What is God shot in poker?

A "godshot" or "gutshot" in poker refers to a very specific type of inside straight draw where the player is drawing to just one card in the middle of a straight. For example, holding 7♣ 8♦ on a 9♠ 10♥ T♦ board. The player needs exactly one card – the 6 – to complete their straight.

This is also sometimes called a "belly buster" draw since hitting such an unlikely card can feel like getting punched in the gut. Let‘s dive deep into why gutshots have earned this notorious reputation at the poker table.

Why is it called a gutshot in poker?

The term "gutshot" refers to the feeling of being shot in the stomach when your opponent hits one of these unlikely draws. According to poker lingo, a "gutshot" means taking a bullet to the belly.

So when someone sucks out on the river by spiking their one-outer gutshot, it leaves you feeling like you just took a bullet to the gut. It‘s a painful, unlucky beat to stomach.

Of course, hitting your own gutshot straight can also give you a thrilling rush. But more often, someone else hitting their miracle gutshot card against your strong hand is a dreaded, sickening experience.

Either way, the “gutshot” metaphor perfectly captures the immense swing of emotions associated with this extreme poker scenario.

What defines a gutshot draw?

By definition, a gutshot or belly buster is:

• An inside straight draw needing one specific card to complete the hand
• At best a 4-out draw, sometimes fewer if a card is dead
• Low odds of hitting by the river – around 8%

For example, let‘s say you hold J♥ Q♠ on a board of K♦ 10♣ 9♥. The only card that can complete your straight is the missing Jack, giving you a gutshot straight draw.

You need one specific card, and one card only, to hit your hand. This distinguishes gutshots from other types of draws we‘ll explore later.

I‘ve compiled some key gutshot probability data in this table:

Situation	Odds of hitting gutshot
On the flop	4.7%
On the turn	8.5%
On the river (if you miss turn)	8.7%
By the river (combined odds)	17.1%

As you can see, gutshot odds range from about 5% on the flop up to around 17% by the river. Still unlikely, but definitely possible.

Why is it called a gutshot straight?

"Gutshot straight" refers to the low odds and high pain factor of hitting one of these draws. Since it‘s unlikely your opponent completes his gutshot, it‘s psychologically brutal when he spikes it. Like getting shot in the gut, hence the name.

Even though the odds are against it, when someone does hit their miracle gutshot card, it‘s one of the sickest, most shocking developments at the poker table. The straight that comes straight out of nowhere!

Famous gutshot coolers and bad beats

Some of the most legendary poker suckouts have involved gutshot straight cards. Let‘s relive a couple epic cooler hands:

Lex Veldhuis vs. Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier

• Lex opens with pocket kings from the button
• ElkY 3-bets big from the big blind with Q-J offsuit
• Flop comes Q-10-3 giving ElkY top pair and Lex overpair
• Turn is a J, giving ElkY trips but also giving Lex a gutshot straight draw
• River is a miraculous 9 filling Lex‘s straight!
• ElkY is disgusted while Lex erupts: "Yes, yes, we got there!"

Brian Hastings vs Barry Greenstein

• Hastings opens with A-K and Greenstein calls with 9-9
• Flop comes 10-5-2, giving Hastings a gutshot draw and Greenstein a set
• Turn bricks, Hastings picks up more outs with his AK backdoor
• River…a crushing Ace! Hastings hits his gutshot and cracks Greenstein‘s set
• $350k pot shipped to a grateful Hastings thanks to his gutshot spiking

These kinds of cooler hands are poker lore. The gutshot straight card dashing hopes at the last moment make for epic televised moments and Battle of the Decade highlight reels.

Poker lingo related to gutshots

Here are some other common poker terms related to gutshot draws:

• Backdoor flush: Needing two perfect cards to make a flush
• Runner-runner: Hitting both turn and river to make a hand
• Sick: An unbelievable or unlucky turn of events
• Donkey: An unskilled player who gets lucky
• Suckout: Spiking a miracle card to win the pot
• Bad beat: Losing with a strong hand to an unlikely draw

This vocabulary reflects the frustrations around gutshot suckouts. When an inferior hand spikes a "runner-runner" miracle card, it just feels "sick".

Playing gutshots: Strategy tips

When holding a gutshot draw yourself, there are a few key poker strategy factors to weigh:

• Semi-bluffing – Raising with a draw can add fold equity and disguise your vulnerable holding. But proceed with caution, as gutshots usually need excellent pot odds to chase.

• Pot odds – There needs to be enough potential money in the pot to justify mathematically chasing your draw. Generally you need at least 10-to-1 pot odds to call a bet with a gutshot.

