What is an inside straight?

An inside straight, also known as a gutshot straight or belly buster straight, is a specific type of straight draw in poker. It occurs when a player has four cards to a straight, but is missing a card in the middle to complete the straight.

For example, if a player holds 8-9-10-Q, they would need a jack to complete the inside straight. This is different from an open-ended straight draw, where a player has four consecutive cards and can make a straight by hitting either end of the sequence.

Inside straights are generally considered to be weaker draws because they offer fewer outs to complete the straight compared to open-ended straight draws. Players should be cautious when chasing inside straights, as the odds of hitting the required card are lower and may not justify the potential payoff.

In poker strategy, it is often recommended to fold a hand with an inside straight draw if the pot odds do not justify continuing with the hand, as the odds of completing the straight are usually unfavorable.