Category: Introduction
Straight draws are strong draws in Limit Texas Hold’em. When you flop a straight draw it’s either going to be an open-ended using both your hole cards, open-ended using one of your hole cards or a gut-shot straight draw. With an open ended-straight draw you have 8 outs to improve to a straight. Straights do usually pay off really well when they hit and there is no flush draws out since players don’t put their opponents on straights as often as they do on flushes. To play a straight draw correctly is more difficult though, it can easily be a big leak if player check-call them down to the river every time.
When you flop an open-ended straight draw you have approximately 2.2-to-1 (31.5%) against improving on the turn and river combined.
Your hand is stronger if it has overcards or pairs.
Open-ended Straight Draws with one card from your hand
These types of flops are not as strong as the ones when you are using both your hole cards. The reason for this is that the straight possibility is so obvious to your opponents and someone might already have flopped a straight. There is also a much higher probability that you’ll end up splitting the pot if you make the straight. The action also dries up when the fourth straight card hits and it might be difficult to get paid off even though you might hold the best hand. Bluffing when there’s a four straight on the board sometimes works against weaker or tighter opponents, but seldom against strong opponents who suspect flush draws on these kinds of boards.
Gut-shot Straight Draws
This type of draw has only 4 outs in total. This is a hand that is pretty strong when it has additional values like two overcards. Holding AK on a flop of T-J-3 is a pretty strong draw. The gut-shot straight draw to the nuts (4 outs), two overcards (6 outs, but beware of a possible straight in case a 9 or 8 hits). Heads up this hand should be played aggressively.
When you are drawing to gut-shot straights you should almost always fold if there is a risk of someone raising behind you.
