Poker Glossary
Backdoor
A draw that needs help on both the turn and the river — runner-runner — to complete. A backdoor flush draw (three suited after the flop) comes in only about 4% of the time, so it is rarely a reason to continue by itself. Its real value is as a tiebreaker: that sliver of extra equity nudges marginal hands from fold to call, and the right turn card converts it into a genuine draw.
At the table
You hold A♥5♥ on K♥8♦3♣ — one heart on board. Running hearts arrive about 4% of the time, but that extra equity can justify a float you would otherwise pass on.
House note
Price the runner-runner →← Full glossary — all 52 termsBackdoor equity is the polite term for “I have nothing yet, but watch this.”
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