Updated on May 23, 2025
The game of poker can be painful sometimes.
Getting eliminated in an unexpected hand can feel like a sudden shock or a hard blow to the stomach.
That’s why we have the poker term for a belly buster: gutshot!
The terms “Gutshot” and “Belly Buster” are often used synonymously. Belly Buster Poker can be quite brutal, leaving you breathless with its intensity!
Explanation of Belly Buster Poker
Engaging in belly buster poker is akin to playing with fire; it’s fraught with risks.
Here’s what it looks like:
Your hand: K♥️J♠️
The flop: A♠️Q♥️3♣️
You need a ten to complete a straight. If you succeed, you've scored a gutshot! This exemplifies the high-stakes nature of belly buster poker.
But just how often will you actually hit a belly buster?
Your probability stands at merely 16 percent if both the turn and river cards are revealed. It's predominantly a game of chance, not necessarily a better option than taking a risky plunge. poker bluff .
In reality, you should only pursue a belly buster or gutshot under certain favorable conditions:
- The bet is minimal. Imagine there's $100 in the pot, and your opponent places a bet of merely $5. Such a small risk might motivate you to chase after that 16% chance.
- You have a combo draw. Attempting to achieve a pure gutshot isn't a viable strategy unless you have additional winning possibilities. For instance, if you possess a flush draw along with a gutshot, your chances soar to nearly 50 percent. Even having a backdoor flush draw combined with a gutshot enhances your probability to around 20 percent. While a gutshot alone isn't often sufficient for a call, it can definitely be a deciding factor in tightly contested situations.
- You can bluff if you miss. Remember, you can still triumph without having the best hand. If you're up against an adversary you believe you can intimidate into folding, you have various paths to victory: (A) you complete your gutshot, or (B) you bluff using 'scare cards.' poker hand What would qualify as a scare card?
Let’s revisit the previous example, changing the suits involved.
If another heart appears, you can make a bet—signifying a flush—and potentially convince your opponent to fold.
Your hand: K♥️J♠️
The flop: A♠️Q♥️3♥️
Bonus : Given that you possess the king of hearts, your opponent can't have a higher flush with a king. This is referred to as having a 'blocker'... but we'll delve into that in another discussion!
Bluffing on the flop and turn can simplify river bluffs. Opponents are more likely to be persuaded if you've consistently placed bets.
(For further insights, check out barrelling in poker here.)
Double Belly Buster Poker
We’ve established what a belly buster is in poker—along with its alternate names like 'gutshot,' 'gutter,' and 'inside straight draw.' But can you tell me what a double belly buster is?
Imagine a clever situation like this:
Our Hand: J♣️T♣️
Board: K♠️A♣️7♠️8♥️
Take a closer look! What cards do you require to achieve victory? You have two hidden opportunities that can secure that straight draw—a Queen or a Nine!
(A Queen results in the straight AKQJT. A Nine wraps up the straight JT987.)
With double the cards that could potentially complete your hand, your chances of winning increase significantly. poker probability .
- Hitting a belly buster/gutshot: 16%
- Hitting a double belly buster: 32%
Keep in mind these statistics only hold for the flop when both the turn and river cards are visible. If you're curious about the probability when there’s only one card left to play, you'll need to halve that percentage.
For instance, if you are currently on the turn and just have the river card remaining.
At this stage, your probability of making that draw diminishes as follows:
- Hitting a belly buster/gutshot: 8%
- Hitting a double belly buster: 16%
As illustrated, your odds are quite slim. Avoid calling substantial bets with a belly buster draw—whether it’s double or not—unless the prior conditions fit:
- The price of the bet is cheap.
- You can create additional winning opportunities (a combo draw), thereby boosting your equity.
- You intend to bluff your opponent.
Belly Buster Poker : Conclusion
Since belly busters are uncommon and often catch players off guard, successfully landing one can feel particularly devastating. It's akin to delivering a knockout blow!
Gutshots and belly busters inevitably involve high risks, making them particularly tempting. They can catch opponents by surprise, leading to significant losses.
In your poker games Always be vigilant for players who are keen on hitting gutshots; they may pull off a belly buster just when you least expect it.
See Also
Inside Straight Draw , Gutshot , Open Ended Straight Draw , Straight , Draw