 outs. You also have a backdoor flush draw, but that needs two more spades, so it does not count as a direct out.
Now suppose the turn is the 2♥ and your opponent bets 40 into a pot of 80. You need 40 / (120 + 40) = 25% equity. Your 8 outs hit 8 / 46 = 17.4% of the time, so a pure call is not justified by direct odds.
Discounting outs
Not every out is clean. Ask whether the card that helps you also helps your opponent:
- A flush card that also pairs the board can give an opponent with a set a full house.
- Pairing your ace is not an out if your opponent may already hold a better ace with a stronger kicker.
- A straight card that also completes a flush for your opponent is worth less.
When in doubt, count conservatively. Overestimating outs is one of the most common ways newer players talk themselves into losing calls.
Frequently asked questions
How many outs does a flush draw have?
A flush draw has 9 outs, because there are 13 cards in each suit and you can already see 4 of them.
How many outs is an open-ended straight draw?
An open-ended straight draw has 8 outs: four cards of each of the two ranks that complete the straight.
What are clean outs in poker?
Clean outs are cards that make your hand the winner without also giving your opponent a better hand. Outs that might help your opponent should be discounted.
Related poker terms
- Flush Draw — A flush draw is four cards of one suit needing one more to make a flush. It has 9 outs: about 35% to hit by the river from the flop.
- 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.
- 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.
- Rule of 2 and 4 — The rule of 2 and 4 estimates your chance of hitting a draw: multiply outs by 4 on the flop (two cards to come) or by 2 on the turn (one card to come).
- 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.
- Equity — Equity is your share of the pot based on how often your hand would win if all remaining cards were dealt, expressed as a percentage.