Updated on August 28, 2025
Poker players love draws — flush draws + straight draws. These are the two most common “drawing hands” in Texas Hold’em. But sometimes, lightning strikes, and you find yourself holding both a straight draw and a flush draw at the same time.
That’s when you’ve got what many players ask about: What is a combo draw in poker?
For example, take this spot:
- Board: T♥️Q♥️5♣️
- Hand: K♥️J♥️
You’ve got an open-ended straight draw (any ace or nine makes your straight) and a flush draw (any heart makes your flush).
That’s the classic definition of a poker combo draw — two powerful draws packed into a single hand.
But it doesn’t stop there. The poker term can be broader. Any time you hold two or more draws at once, you’re technically sitting on a combo draw poker hand.
That could mean the following:
- Straight draw + flush draw (the textbook version).
- Flush draw + pair (draw to trips or two pair).
- Straight draw + overcards (draws to both a straight and top pair).
You can also have even stranger combos like gutshot + backdoor flush possibilities, but those don’t qualify as a combo draw.
What is a combo draw in poker? It’s a hand that presents multiple ways to win on just the next card.
Hit a this or a that and you’ve scored big in a poker hand.
Why Combo Draws Matter
Equity Like a Made Hand
Most drawing hands are mathematically “behind" when the money goes in. Draws are not typically the favourite to win.
- A regular flush draw, for instance, only has about 36% equity against a top pair — most of the time you’re going to lose.
- However, combining the two — straight and flush draws — and suddenly your equity can reach 50% or more, even against strong made hands.
That means your “draw” might be the favourite!
Poker maths can lean in your favour (and even if not, a combo draw usually means you’re not very far behind).
Sometimes your combo-draw poker hand is stronger than your opponent’s already “made hand.”
Semi-Bluffing with Muscle
Combo draws are perfect for a semi-bluff. This poker play involves betting or raising with a drawing hand, applying pressure with two ways to win:
- Your opponent folds, and you win right now.
- You get called but still have outs to improve.
That’s why the poker combo draw is one of the best tools for aggressive players.
You can bet — and jam! — with it like a made hand.
Whenever you have a combo draw — meaning a flush and a straight draw — don’t fold. Roll with it. You’re either slightly ahead or not too far behind.
Types of Combo Draws
1. Straight + Flush Draw (The Classic)
This draw is the “poster child” of combo draws. Hands like J♣️T♣️ on a K♣️Q♣️5♠️ board give you 15 outs:
- 9 outs to a flush
- 6 outs to a straight
(Don’t double-count overlapping cards like the A♣️ or 9♣️).
That’s roughly a 54% chance to improve by the river — nearly a coin flip against most made hands.
2. Pair + Flush Draw
Say you’ve got K♠️Q♠️ on a Q♣️7♠️A♠️ board. You already have a pair and the nut flush draw.
Even if you're behind to a hand with an Ace, you still have solid equity.
3. Pair + Straight Draw
Take 8♦️9♦️ on a 7♠️8♣️6♥️ flop. You’ve got middle pair plus an open-ended straight draw. You have the poker probability to improve to trips, two pair, or a straight — all hands which may put you in the lead.
4. Overcards + Flush Draw
Hands like A♥️K♥️ on a J♥️4♠️2♥️ flop give you nine outs to the nut flush plus six outs to top pair (hitting a King). That’s plenty of ways to improve.
5. Gutshot + Flush Draw
Even a hand like 9♠️8♠️ on a T♠️Q♠️2♦️ board has real teeth. The gutshot alone isn’t huge, but add a flush draw and, suddenly, you’re in business.
How to Play Combo Draws
Aggression Is Your Friend
Because combo draws have such strong potential, they’re usually best when you play them aggressively. GTO poker strategy demands betting, raising, or even shoving in the right spots.
- Heads-up pots: Apply pressure. Win now or win later by improving.
- Multiway pots: Be more cautious — someone might already have a monster when they’re not willing to fold. But the pure equity of a combo draw poker hand still justifies aggression in most cases.
Scared Opponents Don’t Pay!
Also, keep in mind that when you hit your hand, it may scare your opponent. They might recognise you hit your flush, straight, or dangling overcard like a King or Ace. That’s a reason to play aggressively and commit your chips before the runout.
If you’re both already all-in, you’re guaranteed a big payday should your hand hit.
Combo Draws in Pot Limit Omaha (PLO)
In PLO, it’s often a mistake to play a naked draw. With four hole cards instead of two, combo draws appear far more often.
The greatest poker players of all time look for hands that offer multiple outs and overlapping draws.
For example:
- Holding 9♠️T♠️J♦️Q♦️ on an 8♠️7♠️2♦️ flop gives you a straight draw, a flush draw, and a backdoor flush draw with ♦️ — all at once. That’s a monster combo draw poker hand!
The Psychology of Combo Draws
Poker isn’t all maths — it’s people, too. Combo draws create unique psychological dynamics:
- Confidence Booster: Knowing you have multiple outs gives you the courage to push chips into the pot.
- Pressure on Opponents: Opponents hate facing aggression when you could have either a made hand or a draw.
- Tilt Inducer: When they lose to your draw, frustration follows. Losing to a poker combo draw is especially painful because they tend to underestimate its true strength. Opponents wrongly think they got unlucky when the maths was likely in or close to your favour.
Quick FAQ
Q: What is a combo draw in poker?
It’s a hand with multiple draws at once — most commonly a straight draw + flush draw, but it can also mean pair + draw, or overcards + draw.
Q: How strong is a poker combo draw?
Very strong. Depending on the situation, it can have 50%+ equity against top pair and is one of the best hands to semi-bluff an opponent.
Q: Should I always play combo draws aggressively?
Not always, but usually. Aggression gives you fold equity plus a strong chance to improve.
Q: Are combo draws more essential in Omaha?
Yes. In PLO, combo draws are prevalent and often necessary to continue profitably. In Hold’em, they’re rarer but wield even more powerful poker chip values when they appear.
Final Thoughts
Combo draws combine mathematics, psychology, and strategy in one. Unlike one-dimensional draws, they give you multiple ways to win — either by improving to a monster hand or forcing your opponent to fold.
- In No-Limit Hold’em, they’re rare treasures that deserve aggressive play.
- In Pot-Limit Omaha, they’re the bread and butter of profitable strategy.
So, the next time you flop a straight draw and a flush draw, don’t just think, “I’m on a draw.” Think: “I’ve got one of the strongest hands in the game — a classic combo draw poker spot!”
And if someone asks, “What is a combo draw in poker?”— you can smile and say, “It’s not just a draw. It’s two draws rolled into one — and it’s how you win big pots.
See Also
