5 Card Draw Gameplay - Five card draw is a simple game:

Each player is dealt five cards

A round of betting takes place

Each player may discard and draw from 0 to 5 cards

The 'draw' is followed by a 2nd (and final) betting round

Best hand wins.

Any questions?

5 Card Draw Betting Structure

As with Hold'em & Omaha, a dealer-button is used to indicate the theoretical dealer of each hand. After each hand has completed the button moves clockwise to the next active player and that player will be considered to be playing "the button" for that hand. The player to the left of the button is first to receive a card and is required to post a small blind. The player to the left of the small blind is required to post the big blind. Both blinds are considered live bets, therefore each have the option of checking, calling, raising or folding when the betting action returns to their position. After the flop and each subsequent betting round, the first active player left of the button is first to act.

There are two rounds of betting in a hand of 5 Card Draw. Each bet and raise during the first round of betting is set at the lower limit. For example in a $3/$6 game, all bets and raises are $3 for the first round. After the first betting round each player may discard and draw from zero to five cards. Each bet and raise during the 2nd/final round of betting is set at the higher limit. For example in a $3/$6 game, all bets and raises are $6 for the last round. The maximum allowable number of bets per player/per round is four. This would consist of (1) a bet, (2) a raise, (3) a re-raise, and (4) a cap.

Tips& Stratgey

• To open the betting in five-card draw a player should have at least a four-card flush, four-card straight, or a high pair. However, if betting is light and you are holding a small pair, a medium pair, or even two high cards, you might want to stay in for the next round. (A high pair is generally a pair of Jacks or higher; a pair of 7s, 8s, 9s or lOs would be considered a medium pair; and a pair of 6s or less is a small pair).

• If the betting is high in the opening round there's a good chance that at least one player has at least a high pair. This is particularly true with more players at the table. Your chances of drawing a hand to beat them are slim, so consider folding (or bluffing) rather than chasing cards in the hopes of improving your hand. You might get lucky on the draw, but, in the long run, you’ll save a lot of money by getting out when you should.

• If you are dealt a strong hand—a high three of a kind or better—hold off on raising or opening with a large bet: You do not want to scare off any potential bettors. With a strong hand, play it cool in the opening round and just call bets. In some cases, a raise might work if another player has already raised the opening bet.

• However, if you have a high pair, consider making a fairly high bet. This is a strong, but vunerable hand but certainly. By betting strong you might drive out some players and improve your chances of winning the pot.

• In general, it is smarter to build on what you have, rather than chase a possible hand. For instance, if you are dealt 8-9-1O-J-J, don’t break up the pair of Jacks in the hopes of drawing to a straight.

• Drawing to a four-flush or a four-straight can pay off. However, going after an inside straight, or a three- straight (three cards in sequence) or three-flush (three suited cards) is risky at best. Smart players don’t even try.

• During the draw, keep a close eye on how many cards other players draw. By noting their draw, you will gain some insight into the strength of their hands. In general, if they draw three cards, they are probably holding a pair. If they draw two, they have three of a kind or are foolishly going after a straight or a flush. If they draw one card, they might have two pairs or they may be trying to draw a straight or flush. Players can also stand pat (not draw any cards). This means they are holding a good hand, perhaps a full house, straight, or flush. Or they may be bluffing.

• For bluffers, five-card draw allows two chances to ply their deceit: the betting and the draw. Players try to fool their opponents into thinking they have a better hand by standing pat or drawing just one or two cards or no cards at all and then raising in the second round of betting.

• Another strategic ploy in five-card draw is holding on to a “kicker.” A kicker is an extra high card you keep when drawing to a pair. Thus, if you have a low pair, say a pair of 6s, you hold on to a high card in the hopes of getting a high pair to go along with your low pair. Holding onto kickers can confuse your opponents. If you draw two cards to a low pair and a high card, your opponents are left to wonder if you are holding three of a kind.