Introduction
Five-Card Draw is the classic “old-west” poker game: each player gets five private cards, may discard and replace some, then bets again. Best 5-card hand wins.
Game Flow
- All players pay antes (or blinds in casual games).
- Each player receives 5 hole cards face down.
- First betting round (starting left of dealer).
- Players may discard 0–5 cards and receive replacements.
- Second betting round.
- Showdown: highest hand wins the pot.
Key Rules
- No community cards, all cards are private.
- Standard poker hand rankings apply.
- Discard phase: declare how many cards to replace, then receive new ones from deck.
- If deck runs out, unused discards are shuffled to form a new deck.
- Most home games use fixed-limit or no-limit betting.
Strategy Guide
- Starting hands matter: pairs, two pairs, or suited/connected cards are strong.
- Bluff wisely: fewer betting rounds = bluffs must be believable.
- Watch discards: if many discard 1, they may have improved a pair.
- Avoid drawing 4+ cards: signals a very weak hand.
- Position is key: act last to see others’ actions before deciding.
- Pro tip: Keep pat hands hidden, don’t reveal strength early.