Similarly, it's not usually a good idea to draw to a bare gutshot. But if you can combine it with other draws, it can be a powerful hand. By adding in a flush draw, not only does the hand's equity jump considerably, but it can be a well-disguised hand when it hits. 

Consider an 8 of diamonds and 6 of diamonds against an ace of hearts and king of hearts on a board of 5 of diamonds, 9 of diamonds, and ace of clubs, compared to a board of 5 of diamonds, 9 of spades, and ace of clubs. With the former, you're a marginal underdog, with an equity of -113 in the hand. You can make your inside straight, but you can also hit a flush, running two pair or trips, and even a straight flush.

But in the latter, where you only have the gutshot draw and miraculous runners to call upon, your total equity plummets to just -352. 

Double Gutshot Draw

Another example of a well-disguised inside straight draw is the “double gutshot,” or “double gutter.” The probabilities here work out exactly like an open-ended draw since you also have eight outs. But it's nowhere near as obvious to your opponents because you have a combination of two distinct gutshots.

For example, your hand is a queen of hearts and 8 of hearts on a board of a king of clubs, 10 of diamonds, 9 of spades, and 6 of clubs. Any of the remaining jacks in the deck give you a king-high straight, while any 7 completes a 10-high straight.

Tips for Winning With Gutshot Draws

Here are some practical examples of playing a gutshot effectively, which you can work into your own game. Remember, optimal poker strategy is always changing, and you should be, too.

You Can Slow Down

Many novice poker players make the mistake of continuing to bet too frequently. There's no law that says if you raise preflop, you have to make a continuation bet. Your opponents will expect this and likely check to you anyway. So, a lot of the time, you can slow down and check it back, taking a free shot at hitting your draw. 

This will also ensure that you don't bluff too frequently and that you're harder to read in the long term. And everyone knows that unpredictable poker players are the toughest to play against.

Out of Position Against Multiple Opponents

When playing multiway pots out of position, it's important that you don't get too aggressive. A big part of a gutshot's value comes from fold equity. 

If you can turn it into a semi-bluff and get your opponent to fold, there's no need to hit the draw. But the more opponents you're against, the harder it will be to force it through. Particularly when out of position.

Ready to Hit Some Gutshots at BetMGM?

Now that you've mastered the inside straight draw, it's time to put this knowledge to the test. Head to BetMGM and register today. You'll find a wide variety of online poker tournaments and cash games to suit all bankrolls.