Straight Draw

A straight draw is a hand that is close to making a straight, but still needs one or more cards to complete it. A straight consists of five consecutive cards, regardless of suit. For example:

5♦️ 6♣️ 7♠️8♥️ 9♦️

If you’re missing one of those cards, you have a straight draw.

Example of a straight draw

Suppose you hold 8♣️ 9♦️, and the flop comes 6♥️ 7♠️ K♣️.

You’re only one card away from a straight. Drawing either a 5 or a 10 will complete your hand.

Types of straight draws

Not all straight draws are equally strong. The two most common types are:

• Open-ended straight draw (OESD) – your straight can be completed from either end.
• Gutshot straight draw – only one specific card rank completes your straight.

Because open-ended draws have more possible winning cards, they are generally much stronger than gutshots.

How should you play a straight draw?

Whether you should continue with a straight draw depends on several factors:

• your number of outs;
• the pot odds;
• your opponents’ betting;
• your position;
• whether your draw could also make the best possible straight.

Strong straight draws are often worth playing, especially if they come with additional chances to improve, such as a flush draw or a pair.

Why are straight draws important?

Straight draws create action in poker. They give players the opportunity to continue in hands that aren’t yet made while still having a realistic chance to build a very strong combination.

Understanding straight draws is one of the key skills in Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and many other poker variants.