In the game of Poker, it has always been assimilated that the good knowledge of maths and probability is essential along with knowledge of Poker Hand Matrix and Position in Poker. Capability to calculate outs is the most essential skill that can help you win the hand. The game is all about learning the difference and apply the math to estimate outs and seat your money in the fittest hands.
Let us first know what Outs are:
Outs are those cards in Poker which will make your hand. Calculating outs might seem complex in the beginning but become simple with a little practice. You only have to count the number of cards that are still in the deck and can be dealt face-up by the dealer which can improve your hand.
| Your Hands | Outs |
| | 2 |
| | 9 |
| | 8 |
| | 15 |
| | Flop-6, Turn-9 |
Example 1: Let's take an example, if you are on a flush draw with two 
Clubs in your hand and two 
Clubs are dealt face-up by the dealer out of 3 cards, then there will be nine 
clubs (outs) remaining in the deck to give you a flush.
Example 2: You are holding 6
, 9
and 6
, 8
, 9
are dealt face-up by the dealer, here you have hit two pair on the flop 6&9. This might already be a good hand for you but not to be considered best because someone might already have a straight or on a straight draw. And for you, there is a lot of room for improvement, like you have four ways of making a full house or a straight. Any of the following cards will help you make a straight, 7 of any suit and 5 or 10 of any suit in this case you have 12 outs “four7, four5 and four10”. And to make your hand to a full house; 9
, 9
, 6
, 6
, in this case you have 4 outs “total outs 16”.
Example 3: Let's suppose you have A and K of 
Hearts and card face-up are 10, J, and 6, here you have 18 outs.
Let’s see how: 2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10 and Q of hearts which can make your flush (9 outs for flush) and 3 Aces, 3 Kings, 3 Queen (9 more outs, total outs=18).
But you can never expect your opponent exact hand, if we consider the same example and your opponent has pocket J “JJ” you will then have very lesser outs then your opponent.
Half outs in Poker:
Half outs are those cards through which you might consider you have a winning hand but it can make your opponent much stronger than you hand. Let's consider an example:
You have 5&6 of 
hearts and dealer draw 7, 8 of 
clubs and 5 of the 
diamond, now you have one pair of 5 with four fours and four nines for the straight and two fives to make 3 of a kind and four of a kind. Hence, you must have 11 outs.
You have a chance of hitting 3 of a kind if 5 comes or a straight if 4 and 9 but your opponent will make a flush if 9 of 
clubs come and you will end-up losing the hand. Hence in such hands, 4 and 9 are not good outs for you and will be counted as a half out.
Hidden Outs in Poker
Many of the time you will face the scenario of such hands that will not help you at the moment by in the end will surely hurt your opponent's hand.
For Example, you have any of the pockets like KK and the card face-up by the dealer are 6
, 7
, 10
& Q
. Your opponent hits 2 pairs having 7
& 10
. Now on the river, you will be saved if any of the kings draw out of two or any of the Queen out of three from the deck. This would forge your opponent player's two pairs by providing you higher pairs than your opponent.
Conclusion: In Poker, it is all about probability, chance and patience, there is no exact math. Sometimes the cards you may think is an out and make you win good pot may end up losing because the cards of the opponent players also affect your outs and sometimes same goes to your opponent’s.
I hope this article has helped you understand Outs in Poker. Stay tuned for more on online card games in our future blogs.
