Poker glossary

Suck Out

A suck out is when a player who is behind wins by catching a lucky card. The player who gets the card has 'sucked out' on the other.

The simple explanation

If you are all in with kings against aces and a king comes on the river, your opponent has been sucked out on. The player who was ahead loses.

A closer look

A suck out is the same event as a bad beat, but from the winner's point of view. It is usually used for a hand in which the loser was a big favorite. Both terms describe the effect of luck: with the right play, you will have suck outs and be sucked out on. The right reaction is to accept the result.

A practical example

You are all in with K♥ K♦ against A♥ A♦, and a king on the flop gives you a set. You sucked out.

Full explanation

A suck out is when a player who is behind wins by catching a lucky card. The player who gets the card has ‘sucked out’ on the other.

A suck out is a win by a lucky card by the player who was behind.

The loser suffers a bad beat.

It is part of variance.

Accept the result calmly.

Alternative spelling: suckout, suck-out

Drawing out

No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake

Read the example transcript

Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).

Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
- Player A BTN / SB King of clubs (Kc)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB Ace of hearts (Ah)5 of hearts (5h) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 before the flop.
- Player A BTN / SB King of clubs (Kc)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB Ace of hearts (Ah)5 of hearts (5h) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
Preflop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B calls. Each player has put in 6 chips.
- Player A BTN / SB King of clubs (Kc)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB Ace of hearts (Ah)5 of hearts (5h) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
Flop · Pot: 12 chips
The flop gives Player B a flush draw. Player A has a pair of kings and is ahead.
Board: 10 of hearts (Th)7 of hearts (7h)2 of clubs (2c)
- Player A BTN / SB King of clubs (Kc)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB Ace of hearts (Ah)5 of hearts (5h) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B checks.
Board: 10 of hearts (Th)7 of hearts (7h)2 of clubs (2c)
- Player A BTN / SB King of clubs (Kc)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB Ace of hearts (Ah)5 of hearts (5h) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Flop · Pot: 18 chips
Player A bets 6.
Board: 10 of hearts (Th)7 of hearts (7h)2 of clubs (2c)
- Player A BTN / SB King of clubs (Kc)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
- Player B BB Ace of hearts (Ah)5 of hearts (5h) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Flop · Pot: 24 chips
Player B calls 6.
Board: 10 of hearts (Th)7 of hearts (7h)2 of clubs (2c)
- Player A BTN / SB King of clubs (Kc)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
- Player B BB Ace of hearts (Ah)5 of hearts (5h) · Stack 188 · In this round 6
Turn · Pot: 24 chips
The turn is not a heart.
Board: 10 of hearts (Th)7 of hearts (7h)2 of clubs (2c)4 of spades (4s)
- Player A BTN / SB King of clubs (Kc)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- Player B BB Ace of hearts (Ah)5 of hearts (5h) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
Turn · Pot: 24 chips
Player B checks.
Board: 10 of hearts (Th)7 of hearts (7h)2 of clubs (2c)4 of spades (4s)
- Player A BTN / SB King of clubs (Kc)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- Player B BB Ace of hearts (Ah)5 of hearts (5h) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
Turn · Pot: 24 chips
Player A checks.
Board: 10 of hearts (Th)7 of hearts (7h)2 of clubs (2c)4 of spades (4s)
- Player A BTN / SB King of clubs (Kc)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- Player B BB Ace of hearts (Ah)5 of hearts (5h) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
River · Pot: 24 chips
The river is the nine of hearts. Player B completes his flush and has drawn out on Player A, who was ahead until this card.
Board: 10 of hearts (Th)7 of hearts (7h)2 of clubs (2c)4 of spades (4s)9 of hearts (9h)
- Player A BTN / SB King of clubs (Kc)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 188 · In this round 0
- Player B BB Ace of hearts (Ah)5 of hearts (5h) · Stack 188 · In this round 0

Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.

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