Open-ended Draws Using Two Cards in Your Hand
Open-ended straight draws are played similarly to flush draws as long as the flop is
a rainbow. In fact, you should use the same strategies presented under the flush
draw section. There are several main differences between open-ended straight
draws compared to flush draws:
-
Straights have eight outs while flushes have nine outs.
- Straights can be beaten by flushes or higher straights, so they win less often
than flushes. Even with a rainbow flop, an opponent could still win with a
backdoor flush. You must discount your odds, especially when the flop is
two-suited.
- Straights can be counterfeited so that you have to split the pot. For example,
you hold J ♣ T ♦ with a flop of 9 ♥ 8 ♠ 5 ♣. The Q ♠ falls on the turn giving you
the nut straight. However, if a jack or ten comes on the river, you may have
to split the pot with one of your opponents, or possibly lose the entire pot if
they hit a higher straight.
- Straights are more concealed than flushes, so it is easier to gain additional
bets. Many players start backing off their hands when the board is three-
suited, but if you hit a straight you could get great action from someone with
a set or even two pair.
Overall, straight draws are not as valuable as flush draws, but strategies are
similar, especially with a rainbow flop. With rainbow flops, you can almost always
play your open-ended straight draws with a couple of the same exceptions given for
flush draws:
-
You are heads up in a small pot and don't have a pair, and you are confident
that your opponent has a pair higher than your two cards.
- There is a pair on the flop and a decent chance an opponent holds trips. With
a pair on the flop, it is much easier for someone to hit a full house to beat
your straight, although you can sometimes still draw depending on the action
and size of the pot.
Overall betting strategy for straight draws is very similar to the strategies presented
in the flush draw sections. Just remember that when the flop is two-suited, you must
now adjust your strategies accordingly. This will often dictate a fold, unless the pot
odds are very good or you are against a lone opponent so that the chance of a flush
draw is low.
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Open-ended Draws Using One Card in Your Hand
