5 Card Draw Poker – Guide & How To Play

5 Card Draw Poker HandPoker is the quintessential casino game, evoking images of smoky rooms, dimmed lights and cool cats in sharp suits.

Often considered the simplest form of poker, 5 Card Draw poker is one of the most popular forms of poker among the many variations. In this article, we will explain the basics of this cracking game of poker.

5 Card Draw Poker – The Basics

5 Card Draw Poker has one very significant distinction differentiating it from other forms of poker; all players are dealt five cards at the beginning of the game. This means that you can have your final hand from the first deal of the cards.

Here are the standard rules of 5 Card Draw Poker:

  • Each player is dealt five cards, one at a time, face down
  • Betting now begins. If more than one player is still in the game, the ‘draw’ phase commences
  • Players can replace cards within their hand if they wish in the draw phase. Any discarded cards are replaced with new ones from the deck, leaving the player with five cards again
  • The second round of betting begins
  • The player with the best hand wins the round

5 Card Draw Poker Winning Hands

5 Card Draw Poker Hand ClubsThe rules for the best hand in 5 Card Draw poker mirrors those in most poker games including the likes of Texas Hold’ Em. A Royal Flush is the very best hand in 5 Card Draw poker, with a simple high card ranking at the bottom of the winning hands list.

The full list of winning hands in 5 Card Draw poker:

  • Royal flush
  • Straight flush
  • Four or a kind
  • Full house
  • Flush
  • Straight
  • Three of a kind
  • Two pair
  • Pair
  • High card

5 Card Draw Poker Strategy

As with any type of poker game and most casino games for that matter, there are strategies which you can employ to better your chances of winning and scooping up some cash.

  • Don’t play too many hands. The biggest mistake most new poker players make is playing too many hands. If your hand offers very little value, don’t bet in. You will thank us later when your bank account still looks healthy!
  • If you have a pair, draw the other three cards in your hand in the first phase of the game
  • Draw two cards in the first phase when you have a three of a kind
  • Draw one card in the first phase when you have two pairs

With these basics in mind, you are well on your way to enjoying some 5 Card Draw poker action!