The five card draw is a variant of poker. Despite losing its way as one of the game’s principal betting structures, there are some poker players who like to use it. We show you how to use it in online poker games, the rules of poker, and how to master it.
WHAT IS 5 CARD DRAW POKER?
5 card draw is one of those poker variations where players are dealt five cards in the first betting round.
Play begins with a standard deck of 52 cards shuffled, and a ranking system is employed like you would see in other versions of poker, including Texas Hold’em, and it has replaced home games.
In the next section, we will show you how to win with a five card draw, and run through the basic betting structure.
HOW TO WIN 5 CARD DRAW POKER?
In terms of gameplay, the 5 card draw is one of the easiest things to pick up when you start to play. As mentioned, players will be dealt five cards when the betting begins.
The betting round begins in earnest when the player has paid the ante or the blinds at the table just like you would in Texas Hold’em. Of course, you can try out for free first online before you begin a betting round.
As in community card games, your position in relation to the button will be your key to success. The closer you are to the button, the wider range of hands you are more likely to have, and the greater the chance you have of securing a profit.
Regardless of the pot limit, you should always aim to use your poker chips effectively. By this, what we mean, is that you should make a raise with your initial bet straight away as opposed to merely limping in. Otherwise, this will result in other players limping behind in a betting round, which in turn, means you will need a stronger hand to win the money in the pot.
As your position begins to improve during a deal, then you can add other high pairs, such as Queens, Jacks, 10s, and nines, provided the latter has a good kicker to back it up.
In terms of rules, it is important to recognise the importance of blinds. Before any cards are dealt in the first round of betting, blinds must be posted. The small blind and the big blind are posted directly to the left of the dealer.
Some players might have been fortunate to have been dealt two pairs or three of a kind, and they should let these cards speak. Experienced players will come out raising straight from the off if that is their starting hand selection. In the following section, we will take a closer look at how betting rounds unfold.
HOW TO PLAY 5 CARD POKER – BETTING ROUNDS
Technically speaking, there are only two betting rounds when you play 5 card draw poker. We have explained what happens from the draw round.
DRAW ROUND
The first betting round is otherwise known as the draw. As such, the first round of a game gets underway with the player closest to the dealer’s left kicking things off, and they will be handed up to five cards.
Assuming this player has decided not to fold, they have the option of how many cards they wish to change. A player can therefore “stand pat”, which means they can keep all five cards or they can throw any amount of cards, depending whether they have weak hands. A standing pat can mean a player draws nothing, but this is part and parcel of the learning process in poker.
2ND BETTING ROUND
Once those who are playing have received their cards, each player must evaluate and assess the quality of their hand in the second round of betting.
The betting rules will bear the same hallmarks as those used in Texas Hold’Em. The action will begin with the small blind or the first active player left of the dealer, continuing clockwise in the process.
The round of betting will continue until all players at the table have had their say. If one player can convince everyone else in the game to fold, then they will win the money in the pot by default.
THE SHOWDOWN
5 card draw poker uses the same hand rankings as in Texas Hold’Em. The weakest possible hand is the high card, while the strongest hand you can have is a royal flush. A straight with trips and flushes will beat a straight.
Once the game reaches this point, the players seated will reveal their cards, and let the cards speak. The dealer will compare all the hands, and the player with the best combination will win what is in the pot.
Here are a couple of things that players should be aware of rules wise by the time they reach the showdown
- Suits are irrelevant when determining the winner.
- A flush in clubs will carry an equal amount of weight as a flush in spades.
5 CARD DRAW POKER HAND RANKINGS
As mentioned before, five card draw poker has the same rankings as you would find in Hold’Em. To provide you with a quick recap, we have presented a table of the hand ranks from strongest to weakest:
Hand Name Definition/Example
Royal Flush A-K-Q-J-T (all in the same suit)
Straight Flush 8-7-6-5-4 (all in the same suit)
4-of-a-Kind A-4-4-4-4
Full House (Boat) A-A-A-J-J (three of one, two of the other)
Flush A-J-8-4-2 (all in the same suit)
Straight 8-7-6-5-4 (all of various suits)
3-of-a-Kind (Set/Trips) A-K-5-5-5
Two Pair A-A-J-J-2
One Pair A-A-7-4-2
High Card A-Q-9-6-3 (different suits, non- connected, and unpaired)
As the table illustrates, the royal flush is the highest kind of flush, and it will beat any other hand in terms of cards drawn from the deck.
Conversely, the high card is the lowest possible hand, and in five card draw poker, it is made up of a hand that doesn’t produce any of the above. With this hand, you will need to hope that your opponent also holds it, as even a pair will surpass it. Any one pair or two pairs could be playable on the second street.