• Implied odds – Consider how much you can expect to win if you do hit your hand. Is there room for your opponent to call multiple bets on later streets?

• Position – Drawing to a gutshot is easier in position where you control the action. Out of position, it‘s often -EV to chase gutshots.

• Opponent – Tight, aggressive opponents will seldom pay you off when you hit, lowering your implied odds. Loose calls mean bigger paydays.

• Stack sizes – Shorter stacks make it harder to get paid on your gutshots and diminish implied odds. Deeper stacks allow for more post-flop play.

The key is being disciplined with gutshots. Don‘t fall in love and chase them without proper pot and implied odds, especially against tough players out of position.

Comparing gutshots to other draws

Let‘s compare the odds and playability of gutshot draws vs. some other common poker draws:

Draw type	Number of outs	Odds to hit by river	Playability
Flush draw	9 outs	35%	Very strong draw with frequent aggressive play
Open-ender	8 outs	32%	Strong multi-way draw that connects frequently
Combo draw	15-20 outs	Up to 63%	As strong as it gets, very playable
Gutshot	4 outs	17%	Tricky draw requiring excellent odds and implieds

Gutshots generally have lower odds than flush and open-ended straight draws. But they still offer decent equity when the pot odds are right. Way better than junk hands like 72 offsuit!

Why gutshots strike fear in poker players

While not impossible to hit, gutshots have earned a reputation as one of the most dreaded monster-under-the-bed cards in poker. The crushing river card that cracks your aces or top set.

It‘s the pure one-outer suckout that any poker player never wants to be on the losing end of. Just like a bullet to the gut, that unlikely gutshot river card can leave you breathless, doubled over in shock and agony after it dashes your hopes.

Unlike getting outdrawn by a flush or open-ender, losing to a gutshot straight often feels like being struck by lightning. A true WTF just happened moment. The ultimate cooler, and one of the sickest ways to lose a big pot for any poker pro or amateur.

From Phil Hellmuth losing his mind on TV to that feeling of your stomach dropping through the floor…we‘ve all been gutshot straighted to death. And it never gets easier to take!

Winning and losing with gutshots: Personal reflections

I‘ll never forget the first time I got felted by a runner-runner miracle gutshot straight.

It was a $500 pot at my local casino, the biggest hand I‘d ever played at that point. I open with A-K on the button and get one caller. Flop comes raggy so I bet big, get called. Brick on the turn, I shove, opponent insta-calls showing J-10 suited.

My aces were 95% to hold with just the river to come…and of course he spikes the Q right on the river to complete his gutshot. Needless to say, I was steaming! Felt like I took a Mike Tyson punch to the pancreas.

But I‘ve also won my share with gutshots. Just last week I turned a naked gutshot with 9-7 suited against top set. River binked my 6-outer for a 15-out straight and I stacked a guy for over $1000. He was speechless!

So while I‘ve been on both sides, gutshots always manage to blow my mind either way. The ultimate rush or the sickest punch to the gut.

Avoiding catastrophic mistakes

Because gutshot odds are so long, it‘s often -EV to draw to them without excellent pot odds and implied odds. Don‘t just blindly chase every gutshot – be selective in your spots based on smart poker fundamentals.

It‘s also vital not to fall overly in love with your gutshot if you do hit it. Other players may still have better made hands, so don‘t just rip it all-in assuming your straight is unbeatable. Proceed with caution.

Mostly, make sure you are getting the right price if you do decide to chase. I recommend a minimum of 10-to-1 pot odds given the 17% odds of hitting. And ideally have position on villains who can pay you off.

Otherwise, be disciplined and make good folds if the situation calls for it. Don‘t let the potent mix of hope and gambler‘s temptation pull you into -EV gutshot chasing!

Closing Thoughts

Hitting a "godshot" gutshot straight might just be one of poker‘s greatest highs. But far more often, it goes the other way – someone spikes their miracle gutshot to crush your aces or top-set dreams. A sickening, primal gut punch of a poker beat.

Whether you‘re on the giving or receiving end, gutshot straights capture why poker captivates us so much…the sheer improbable drama of it all. Monster draws that break hearts and also make legends.

Thanks for joining me on this deep dive into one of poker‘s most storied draws – the infamous gutshot straight. Hopefully this gives you a strategic edge next time you‘re facing, or chasing, this rollercoaster poker scenario.

Just try not to take it too personally when someone guts you! Gutshots are brutal, but all part of the poker journey. Keep chasing that poker glory.