Glossary

Outs

Definition

Draws are unfinished hands that would not win as they are but could develop into powerful hands if the proper cards are dealt. Cards that would finish such a hand are called outs. 


Example (Texas Hold'em):

Player Flop
The player has a draw to a straight with 2,3,4,5, called an open ended straight draw. Any ace or six will complete the straight. Since there are four aces and four sixes in the deck, the player has 8 outs.

Discounted Outs

Discounted outs are outs that have ben adjusted for the quality of the outs i.e. where cards that would complete the hand but would be more useful to the opposition have been discounted.

Example (Texas Hold'em):

Player Flop
The player has a draw to a straight. Any ace or six will complete the hand. These are his outs and so he could presume to have 8 outs, 4 aces and 4 sixes.

But what if an opposing player had this hand?


Now the ace or six of hearts would complete his straight but would give the opposition a flush. So these cards are no longer outs for the player, and he must discount them.

An opponent might also have this hand:


In this case, any six would give the opponent a higher straight, and so only the aces would be outs.


Odds

For a given number of outs, there is a always a unique probability that one of the outs will be dealt next. This probability is usually expressed as odds or odds against, that is, as probability that the draw does not complete.


Odds against = unsuccessful outcomes : successful outcomes

For the next cards to be dealt:

Odds against = unhelpful cards: helpful cards

or

Odds against = unknown cards - Outs : Outs

Related Topics:

Odds, Pot Odds, Draw, Discounted Outs