Counting outs: how many outs for a flush draw
An out is any unseen card that improves your hand to a likely winner, and counting outs turns a fuzzy draw into a number — nine for a flush draw, eight for an open-ender. Count them accurately and every draw becomes a poker math problem you can actually solve.
An out is a card that rescues your hand
An out is any card still unseen that improves your hand to one likely to win at showdown. Start with 52 cards, subtract the ones you can see (your two hole cards plus the board), and the rest are unseen. Counting outs means picking which of those unseen cards actually help you.
The flush draw: 9 outs
There are 13 cards of each suit. When you hold two of a suit and two more sit on the board, four are accounted for, leaving nine unseen cards that complete your flush. Nine is the single most important number to memorize, because the flush draw is the most common big draw in Hold'em.
Straight draws: 8 or 4 outs
An open-ended straight draw is missing a card on either end, so two ranks complete it: four cards of each equals 8 outs. A gutshot (inside straight draw) needs one specific rank in the middle, so it has only 4 outs. Knowing which draw you hold is the difference between a strong semi-bluff and a marginal call.
Discounting tainted outs
Not every card that improves your hand is a clean out. A tainted out completes your draw but hands someone else a bigger hand. If you hold a straight draw on a two-flush board, the card that fills your straight may also complete a rival's flush. Shade your count down when the board is dangerous rather than counting every out at full value.
From outs to a decision
Once you have an honest out count, convert it to equity with the Rule of 4 and 2, then weigh it against the pot odds price you are being offered. Nine flush outs is roughly 36% with two cards to come, or about 18% on the turn alone. If the pot lays you better odds than your chance of hitting, calling shows a profit over the long run. The tool below shows how outs, equity, and pot odds connect.
Pot odds & outs calculator
The single most useful piece of poker maths. Set the pot, what you must call, and how many outs you hold — and see instantly whether the call is +EV.
- Pot odds
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- Rule of 4 / 2
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- If you call, you risk
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- to win
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Two cards to come assumes the money is all-in now. Facing a bet on a single street, use one card — you'll have to pay again to see the river.
- A flush draw has 9 outs, an open-ended straight draw 8, a gutshot 4, and two overcards about 6.
- Discount tainted outs: cards that complete your hand but likely make an opponent a bigger one.
- Rule of 4 and 2: multiply outs by 4 on the flop (two cards to come), by 2 on the turn, for a fast equity estimate.
- Turn your out count into equity, then compare it against your pot odds before you call.
Test yourself
Answer them all — 16/20 to pass. Every answer gets an explanation.
What is an 'out' in poker?
An out is an unseen card that improves your hand to one likely to win at showdown.
How many outs does a standard flush draw have?
With two of a suit in hand and two on board, 13 minus 4 = 9 cards of that suit remain.
How many outs does an open-ended straight draw have?
Two ranks complete the straight, and four cards of each rank gives eight outs.
How many outs does a gutshot (inside straight draw) have?
Only one rank fills the gap, and there are four cards of that rank.
Roughly how many outs do two overcards give you?
Either card can pair, and with three of each rank left that is about six outs.
You hold As Ks on a 7s 2s 9d board. How many flush outs?
You and the board show four spades, so nine of the thirteen spades remain.
What is a 'tainted' out?
A tainted out completes your draw while handing a rival an even stronger hand.
Under the Rule of 4 and 2, how do you estimate equity on the flop?
With two cards to come, multiplying outs by 4 approximates your percentage equity.
On the turn (one card to come), the Rule of 4 and 2 says to multiply outs by:
With only one card left, multiply outs by 2 for an approximate equity percentage.
Roughly what equity does a 9-out flush draw have with two cards to come?
Nine outs times four is about 36% using the Rule of 4.
Roughly what equity does a 9-out flush draw have on the turn alone?
Nine outs times two is about 18% with one card to come.
Why is a gutshot weaker than an open-ended straight draw?
A gutshot completes with one rank (4 outs) versus two ranks (8 outs) for an open-ender.
You hold 10h 9h and the board is 8c 7d 2s. What draw is this?
Any 6 or any J completes the straight, giving eight outs.
You hold Qc Jd and the board is 9h 8s 3c. What draw is this?
