outs for straight vs flush draws

[rowhousepd]

This is a total newbie question.... What is a "straight vs flush draw" exactly, and why does it have 6 outs?

I'm not sure what you mean here but this the basic outs chart.

An open-ended straight draw gives you 8 outs.
An inside straight draw gives you 4 outs.
A flush draw gives you 9 outs.
An open-ended straight flush draw gives you 15 outs.
An inside straight flush draw gives you 12 outs.

An easy way to figure you're % to hit is to multiply your outs by 4 on the flop and 2 on the turn. Figure out your pot odds and implied odds to make the decision on whether to bet/call/raise/fold.

[JKDS]

additionally, if you were to have an open ended straight draw but there was also a flush draw on the board, then 2 of our outs are potentially tainted and thus we only have 6 outs as opposed to 8.

ie, on a board of 5h8hKc with 6c7d, we are drawing to 4c,4d,4s or 9c 9d 9s since the 4h and 9h would both give a flush draw a flush which would beat our straight.

additionally, if you were to have an open ended straight draw but there was also a flush draw on the board, then 2 of our outs are potentially tainted and thus we only have 6 outs as opposed to 8.

By re-reading OP's question, I think this is exactly what he was asking.

[dontezuma]

A straight versus flush draw means you are on a straight draw (8 outs) and the villain is assumed to be on a flush draw (9 outs). Your draw only has 6 outs because two of your 8 outs will complete villain's flush.

Ex:

you - JdTc
board - 3s 9h qh
villain - assumed to be on Ah 4h (nut flush draw that doesn't interfere with your str8)

You can hit : 8c 8d 8s 8h, Kc Kd Ks Kh - 8 outs
Villain needs : 2h 3h 5h 6h 7h 8h Th Jh Kh - 9 outs
But, your 8h or Kh completes his flush, so those are "bad" or "dirty" outs.

[LawDude]

Remember, as well, that "dirty outs" (I like to call them "doubts") still may be outs. In other words, it is very rare where you can confidently say that a flush draw comprises 100 percent of a player's range.

So these dirty outs count for something, even if they are not as good for you as your 3 or 6 clean outs are.