Inside Straight

An "Inside Straight" in poker refers to a hand where one specific card is needed to complete a straight. This is also known as a 'gutshot' or 'belly buster' straight.

What is an Inside Straight in Poker?

In poker, an Inside Straight is a hand that requires one specific card to complete a straight. This is a tricky draw as there are only four cards in the deck that can complete the straight. Because of the slim odds, an Inside Straight is also known as a 'gutshot' or 'belly buster' straight.

As it is statistically less likely you will hit an Inside Straight compared to other draws, you have to think carefully about whether or not it's worth competing for a pot with just an Inside Straight draw. Also, when you do hit your draw, it's crucial to then try to get maximum value out of your opponents. Often, when hitting the Inside Straight, the board will be very scary (meaning opponents will less likely bluff and call), so smaller bets could be preferred.

The Nature of an Inside Straight

A player holding an Inside Straight has a slim chance of completing their hand, with only about an 8.5% chance on the turn and a 16.5% chance by the river in Texas Hold'em. Despite the long odds, some players choose to chase Inside Straights, especially if they can do so inexpensively, or if doing so has the potential to win a large pot.

Example of "Inside Straight"

[*]A player holds 5-6 in their hand, and the flop comes up 3-8-9. The player needs a 7 (an 'inside' card) to complete their straight.

[*]A player holds 10-J and the flop comes up 7-9-K. Here, the player needs a Queen (an 'inside' card) to complete their straight.

[*]A player holds 4-5 and the board is A-2-3-Q-K. The player needs a 6 (an 'inside' card) to complete the straight.

Inside Straight FAQs