Lesson overview
Counting Outs in Poker: Flush and Straight Draws
Know your winning tickets in 2 seconds
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How many outs does a flush draw have?
A normal four-card flush draw has nine unseen cards of its suit: thirteen cards in the suit minus the four you can see. An open-ended straight draw normally has eight completion cards, and a gutshot has four. These are draw-completion outs; treat a card as a clean winning out only if it gives you the best hand against the range you face.
Worked example: a flush draw and open-ended straight draw
You hold 8♥ 9♥ on 6♥ 7♥ K♣. There are nine unseen hearts that complete a flush. Any 5 or T completes a straight: four of each rank, giving eight straight outs.
But 5♥ and T♥ belong to both lists. Count each card once: 9 + 8 − 2 = 15 distinct cards that complete at least one draw. This is not a promise of 15 clean winning outs: a higher flush can still beat your flush, and a later board pair may change the winner.
Common draw-completion counts
| Draw | Completion outs | How to count |
|---|---|---|
| Four cards to a flush | 9 | 13 suited cards minus 4 visible |
| Open-ended straight | 8 | 4 cards at each end |
| Gutshot straight | 4 | 4 cards of the missing rank |
| Pocket pair to a set | 2 | 4 cards of the rank minus 2 held |
On 5-6-7-8, either a 4 or a 9 completes a straight. On 5-6-8-9, only a 7 fills the gap. An ace-low A-2-3-4 draw needs a 5; it is not an eight-out open-ended draw.
What are dirty outs?
A dirty out improves your hand without making it the winner. Pairing an overcard can leave you behind two pair or a set. Completing a low flush can lose to a higher flush. A board-pairing flush card can make an opponent a full house.
There is no universal “subtract two outs” rule. Consider each completion card against plausible opposing hands, count overlapping cards once, and allow for redraws when another card will follow. When you need the probability of hitting those cards, use the rule of 4 and 2 with the correct number of cards to come.
What you’ll learn
- The EXACT out counts for every common draw (memorize once, use forever)
- How to add combo draws in your head instantly
- When to 'discount' outs because they're not clean wins
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