Pot Odds & Outs

The rule of 2 and 4 — calculate whether chasing a draw is profitable.

An out is any card that will complete your hand. If you have four cards to a flush after the flop, there are 9 remaining cards of your suit in the deck — you have 9 outs.

Rule of 2 and 4

On the flop (2 cards to come)

Multiply outs × 4 → approximate equity %

9 outs × 4 = ~36% chance to hit

On the turn (1 card to come)

Multiply outs × 2 → approximate equity %

9 outs × 2 = ~18% chance to hit

Pot odds: If you need to call 20 into a pot of 100, you're getting 5:1 (you need to win 1 in 6 times to break even = 16.7%). If your equity is higher than 16.7%, calling is profitable.

Common draw outs: flush draw = 9 outs, open-ended straight draw = 8 outs, gutshot straight draw = 4 outs, two pair to full house = 4 outs. Combine them: flush draw + gutshot = 12 outs (but be careful not to double-count).

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