nearstraight

Nearstraight is an informal term used in card game strategy, especially in poker discussions, to describe a five-card hand that is one card away from forming a straight. In this sense, the hand contains four cards that form a consecutive sequence, with a fifth card that does not complete the five-card straight.

Examples help illustrate the idea. A hand such as 4-5-6-7-9 is often described as a nearstraight because drawing a 3 or an 8 would produce a straight (3-4-5-6-7 or 4-5-6-7-8). Another example is A-2-3-4-9, where a 5 would complete A-2-3-4-5. The exact outs depend on game rules and context, and some analysts prefer more precise terms like open-ended straight draw for four consecutive cards or inside straight draw for other configurations.

Relation to formal terms varies. In standard poker hand rankings, a straight is a completed five-card sequence, while a nearstraight refers to a situation that could become a straight with one draw. Some authors use nearstraight interchangeably with straight draw in casual discussion, but others treat it as a broader or more context-dependent concept.

Usage and interpretation can differ between games and sources. When encountered, it is best to clarify the specific definition used in that context, since nearstraight is not an official category in standard hand rankings. See also: straight, open-ended straight draw, inside straight draw.