Poker Outs Calculator
Understanding and counting outs is one of the most fundamental skills in poker. An "out" is any unseen card that would improve your hand to what you believe is the best hand. This calculator helps you identify your drawing hands, count your outs, and calculate the probability of completing your draw on the turn, river, or both streets combined.
Whether you're chasing a Texas Hold'em flush draw or calculating the odds of completing an open-ended straight draw in Omaha, understanding your outs is essential for making mathematically sound decisions at the poker table.
Step 1: Select Current Street
Step 2: Select Your Draw Type(s)
Click to select multiple draws. Overlapping outs are automatically adjusted.
Four cards to a flush, need one more of the same suit
Ex: A♥ K♥ on 7♥ 3♥ 2♣
Four consecutive cards, can complete from either end
Ex: 8-9 on 6-7-2 (needs 5 or T)
Inside straight draw, need one specific card to complete
Ex: 9-T on 6-7-Q (needs 8)
Have two pair, looking to fill up to a full house
Ex: K-7 on K-7-3 (needs K or 7)
Have three of a kind, looking to improve
Ex: 8-8 on 8-K-3 (needs 8, K, or 3)
Both hole cards higher than the board
Ex: A-K on 7-5-2
One hole card higher than the board
Ex: A-5 on K-8-3 (only A is an overcard)
Holding a pair, need to hit a set
Ex: 5-5 on A-K-J (needs 5)
Three to a flush, need runner-runner
Ex: A♠ K♠ on 7♠ 3♦ 2♣
Three to a straight, need runner-runner
Ex: 9-T on A-7-3
Enter the number of cards that would have been outs but you've seen folded or exposed
Your Drawing Odds
0 OutsRule of 2 and 4 Comparison
Understanding Poker Outs
Counting outs accurately is the foundation of poker probability. When you can quickly determine how many cards in the deck will improve your hand, you can calculate whether calling a bet is profitable using pot odds. According to the PokerStrategy mathematics curriculum, mastering outs calculation is one of the first mathematical concepts every serious player should learn.
What Counts as an Out?
An out is any card that will improve your hand to what you believe is the winning hand. The key word is "believe" - you must consider whether your improved hand will actually beat your opponent. A card that completes your flush might not be an out if it also completes your opponent's better flush.
The Rule of 2 and 4
The Rule of 2 and 4 (also called the Rule of 4 and 2) is the most popular shortcut for estimating drawing odds at the table. Research from Two Plus Two Publishing, the leading poker education publisher, confirms this rule as the standard method taught to intermediate players. Here's how it works:
- On the flop (two cards to come): Multiply your outs by 4 to get an approximate percentage
- On the turn (one card to come): Multiply your outs by 2 to get an approximate percentage
- Why it works: Each unseen card represents roughly 2% of the remaining deck on any single street
The rule becomes slightly less accurate with higher out counts (15+ outs) because it doesn't account for the decreasing deck size. For precise calculations in critical spots, use the exact formulas this calculator employs.
Common Draw Types & Outs Reference
| Draw Type | Outs | Turn Only | Turn + River | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flush Draw + Overcards | 15 | 31.9% | 54.1% | A♠K♠ on Q♠7♠2♣ |
| Flush Draw + Open-Ended Straight | 15* | 31.9% | 54.1% | 9♥T♥ on 8♥J♥2♣ |
| Flush Draw + Gutshot | 12* | 25.5% | 45.0% | 7♥8♥ on 5♥T♥K♣ |
| Flush Draw | 9 | 19.1% | 35.0% | A♥K♥ on 7♥3♥2♣ |
| Open-Ended Straight Draw | 8 | 17.0% | 31.5% | 8-9 on 6-7-K rainbow |
| Two Overcards | 6 | 12.8% | 24.1% | A-K on 7-5-2 rainbow |
| Gutshot Straight Draw | 4 | 8.5% | 16.5% | 9-T on 6-7-Q rainbow |
| Two Pair to Full House | 4 | 8.5% | 16.5% | K-7 on K-7-3 rainbow |
| One Overcard | 3 | 6.4% | 12.5% | A-5 on K-8-3 |
| Pocket Pair to Set | 2 | 4.3% | 8.4% | 5-5 on A-K-J |
* Note: Some draw combinations share outs (e.g., a straight-flush draw). The actual outs may be lower than the sum when cards overlap.
