*FUNDAMENTALS: Calculating OUTS

OUTS are cards that can come that
will improve your hand, and make it
a winning hand.

Calculating outs in not a perfect science.
In poker, we're always dealing with
incomplete information.

If your opponent is trying to trap you
with a monster hand, what you think
are your outs, are really cards that might
cost you your entire chip stack.

On the other hand, if your opponent
is bluffing, what you think are outs
may be be cards that improve your
hand which is already the best hand
and doesnt need improving.

Having said that, it is still very valuable
to know what cards and how many cards
can come that will improve your hand.


Here are some common situations
and the number of outs you have:

Two Over Cards needing to make
a Pair - 6 Outs

Open-Ended Straight Draw - 8 Outs

Flush Draw -9 Outs

Flush Draw + a Pair (improve to trips)
- 11 Outs



Here's a quick formula using your OUTS
to determine your ODDS. (Rule of 2 and 4)

With the Turn and River to come....
Count your outs, multiply them by 4,
and that's roughly the percentage shot
you have of hitting it.

With just the River to come....
Count your outs, multiply them by 2
to get the percentage.

Example: I have AJ of Hearts and
the Flop comes with two Hearts.
13 hearts in the deck minus 2 hearts
on board and 2 hearts in my hand
leaves 9 available hearts.... NINE OUTS.
9 x 4 = 36 ....I have a roughly 36%
or 1 in 3 chance of making my Flush
by the River.