5 card draw sees each player dealt five cards, aiming to make the best hand at showdown to win the pot or to push the other players out of the pot by betting them out. There are many variations within this basic structure. Here is how the game plays out.
The Game
Each active player (some games require players to put an ante into a pot) is dealt five cards. There is a round of betting (this can be limit, pot limit or no limit depending on the game) that proceeds from the left of the dealer and moves clockwise round the table.
Players can choose to check if there is no bet in front of them, call or raise a bet if one has been made, or fold their hand if they don’t wish to continue.
Once the action has been closed (all bets called) the first draw is made.
The First Draw
Following the initial round of betting, all players who have called any bets or raises made, now choose to discard cards, or keep the five cards they have been dealt (also known as “standing pat.) Again this action proceeds from the left of the dealer round the table in a clockwise fashion.
nce players have discarded their cards, there is a further round of betting proceeding from the dealer’s left. Once all the betting has been completed, if the game is single draw, any active players now turn their hands over and the highest ranked hand claims the pot.
If at any point a player makes a bet is made that is uncalled by any other players, then that player collects the pot.
The Second Draw
If the game being played is double draw, then there is a second draw where, as before, players can discard a number of their cards or stand pat, and following this there is one more round of betting and once again any active players remaining turn over their hands and the highest ranked hand takes down the pot.
Variations
Many hybrid variations of Draw poker have developed over the years, with minor and major rule variations in play, usually to promote action. Often these include variations such as wildcards and hi/lo split where the pot is divided between the best and worst ranked hands.
Some of the famous variants of draw poker include Badugi, Spit in the Ocean, California Hi/lo split, Kansas City lowball, Anaconda and a myriad of others.