What is a gutshot in poker?
A gutshot straight draw is missing one card from somewhere in the middle of the sequence. Imagine you have 2♠ 4♥ 5♣ 6♦, but you need a 3 to complete the straight. That’s a gutshot straight draw. It’s also called an “inside straight draw”.
If two cards can complete your straight, you do not have a gutshot straight draw. Other kinds of straight draws are the open-ended and double gutshot (belly buster).
Gutshot straight draws only have one card that can complete them, which means players have 4 “outs” (cards that complete the draw).
Outside of the poker world, the term “gutshot” is used for a painful experience.
In poker, it’s not a term for physical pain, but chasing a gutshot straight draw can hurt your chip stack.
Odds of Completing a Gutshot Straight Draw
Having a gutshot in poker means you only have 4 outs to complete your straight. It’s a very disguised draw when it completes, which makes it very hard for opponents to see coming (like Matt Berkey in the PokerStars PCA 2019 hand seen above).
What are the odds that you will see the card on the turn or river (or both)?
A deck has 52 cards and we have seen 5 cards already (3 on the flop + 2 in our hand).
That leaves us with 47 cards in the deck, but only 4 that we want to see.
- On the turn, we have an 8.5% chance of completing our gutshot.
- On the river, we have a slightly better 8.7% chance of completing the gutshot, since we have 46 cards remaining instead of 47.
- Across the turn and river, we get a combined probability of 16.5% to complete the gutshot draw.
The Different Kinds of Gutshot Draws
All gutshot straight draws have 4 outs, but they can make different straight combinations.
Gutshot straight draws are not all equal and this next section will guide you through each one.
Nutted and Non-Nutted Gutshot Straight Draws
Sometimes, your gutshot straight draw will give you the best possible straight.
For example, let’s say you hold K♣ Q♥ on a board of 9♠ 10♥ 3♣. If the turn card is a Jack, you have made the nut straight.
Now let’s look at the non-nutted gutshot draw. You hold 6♥ 7♣ on a board of 4♥ 9♣ 10♦, an 8♥ will give you a straight, but a low one.
Consider what kind of gutshot straight draw you have. The probability of hitting a gutshot draw is low, especially facing bets or raises. It’s always best to have the nutted gutshot draw if possible.
One and Two Card Gutshot Straight Draws
In Texas Hold ‘em, you don’t have to use both of your cards. It’s possible to complete a gutshot straight draw using one or two of your cards.
A one-card gutshot uses just one card, while a two-card gutshot draw uses both cards.
Your straight will (almost) always be stronger if you use both of your cards.
One-card gutshot straight draws:
Board: 7♣ 8♥ 9♠
Your Hand: J♦ 3♣
Board: 3♥ 5♠ 6♦
Your Hand: 7♦ J♣
Board: Q♦ J♣ 10♥
Your Hand: A♥ 5♣
Two-card gutshot straight draws:
Board: 7♥ 8♠ 9♦
Your Hand: J♣ Q♦
Board: A♦ 5♣ 6♥
Your Hand: 7♥ 9♣
Board: J♣ 10♥ 8♠
Your Hand: A♣ K♦
When you complete a gutshot straight draw using two cards, it will often be more disguised and stronger than one-card straight draws.
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Strategy Tips When You Have a Gutshot Straight Draw
Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you chase your gutshot draw to the river. Good poker players are very selective about which gutshots they continue with and which they throw into the muck.
Is your gutshot straight draw to the nuts?
Gutshot straight draws to the nuts are more valuable than lower gutshot draws. If you have a lower gutshot, you might be dominated by better straights even if you complete your draw.
Are you in position or out of position?
Playing gutshot straight draws out of position means you might collect less profit, even if you complete your straight draw. Gutshots are already a low-probability draw, so maximize your advantage by playing in-position whenever possible.
Do you have any additional draws?
If you have a pair or a backdoor flush draw to go along with your gutshot straight draw, you’ve got more incentive to continue in the pot.
What draws could your opponents have?
Your opponents could easily have stronger draws or completed hand combinations. A straight is strong, but it can be threatened by flush draws and full houses. If you suspect your opponent has a draw, you might consider playing aggressively and maximizing your fold equity.
Get Out There and Choose Gutshot Draws Wisely
Remember not to chase every gutshot draw in online poker or you’ll end up shrinking your bankroll, instead of growing it.
Our site has lots of options for building up your bankroll, like freeroll tournaments and instant bonuses.
Poker rooms like 888poker are hosting freeroll tournaments for thousands of dollars each day. You can access most of the real money freerolls right away and every time your 888Club level grows, you get entry into bigger events. There’s even a $10,000 monthly freeroll for the top Club levels.
888poker is a great option for players of all skill levels and you can expect to meet some casual players at the tables. The poker room gets a lot of recreational traffic from their other ventures, 888sports, and 888casino.
