there are 14 outs. 6 non spade outs for the straight and 8 remaining spades (the 9 of spades makes him quads).
only 2 of those outs will make you the stone cold nuts....but when counting outs we consider all 14 to be our "outs". sometimes your "outs" still won't result in you wining the hand....oftentimes those are called "dirty outs" but it's usually best not to worry about those since your opponent has to have a very specific hand for that to matter.
so, if you know you are facing a set you should generally find a fold with all monster draws. In this specific example, you have 42% equity and he has 58% equity. The problem is, how often do you actually KNOW you are facing a set? almost never. People will play overpairs, 2 pair and sometimes even TPTK very strong sometimes. On this board, it's hard to suspect 2 pair but depending on the preflop action there could easily be an overpair.
Also, sometimes you'll be facing another draw. So let's say they didn't have a set of nines, they just had the Ace high flush draw (something like
) now they're thinking they have 9 outs plus 1 over, so they think they have 12 outs. If you're facing a better draw you're usually in WORSE shape than if you're facing a set. In this example however, because you have a MONSTER DRAW (meaning you have flush outs, straight outs, and straight flush outs. basically any time you have 14+ outs on the flop you have a monster draw). you are in OK shape even against a "better flush draw". if he has the better flush draw, then 7 of your flush outs are gone, but you still have 2 straightflush outs (and the implied
odds on those is HUGE because you'll get his whole stack) and you still have 6 open ended straight draw outs, and since he doesn't even have a pair, you still have 6 outs to a pair which could win. so you actually still have 14 outs on this flop even if you're facing a seemingly "better" draw!!
so....what am I saying with all of that?
You can't usually be so sure that you're facing a set and vs most villain's ranges a monster draw is doing quite well, even sometimes facing "better" draws. You gotta be willing to gamble in tourneys with your monster draws and just understand that sometimes you'll be shown
hands that have you crushed...oh well, move on (and sometimes you'll be shown hands that have you crushed and then you'll suck out!).
Confrontations between strong made hands and strong draws is how big stacks are made in tournaments. (that and coolers). Play your monster draws very strongly!!