Only a 10 fills the gap for the straight, so it is a 4-out gutshot.
When should you discount your out count?
Discount outs that complete your hand but likely give a rival a stronger one.
How do you find the number of unseen cards on the flop?
You subtract your two hole cards and the three flop cards, leaving 47 unseen.
A flush draw plus a gutshot on the same hand gives roughly how many combined outs (no overlap)?
Nine flush outs plus four straight outs equals thirteen when none overlap.
Why count outs at all before calling a bet?
Outs give you equity, which you compare against pot odds to make a profitable call.
Two overcards are called 'soft' outs because:
Pairing an overcard often still loses, so those outs are worth less than clean draw outs.
You have a flush draw (9 outs) on the turn and the pot offers you 5-to-1. Should you call?
5-to-1 requires about 17% equity to break even, and a 9-out draw is about 18% on the turn.
Review — all 20 questions & answers tap to expand
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What is an 'out' in poker?
Answer Any unseen card that improves your hand to a likely winner
An out is an unseen card that improves your hand to one likely to win at showdown.
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How many outs does a standard flush draw have?
Answer 9
With two of a suit in hand and two on board, 13 minus 4 = 9 cards of that suit remain.
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How many outs does an open-ended straight draw have?
Answer 8
Two ranks complete the straight, and four cards of each rank gives eight outs.
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How many outs does a gutshot (inside straight draw) have?
Answer 4
Only one rank fills the gap, and there are four cards of that rank.
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Roughly how many outs do two overcards give you?
Answer 6
Either card can pair, and with three of each rank left that is about six outs.
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You hold As Ks on a 7s 2s 9d board. How many flush outs?
Answer 9
You and the board show four spades, so nine of the thirteen spades remain.
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What is a 'tainted' out?
Answer An out that completes your hand but likely gives an opponent a bigger one
A tainted out completes your draw while handing a rival an even stronger hand.
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Under the Rule of 4 and 2, how do you estimate equity on the flop?
Answer Multiply outs by 4
With two cards to come, multiplying outs by 4 approximates your percentage equity.
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On the turn (one card to come), the Rule of 4 and 2 says to multiply outs by:
Answer 2
With only one card left, multiply outs by 2 for an approximate equity percentage.
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Roughly what equity does a 9-out flush draw have with two cards to come?
Answer About 36%
Nine outs times four is about 36% using the Rule of 4.
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Roughly what equity does a 9-out flush draw have on the turn alone?
Answer About 18%
Nine outs times two is about 18% with one card to come.
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Why is a gutshot weaker than an open-ended straight draw?
Answer It has 4 outs versus 8, roughly half the equity
A gutshot completes with one rank (4 outs) versus two ranks (8 outs) for an open-ender.
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You hold 10h 9h and the board is 8c 7d 2s. What draw is this?
Answer Open-ended straight draw, 8 outs
Any 6 or any J completes the straight, giving eight outs.
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You hold Qc Jd and the board is 9h 8s 3c. What draw is this?
Answer Gutshot, 4 outs
Only a 10 fills the gap for the straight, so it is a 4-out gutshot.
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When should you discount your out count?
Answer When the board is dangerous and some outs make an opponent a bigger hand
Discount outs that complete your hand but likely give a rival a stronger one.
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How do you find the number of unseen cards on the flop?
Answer 52 minus your 2 hole cards minus the 3 flop cards = 47
You subtract your two hole cards and the three flop cards, leaving 47 unseen.
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A flush draw plus a gutshot on the same hand gives roughly how many combined outs (no overlap)?
Answer 13
Nine flush outs plus four straight outs equals thirteen when none overlap.
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Why count outs at all before calling a bet?
Answer To convert your chance of improving into equity you can compare to pot odds
Outs give you equity, which you compare against pot odds to make a profitable call.
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Two overcards are called 'soft' outs because:
Answer Pairing top card wins less reliably than completing a flush or straight
Pairing an overcard often still loses, so those outs are worth less than clean draw outs.
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You have a flush draw (9 outs) on the turn and the pot offers you 5-to-1. Should you call?
Answer Yes, ~18% equity beats the ~17% you must win to break even
5-to-1 requires about 17% equity to break even, and a 9-out draw is about 18% on the turn.