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5 Card Draw Basics
5 Card Draw Basics
5 Card Draw Poker is the most well known form of poker. For the person who plays poker just for fun, 5 Card Draw or one of the variants is probably the poker that they have played. The game is played with a full deck (52 cards) and begins with five cards dealt face down to each player.
Each player dealt, can "draw," or substitute cards from the deck for the same number of cards from his hand (this rule may have restrictions to how many cards can be subsituted, usually the maximum of 4 cards out of the five dealt).
Four cards is the usual maximum number of cards a player can draw; some games allow four cards to be drawn if the player is holding an Ace.
PLAYERS
3-6 (the reason their is a maximum of 7 players is because we have to respect a full deck of 52 cards - 7 players equals 35 cards dealt which leaves room for only 17 substitution cards - this is why their are restrictions on substitution).
INITIAL DEAL
Five down cards dealt to each player
PLAY
There is a betting round after the deal, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. After the betting round, each player may exchange up to four cards. Another round of betting ensues, followed by the showdown. With fewer than six players, a player may draw four cards if they show that their remaining card is an Ace.
WINNER
High Hand - go to hand rankings for explanation on high hand
STANDARD MODIFICATIONS
- Adding wild cards to play (and allowing five-of-a-kinds if chosen).
- High/low: the highest hand and lowest hand split the pot.
- Lowball: Lowest hand wins
- Allowing for four card draw with an ace.
- Double draw: After the first exchange and subsequent betting, there is another exchange and betting round.
Now you know the hands you can play in the card game you need to know the basic rules of play for 5 card draw Poker. The aim is to get the best possible hand with the 5 cards in your hand. Check below for the HAND RANKINGS.
Suits are not used to break ties, nor are cards beyond the fifth - only the best five cards in each hand are used in the comparison. In the case of a tie, the pot is split equally among the winning hands.
Hand Rankings
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1 - Royal Flush The highest poker hand. It consists of AKQJT all in the same suit. As all suits are equal, all royal flushes are equal. |
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2 - Straight flush Five cards of the same suit in sequence, such as 76543 of hearts. The ace can play low to make 5432A, the lowest straight flush. |
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3 - Four of a kind Four cards of the same rank accompanied by a "kicker", like 44442. Ranked by the quads, so that 44442 beats 3333K. |
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4 - Full house Three cards of one rank accompanied by two of another, such as 777JJ. Ranked by the trips, so that 44422 beats 333AA. |
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5 - Flush Five cards of the same suit, such as AJ942 of hearts. Ranked by the top card, and then by the next card, so that AJ942 beats AJ876. |
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6 - Straight Five cards in sequence, such as 76543. The ace plays either high or low, making AKQJT and 5432A. |
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7 - Three of a kind Three cards of the same rank and two kickers of different ranks, such as KKK84. Ranked by the trips, so that KKK84 beats QQQAK, but QQQAK beats QQQA7. |
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8 - Two pair Two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank and a kicker of a third rank, such as KK449. Ranked by the top pair, then the bottom pair and finally the kicker, so that KK449 beats any of QQJJA, KK22Q, and KK445. |
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9 - One pair Two cards of one rank accompanied by three kickers of different ranks, such as AAK53. Ranked by the pair, followed by each kicker in turn, so that AAK53 beats AAK52. |
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10 - High card Any hand that does not qualify as one of the better hands above, such as KJ542 of mixed suits. Ranked by the top card, then the second card and so on, as for flushes. |
Suits are not used to break ties, nor are cards beyond the fifth - only the best five cards in each hand are used in the comparison. In the case of a tie, the pot is split equally among the winning hands. |
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