Five-Card Draw

1 Overview

Five Card Draw is the classic home poker game, the version most people picture when they think of poker. No community cards, no face-up cards. Each player holds 5 private cards, has one chance to swap some out, and the best hand wins.

2 The Deal

All players post an ante. The dealer deals 5 cards face-down to each player. Players look at their hand.

3 Betting Rounds

First Betting Round

The player to the left of the dealer bets first. In games with a big blind (common in casino Five Card Draw), the player to the left of the big blind acts first. Standard betting actions apply: fold, call, raise.

The Draw

Starting from the dealer's left, each player may discard 0–5 cards and receive replacements from the deck. Most house rules limit the draw to 3 cards (or 4 if you hold an Ace). After the draw, each player has 5 cards again.

Second Betting Round

Another round of betting. In games with a big blind structure, the big blind acts first. In ante-only games, the player left of dealer acts first.

4 Drawing Strategy

• Three of a kind: Draw 2 cards (discard the two unmatched cards)
• One pair: Draw 3 cards (keeping the pair)
• Two pair: Draw 1 card
• Four-card flush or straight draw: Draw 1 card
• Full house, flush, straight, or better: Stand pat (draw 0)
• Bluff pat: Sometimes stand pat with a weak hand to represent a strong one

5 Showdown

After the second betting round, remaining players reveal their hands. Standard poker hand rankings apply (Royal Flush through High Card). Best hand wins the pot.

6 Strategy

Information Is Limited

You have almost no information about opponents' hands, only how many cards they drew. A player who drew 0 (stood pat) likely has a strong hand or is bluffing. A player who drew 1 is likely going for a flush, straight, or has two pair. A player who drew 3 has one pair.

Position Matters

As in all poker variants, acting last is a significant advantage. You can see how many cards opponents drew before deciding how to bet in the second round.

Don't Draw to Inside Straights

An inside straight (needing one specific rank to complete a straight, e.g., holding 4-5-7-8 and needing a 6) has only 4 outs. Open-ended straights (needing either of two ranks) have 8 outs. The difference in probability is significant, avoid drawing to insides unless pot odds are exceptional.