Gutshot vs Open-Ended Straight Draw

A gutshot is an inside straight draw that needs one specific rank in the middle and has 4 outs, while an open-ended straight draw can complete on either end and has 8 outs. The open-ended draw is roughly twice as strong because it has twice the outs.

What is a gutshot straight draw?

A gutshot, also called an inside straight draw or belly buster, is missing one card in the middle of your straight. Say you hold 8-9 and the flop is 5-6-K. You have 5-6-8-9 and need a 7 to make your straight. Only the four 7s in the deck complete it, so a gutshot has 4 outs.

What is an open-ended straight draw?

An open-ended straight draw (OESD) has four cards in a row and can complete on either the top or the bottom. Say you hold 8-9 and the flop is 6-7-K. Now you have 6-7-8-9 and either a 5 or a 10 makes your straight. Both ends are open, so there are eight cards that help, giving 8 outs.

How much better is open-ended?

Because an open-ended draw has 8 outs versus 4, it hits roughly twice as often. Using the rule of 2 and 4, an OESD is about 32 percent to complete by the river from the flop, while a gutshot is about 16 percent. That gap changes how you should play them. An open-ended draw is a strong candidate for a semi-bluff, where you bet with a draw that can win now or improve later. A gutshot is weaker, so it needs extra reasons to bet, such as overcards or a strong backdoor.

You can check the exact equity of either draw with the outs and equity calculator. To practice betting draws well, the Postflop+ app builds spots around straight draws so you learn when each one is worth a bet.

FAQ

How many outs does a gutshot have?

Four. A gutshot needs one specific rank to fill the gap in the middle, and there are four cards of that rank.

Can a hand have a double gutshot?

Yes. Some layouts give you two separate inside draws at once, which together add up to 8 outs, the same as an open-ended draw.

Is an open-ended draw always worth betting?

Not always, but its 8 outs make it a common semi-bluff. Position, stack depth, and the board still matter before you fire.