Adjusting Outs for Reality
Not all outs are created equal. Understanding "clean" versus "tainted" outs is crucial for accurate hand analysis, as emphasized in educational resources from the Card Player Magazine odds calculator guide.
Discounted Outs
Discount your outs when: (1) A card that helps you might give your opponent an even better hand, (2) You're drawing to the non-nut flush or straight, (3) The board pairs and you're chasing a flush against a possible full house, or (4) Multiple opponents are in the pot, reducing the chance your draw is best.
Examples of Discounted Outs
Scenario 1: Non-Nut Flush Draw
You hold 7♥6♥ on a board of K♥Q♠3♥. While you have 9 flush outs, some of those hearts (A♥, K♥, Q♥) could give an opponent a higher flush or improve their pair to trips/two pair. Experienced players often count this as 7-8 effective outs.
Scenario 2: Straight Draw on Paired Board
You hold J-T on a board of 9-8-8. You have 8 outs to a straight (any 7 or Q), but if your opponent holds an 8, you're drawing dead. Additionally, a Q might give an opponent who raised with KQ a better hand. Consider this 6-7 outs.
Using Outs with Pot Odds
Once you know your outs, combine this knowledge with pot odds to determine if calling is profitable. According to poker mathematics principles explained by Upswing Poker's strategy guides, the decision framework is straightforward:
- If pot odds > drawing odds: Calling is profitable (+EV)
- If pot odds < drawing odds: Calling loses money (-EV)
- Consider implied odds: If you expect to win more when you hit, you can call with worse pot odds. Use our Implied Odds Calculator to determine exactly how much future value you need.
For example, if you have a flush draw (9 outs = ~35% on flop) and are being offered 3:1 pot odds (~25% needed), calling is clearly profitable because your equity exceeds the required equity. Use our Expected Value Calculator to analyze these situations in depth.
Outs in Different Poker Variants
While outs calculation is most commonly discussed in Texas Hold'em, the concept applies to all community card games. In Omaha, with four hole cards instead of two, you'll often have significantly more outs - but so will your opponents. Seven Card Stud players must track exposed cards carefully to adjust their out counts.
The key difference in Omaha is that wrap straight draws can have up to 20 outs, making them more powerful than flush draws. Understanding the additional complexity of Omaha draws is essential for players transitioning from Hold'em.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are outs in poker?
Outs are the cards remaining in the deck that will improve your hand to what you believe is the winning hand. For example, if you have four cards to a flush, the 9 remaining cards of that suit are your outs (13 total minus the 4 you already have).
How do you calculate drawing odds from outs?
For exact odds on one card: divide outs by unknown cards (47 on flop, 46 on turn). For two cards combined, use: 1 - ((47-outs)/47 × (46-outs)/46). For quick estimates, use the Rule of 2 and 4: multiply outs by 4 on the flop or by 2 on the turn.
Why is the Rule of 4 less accurate with more outs?
The rule assumes roughly 2% per out, but this is a simplification. With many outs, some of those cards overlap in the two-street calculation. For example, 15 outs × 4 = 60%, but actual odds are 54.1% because hitting on the turn means you don't need the river.
Should I count all my outs at face value?
Not always. "Discount" outs that might give opponents a better hand, outs you've seen folded (dead cards), and outs to non-nut hands when opponents show strength. Conservative out counting leads to better decisions in the long run.
More Learning Resources
Master poker mathematics by combining this outs calculator with our other educational tools:
- Pot Odds Calculator - Compare pot odds to your drawing odds
- Expected Value Calculator - Analyze the profitability of any decision
- Hand Equity Calculator - Calculate equity against specific hands
- Poker Hand Rankings - Understand hand strength hierarchy
- Texas Hold'em Complete Guide - Learn the game rules and flow
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