Busted in poker means a draw that failed to complete or a player who has lost all their chips. The term carries two distinct meanings depending on the context: a busted draw refers to a hand that missed its outs, while a busted player is one who has been eliminated from a tournament or gone broke in a cash game.
In poker, “busted” is one of the most versatile terms at the table. When a player chases a flush draw across the flop and turn but blanks on the river, that flush draw is busted. The hand held promise, had the right number of outs, and simply did not get there. The math was sound, the result was not.
The second meaning applies to tournament poker specifically. When a player loses their last chips, they have busted out of the event. This is the definitive end of a tournament run, the moment the player stands up, collects their belongings, and heads for the rail. In cash games, busting simply means losing your current stack, though you can always reload.
How Does “Busted” Work in Poker?
The two uses of “busted” show up in different situations at the table.
A busted draw happens when you hold four cards to a straight or flush but the remaining community cards do not complete the hand. If you hold A♥K♥ on a board of Q♥7♥3♠, you have a flush draw with nine outs. If the turn comes 2♣ and the river comes J♠, your flush draw is busted. You are left with ace-high.
Busting out of a tournament means losing your entire stack. This can happen on any hand where you commit all your chips and lose. Once busted, you cannot rebuy unless the tournament format allows rebuys or re-entries during the designated period.
Busted Draw vs. Missed Draw
These terms are interchangeable. “Busted draw” and “missed draw” mean exactly the same thing. Some players also say the draw “bricked” when the final card does not help, referring to the river card as a brick.
Key Facts
| Situation | What “Busted” Means |
|---|---|
| Busted flush draw | Had four to a flush, fifth card never came |
| Busted straight draw | Had four to a straight, missed on remaining streets |
| Busted out | Lost all chips, eliminated from tournament |
| Busted in cash game | Lost current stack (can rebuy) |
