Limit Texas Holdem - How To Play Straight Draws

When the flop reveals a card that gives you an open-ended staight draw, there is about a 2.2 to 1, or 31-32%, change against an improvement on the turn or river.

If there is additional value in your hand, such as a pair or overcards, flush potential or other possibility, you're in an even better position. Let's say you hold the As-4s and on the flop you see 6d-5s-3h, you have eight outs for an open-ended straight draw, an overcard with three outs, a back-door flush draw with one out. This means that flop offers you a total of 12 outs, giving you a 45% chance of getting at least a pair. The more outs your hand offers, the better.

To draw or not draw?

If you flop a straight draw, it is better if the flop is a full rainbow. If the flop holds only two suits, you have to remove the flush potential outs. If the flop is two-suited and there is a great deal of action on that faop, you probably ought to fold your straight draw because someone is holding sets, two pairs or flush draws. Many times, when you flop an open-ended straight draw on a rainbow flop, you will have the right pot odds for the draw. But there are some exceptions you should know about:

1. If the flop shows a pair and there is a lot of heavy action on that flop. With board pairs, it is too easy for the other players to create full houses.

2. If you are playing heads-up and do not have a pair or two overcards at the flop, the pot will not give you good enough odds to call. Of course, you could try a semi-bluff at that point, but do not check and call all the way to the river unless you have hit your draw.

When drawing to an open-ended straight, be certain you are not drawing to the low end. If you have 5s-4s and the flop shows Js-7h-6c, you are have an open-ended straight draw, with both ends having outs. However, play it like a gut-shot draw with only four outs since you will only feel comfortable if a 3 hits.

Open-Ended Straight Draws Using Only One Card from your Hand

If you have to use only one hole card and the flop to create your straight draw, it is not nearly as b as if you were using two hole cards. This is because the straight possibility is clear to all your opponents and they might already hold a straight as a result of the same flop! There is a much better possiblity you'll end up splitting the pot if you do make the straight. The action will potentially decline when the fourth straight card hits the table and it could be difficult to build a pot even if you do have the winning hand.

Gut-shot Straight Draws

With this type of draw, there is only one card that gives you the straight, making a total of four outs. That means it is 11-1 against improving your hand at the turn. This hand is pretty b only when it has two overcards or other additional values. If you hold Ks-Qs on the flop of Ts-9c-6d, you have a reasonably b draw. The gut-shot draw to the nuts, which means the four outs, two overcards with six outs (but watch out if a Q hits because of the possible straight) and back-door flush possibility with one out gives you enough options to play this hand with some aggression.

In general, you will not get sufficient pot odds to draw with gut-shot straight draws except when the pot has been raised pre-flop. If there are lots of callers before the flop and on the flop it would be correct to draw, only do so if you are drawing to the nut straight. If you raise with a hand of Aqs, and four players call, if the flop comes as K-T-3, there will be 10 small bets in the pot. If you check, the player behind you bets and few call in between, the pot odds warrant a call in hopes of hitting that J that would be the nut straight. You hold about 11-1 against on the turn, meaning 9.7%, but the pot is large enough to warranty this call. When drawyhing to gut-shot straights, however, you should always fold if someone might raise behind you.