In the game of poker, a gutshot is a straight made with pocket cards. If your hand contains five and six, you would need a seven on the turn and river to complete your straight. In contrast, an open-ended straight can be made with any two cards from the outside. Gutshots are considered to be about half as likely to win as open-ended straights. This strategy is best used in single-player tournaments.

The game was first played in the United States in 1829, when Joseph Cowell reported a game where four players each had five cards. The game was later documented by R.F. Foster and Hoyle in the US. It quickly spread throughout the United States and was eventually replaced by a 52-card deck. However, the game is still largely unknown if it originated in Europe, but it is likely that it was brought over by Persian sailors in the 19th century.

The number of players in a game of poker can vary, but the ideal number is six to eight. The game’s objective is to win the pot, or the amount of money bet by all players during one hand. A player wins the pot when he has the highest-ranking poker hand or by making the first bet with an opponent who has not called. In the case of a tie, the dealer is the winner. There are no payouts for players who fold before the dealer, but winning a game of poker can be lucrative.