Gutshot
An inside straight draw that requires one specific card to complete. Also called a 'belly buster.'
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What Is Gutshot?
A gutshot straight draw has only four outs, roughly half as many as an open-ended straight draw, making it a significantly weaker drawing hand with lower equity. Because of the reduced number of outs, gutshots are generally less profitable to continue with unless supported by additional equity, such as a backdoor flush draw or strong implied odds.
Examples
A player holding 8-9 on a board of 5-6-K has a gutshot straight draw, needing specifically a 7 to complete their straight.
A combo draw with a gutshot plus a flush draw significantly increases total outs compared to the gutshot alone.
Strategy Tips
Be cautious about continuing with a bare gutshot against significant aggression, since four outs alone often don't justify a call without strong pot or implied odds. Look for gutshots combined with additional equity, such as a backdoor flush draw or overcards, to improve the overall profitability of continuing. Use gutshots more aggressively as semi-bluffing candidates in position, where fold equity can compensate for the hand's weaker raw equity. Calculate your outs carefully, remembering a gutshot's roughly 8.5% chance to complete with one card to come, before committing significant chips.