The game can be found at a variety of online poker sites and perhaps even at your local home game. If you've never played five card draw before, or if you're a little hazy on the rules, here's a refresher.
Beginning the Game in Five Card Draw
The game begins with the player to the left of the dealer putting in some fraction, usually half, of a bet, called the small blind. The player to his left then puts in a full bet, called a big blind. Each player then receives five cards. The objective is to make your best five-card poker hand. Proceeding clockwise from the big blind, players have the option to either call, raise or fold. Once the action goes around the table, the big blind has the option to check or raise, or call, raise or fold if there has been a raise already.
The Draw in Five Card Draw
Starting to the left of the dealer ("the button") players now discard as many cards as they wish. Once all players have discarded and received replacements for their discards, there is another round of betting. When all players have called all bets or folded, there is a showdown and the best five card hand wins the pot.
Variations of Five Card Draw
In some five card draw variations, players all ante instead of putting up blinds. In these games, a player is usually required to have at least a pair of jacks in his hand before he can bet at the pot. If all players decline to bet, players muck their cards, re-ante and receive a new deal.
Comments on this Article
Lobster (Jan 04, 2010)
Hi Joyce
First of all, there are no board cards in Five Card Draw. But if we’re talking Texas holdem, yes, the card on the table would count toward both your hands and you would split the pot equally. In holdem you always compare the best possible five-card hands that the individual players can put together, even if they only use cards that are on the table.
Cheers and have fun!
The Poker Junkie Team
joyce dupree (Jan 03, 2010)
If you are dealt five cards and five on the table and both players have the same two pairs and the fifth card on the table is higher then both our hands, do you consider the card on the table. if one of us had a three and one a four and the fifth card on the table is a nine do we go to our high card in the hand or the one on the table that is higher then both our cards?
s judd (Sep 04, 2009)
In jacks or better what is the correct terminology if you do not have jacks or better, is it "pass" or "check". I thought that "check" means you have jacks or better but choose not to bet, but "pass" means that you do not have jacks or better and therefore there will be no draw unless someone else can open with at least jacks or better. your reply will be appreciated
Lobster (Jul 13, 2009)
Hey Jennifer
When two full houses compete, the one with the highest "trips" wins. Then the "pair" is used to settle any ties.
In your example, JJJKK beats TTTAA.
Jennifer (Jul 12, 2009)
which full house wins ?
3 jacks, 2 kings
3 10's , 2 aces
thank you ..
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