5 CARD DRAW STRATEGY TIPS
Below, we have listed a few poker strategies to help you get the most out of a five card draw. Any active player can benefit when capitalising on these tips in a five card draw:
DON’T OVERPLAY HANDS
To forge your own path when you play 5 card draw, it is best not to overcommit on a small blind or a big blind. The biggest poker mistake that beginners can do is to misuse their community cards or wild cards. Instead, when they start playing, they should use the cards they have been dealt sensibly, so they don’t get overawed.
POSITION IS KEY
Again, much like any other poker variation, when you play 5 card draw, the position is always key, from the first blind through to the second betting round. If you can get into good early positions and land a winning hand, you will make your life a lot easier in poker. Ultimately, this is about having a good grip of the rules, so you can make the most when you receive the cards from the deck.
COME INTO THE POTS STRONGLY
Rather than limp, it is always best to stand pat or make a positive move with your first poker bet. If you limp in most games, you are more likely to hand the initiative to the others who are seated at the table. Ideally, having a full house or a straight flush will stand you in good stead.
Below, is a list of other things that you should take into consideration during the 5 card draw:
- Don’t be tempted to play drawing hands before the small blind or big blind. Once you are in the small blind or big blind, then you can make the most of a card draw and take more from the pot.
- If you have one pair, draw three cards. Whereas, if you have three of a kind, draw two. And draw one if you have two pairs.
- Be aware of the pot limit, and don’t draw to a straight flush late in the second betting round as the odds will largely be against you.
STANDING PAT WITH AIR
It would arguably be an unbalanced strategy if you only stand pat or make a big bet when you have a strong five card holding. Some players won’t use this as a bluff, and you can open raise in an attempt to steal. Sometimes, an opponent will fold unless they get trips or better. You have to be careful not to overuse this tactic to win more money or you could find yourself worse off when you fold.
ALWAYS BE AWARE OF THE HIGHEST CARD
If the upcard you have been dealt with from the deck is more than one player, then you can try to take down the pot immediately in a bid to win more money. Ultimately, it depends on what is played. It’s not about having as many cards as the next player, but making them count or having the same options when you attempt a big blind.
5 CARD DRAW POKER PROS
You will experience some benefits from playing the 5 card draw in poker. We have outlined some of the advantages below.
EASIER CONCEPTS AND STRATEGIES
Compared to other poker variants or games where there are more stats involved, the 5 card draw should be relatively simple to play. As mentioned, you should always enter a pot with a bet that is a raise. So, for example, if you are dealt two cards that are a pair of aces, then you should go ahead and open a bet with the same suit.
ATTRACTS RECREATIONAL PLAYERS
While you may think that it is just pros who play the 5 card draw are just pros, the 5 card draw will also appeal to recreational players. Unlike grinder poker where you can make a living from playing the game, the draw can also be beneficial to those who want to play games simply as a hobby. In that sense, 5 card draw is open to everyone and works with other variants.
You may need to have good powers of recall to work out the order the cards come in during the deal or have an in-depth knowledge of what cards to present when they are handed to you by a dealer. With a 5 card draw, the odds are more static compared to another version of poker, so you can be more confident when you have played in the small blind for example.
SMALLER BETTING LIMITS
Usually, for 5 card draw, there will be a fixed limit for each game. So, for example, this could be set at $2 or $4. Unlike other games where the fixed limit may be higher, you can choose how much or little you wish to bet in games. As such, this may suit players who are more risk averse or don’t want to go too big when laying one card or even four cards during a round of betting.
5 CARD DRAW POKER CONS
5 card is great for most poker games, but there are some downsides for those who play 5 card draw, especially from the big blind.
CARDS CAN RUN OUT DURING A DRAW
Return to Player (RTP) is vital when considering whether to play 5 card draw, especially if you want to extract more money from games. Although 5 card draw isn’t as volatile, there is a fear that the cards could run out, which in turn could determine how well you play from the big blind.
NOT ENOUGH WAGERING INVOLVED
Perhaps, some more experienced players will find this version of poker more frustrating as there isn’t enough wagering action for their liking in between rounds. As such, this can impact what cards they receive from the dealer during the deal, and in turn, they could struggle for fluency.
MANY VARIATIONS
There are many variations and factors that will affect players from the small blind and determine whether or not they win more money from the pot. As such, this can be a bit off putting for some players who want to make an impact at the table. As such, there is a lot to take into consideration when playing the game. Ultimately, you will need to have a deep understanding of the rules, otherwise, you could be found wanting when you pick up new cards in 5 draw poker.
SUMMARY
We have packed a lot into this guide and 5 card draw certainly has its place within the game. A 5 card draw can make it easier to bet, but when you bet, you should aim to avoid making a play that is too safe. Position, of course, counts for a lot, and if you are new to 5 card draw, then you should take every opportunity to put yourself into the best possible position on the board.
Of course, one card or wild card will rank much stronger than others. Naturally, the win rate will depend on a lot of factors, but if you can throw a bit of caution to the wind, then you will reap the rewards. We hope this has given you the inspiration to play 5 card draw. After all, it’s not as old hat as some of those in the poker community would make it out to be!