Draws

At any given stage in Texas Hold'em, it is important to know if your hand can still improve. The ways that a hand can improve are commonly called "draws", and the future community cards that can help your hand improve are often called "outs". Here are some common drawing situations in Texas Hold'em:

Example #1:

Your Hand: Ac 2c,      Flop: 7c 8c Qd

                   

On the flop you would have an Ace-high hand. However, because your hand contains four clubs, you are said to have a flush draw as well.

Any of the nine remaining clubs in the deck (there are 13 total and four have already been dealt, so 13-4 = 9 left) would improve your hand to a flush (and in this case, the best possible flush, the Ace-high flush). These nine club cards would be considered your outs to make your flush on the turn.

Example #2:

Your Hand: Ts 7h,      Flop: 9d 8c Ah

                   

On the flop you have an Ace-high hand. However, because your hand contains four cards in a sequence (i.e. Ten through Seven), you are said to have an open-ended straight draw.

If a Jack or a Six appears on the turn, then you would make a straight (either a Jack-high straight or a Ten-high straight, respectively). Since there are 4 Jacks, and 4 Sixes left in the deck, you have 8 outs available to make a straight on the turn.

Example #3:

Your Hand: Tc 9c,      Flop: 7c 8c Ah

                   

On the flop you have an Ace-high hand. However, because your hand contains four cards in a sequence that are also of the same suit (i.e. Tc 9c 8c 7c), you are said to have a straight-flush draw.

This hand has great possibilities to improve. The Jc or 6c gives you a straight-flush. Any of the other clubs give you a flush. Any of the other Jacks or Sixes give you a straight. Adding up these cards means that there are 15 cards in the deck that will improve your hand to at least a straight on the turn.

Example #4:

Your Hand: Js Ts,      Flop: 7c 8c Ah

                   

On the flop you have an Ace-high hand. However, because your hand contains four cards that span a five-card sequence that is missing a middle card (i.e. Jack through Seven with a missing Nine), you are said to have an inside straight draw, which is sometimes also called a gutshot straight draw. Any of the four Nines left in the deck would be outs to give you a straight on the turn.