'Gut Shot' Straight Draw

An inside straight draw in a hand of poker is also referred to as a 'gut shot'. This means the required cards are in in the middle of the run of cards and not at the outside. You hold 7 8 and the flop comes 9 10 2 where any Jack would make you a straight. As you already have a run of 4 cards (7-8-9-10), the required cards are any 6 or Jack would make you a straight. This would not be considered a Gut Shot. If the 8 or 9 was the required cards, then this would be an inside straight draw.

The key to chasing an inside straight draw is not to over commit yourself as the odds are usually against you making the hand. You want to try to catch one of your cards on the cheap. This is an ideal spot to make sure you're getting the right value to make the call. You are roughly 8-1 to make the hand on the flop so up against a bet of $50, there should be at least $400 in the pot to justify the call. Any less and you're not getting the right price to make the call.

If you get to the turn and you still haven't made your hand, you should be prepared to fold to a sizeable bet. The draw is similar in potential to calling a big bet pre flop with a small pocket pair. You will only hit your set one out of every 8 times you play. It is wise to get in cheap, earn if you hit; fold if you miss, and remember to mix up your play.

There's a big difference between calling a sizable bet with only four cards in the deck that can help you and being the aggressor. In being the aggressor you are giving yourself more chance of winning the hand. Chasing a draw would be considered a semi-bluff as you don't have the best hand as things stand - that's not what you're representing (or want your opponents to think you have!) by getting involved. Your bluffing in the hope of improving to a winning hand.