All starting hands need some help to become winners. You may catch the cards you need to make a monster on the flop. It may take more. Perhaps your betting can complete the deal. Either way, you’ll find some of your toughest decisions will concern trying to complete your hand. You’ve got a draw. What do you do? Let’s look at the different kinds of draws.
Flush draw
Definition: Between your hole cards and the cards on the board, you’ve got 3 or 4 cards to a flush. You need to pick up 1 or 2 more cards to make your flush.
There are a few different types of flush draws. If you’ve got A-J of hearts and the flop has two hearts, you are on a nut flush draw. People whose hands have less potential may try to get you away from your flush draw by making a big bet. You’ll want to have the odds worked out to help determine your course of action.
If the odds say you are getting the right price, go for the draw. If you are going to have to go too deep into your chip stack, avoid taking the chance. Again, let the math dictate your action and in the long run, it will pay off for you. In the above scenario, you have already seen four hearts. That means, of the 47 remaining cards, 9 are hearts. Your chances of winning are a bit more than 5-1. If you can get better than 5-1 in pot odds, you should make a call.
Many players will bet out on a flush draw, especially in late position when no one has opened the betting. Also, the strength of your flush, should you hit it should be considered. In this case, you would have the highest ranking flush that is possible to make. If you have the 2-3 of spades in your hand and the flop includes two spades, you should tread lightly, since a higher flush is a distinct possibility.
Also beware if the chance for a better hand exists. If the board pairs, your flush draw becomes weaker. A full house possibility now exists. And although it’s rare, a straight flush must also be considered if exposed cards show that possibility. Understand that even though you’ve got four to a flush and two cards to come, you are still an underdog to make the flush.
There will be situations where you’ll need two cards after the flop to make your flush. The numbers say this won’t fill in often enough to chase, even though it will convert from time to time. If the river is still to come and you’ve got a flush draw, make sure you do the math before continuing to fish. If the numbers say it’s a good play, go for it.
Outside Straight Draw
Definition: Also known as an open-ended straight draw. You have four cards to a straight. They are in order.
4-5-6-7 is an open ended straight draw. Any 3 or 8 will complete your straight. If this draw presents itself after the flop, you will have seen five cards. 47 will be left in the deck. You need one of eight cards, four 3’s and four 8’s. Your chances to get your hand will be about 6-1. Pot odds should be higher than 6-1 to call bets at this point in the hand.
Be careful that your made hand doesn’t get you beaten. If you hit your hand, but the board now shows three cards of a flush, proceed with caution. Also, if you’ve hit the bottom end of the straight, but there is a chance that someone has the high end, be attentive to the betting that ensues.
Open ended straight draws are great opportunities for semi-bluffing. Many players will try to represent a made hand, while trying to just take the pot before getting the card or cards they needed. Of course, a pair on the board, or flush cards are danger signals.
Inside Straight Draw
Definition: You need one card for a straight, but the opening is in the middle of the straight, limiting the number of outs you now have. Also called a gut-shot straight draw.
8-9-J-Q gives you an inside straight draw. This isn’t as good of a drawing hand as was the last hand illustrated. In order to complete your straight, you need a 10 and a 10 only. You have only four outs. You are almost 12-1 to catch your 10.
Worse yet, if the board has paired or has flush possibilities, you could make your hand and still lose. Rarely are conditions right to fish for an inside straight draw. Perhaps there are other possibilities on the board. Maybe you’ve already got two pair and the 10 would just improve on an already good hand.
Perhaps you are in the big blind and no one is betting, so you’ll have an option to bet or check. If you’ve got the rest of the players on nothing, a nice sized bet wouldn’t be a horrible play. Normally though, it would be advantageous for you to see a cheap card. If you get lucky you are golden. If you don’t, you’ve lost nothing.
As in the open ended straight draw, be careful of pairs on the board and flush cards. Making your card and losing the hand anyway is a tough way to lose.
Double Inside Straight Draw
Definition: You’ve got the skeletal make-up of a straight, but you’ll need to fill in the blanks with two other cards. Also called a double belly buster.
You should not see a potential straight with two cards needed unless you are already on a hand that might work out for you. Such as above, if you’ve got two pair, or even just top pair, and your hand could also reach a straight on the turn and river, play the hand strong.
On the whole, you are not going to make the straight on very many occasions. That’s why a double inside straight draw is something that you should not play to, but be very thankful when it matures into a monster.
Backdoor Draw
Definition: After the flop, you need two cards to catch your hand. In other words, runner, runner flush cards or straight cards or better than that for that matter.
The double inside straight draw is an example of a backdoor draw. You’ll need to catch two cards. Rarely will you get those cards, so playing that draw alone will cost you money in the long run.
If a backdoor draw is just among a number of other draws it can add another chance or two to making a good hand. On its own, a backdoor draw is not worth pursuing.
Drawing Dead
Definition: You cannot win the hand. There are still cards to come.
There will be a variety of ways you can be already beaten in a hand. If you are trying to catch that flush and another player already has made his full house, you are drawing dead.
Word of caution here is that players who’ve already made their hand will not want you to be let off the hook. They’ll be trying to extract chips from you. If you are on a draw, be sure you are going to win if you get there.
Most hands could improve as a hand goes on. If you have A-A and the flop comes A-A-K, there isn’t much else that could happen. But even this hand could become a Royal Flush if the right cards come. If you are on a draw, you’ve got to do the math and abide by what it tells you.
