Is there such a phrase as "run the inside straight"?

[davidmich]

@Francis_Vaughan

As above. The trueism is “never draw to an inside straight”. The risk reward is too far slanted against you. One in 12 chance, whilst an outside straight has a 1:6 chance.

So the expression that something is like drawing to an inside straight is basically saying that it is too risky to try.

However - I suspect the expression isn’t from poker.
In horse racing starting from the inside straight is usually a disadvantage. Horses there get pinned to the fence and can’t get past. If a horse draws the inside start its odds lengthen. So running the inside straight can mean winning from a disadvantaged position.

Thanks Francis Vaughan. Thank you all. Very helpful.