Guide · Five card draw
How to play five card draw poker
The poker of old Western movies and family kitchen tables: 5 cards each, one draw, and the best hand wins.
4 min read · Updated on
In short
In five card draw every player gets 5 cards face down. There is a round of betting, then each player draws 0 to 3 cards, there is a second round of betting, and the best hand wins. There are no community cards.
- cards for each player
- 5
- cards for each player
- cards you can draw
- 0–3
- cards you can draw
- betting rounds
- 2
- betting rounds
- ideal number of players
- 2–6
- ideal number of players
How to play, step by step
- 01
Everyone antes
Each player puts one chip in the pot before the deal (the ante). That way there is always something to win.
- 02
Five cards are dealt
One at a time, face down, starting to the left of the dealer.
Your hand: a pair of kings and three loose cards. - 03
First betting round
The player to the left of the dealer starts. Each player can check, bet, call, raise or fold.
- 04
The draw
Each player still in the hand discards the cards they do not want and receives the same number from the deck.
You keep the kings, draw 3 and make a full house. - 05
Second betting round
The first player still in the hand to the left of the dealer starts.
- 06
Showdown
If two or more players are left, the best 5-card hand wins. The ranking is the same as in any other poker game.
How many cards to draw
With a pair
Draw 3. This is the most common draw.
With two pair
Draw 1. You hit a full house 1 time in 12.
With three of a kind
Draw 1 or 2. Drawing 1 hides your hand better.
One card from a flush or straight
Draw 1. With 4 cards of one suit, you make the flush about 1 time in 5.
With nothing
If you do not even have an ace, folding is usually best.
With a straight or better
Stand pat: draw nothing. Your opponents will notice, though.
Five card draw vs. Texas Hold'em
| Five card draw | Texas Hold'em | |
|---|---|---|
| Private cards | 5 | 2 |
| Cards on the table | None | 5 shared |
| Drawing cards | Yes, once | No |
| Betting rounds | 2 | 4 |
| Forced bets | Ante (everyone) | Blinds (2 players) |
| Players | 2 to 6 | 2 to 10 |
| What you see of your opponent | Only how many cards they drew | The 5 community cards |
Texas Hold'em has more betting rounds and more information, which is why it is the game played in tournaments and on TV. If you want to learn it, here is how to play Texas Hold'em.
Common house rules
Jacks or better, wild cards and other variations
Jacks or better to open: nobody can open the betting without at least a pair of jacks. If nobody opens, the cards are re-dealt and the pot grows.
Wild card: a joker is added that counts as any card. A new hand appears, five of a kind, which beats everything.
Five card stud: there is no draw; some cards are dealt face up and there is a betting round after each one.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play five card draw?
Each player gets 5 cards, there is a betting round, each player draws 0 to 3 cards, there is another betting round, and the best hand wins. There are no community cards.
How many cards are dealt in five card draw?
5 to each player, face down. Afterwards each player can swap some of them.
How many cards can you draw?
Normally 0 to 3. In many games you can draw 4 if you keep an ace and show it.
Is the hand ranking the same as in Texas Hold'em?
Yes: royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, pair and high card.
How many people can play?
Up to 6 comfortably. With more players there are not enough cards for everyone to draw 3.
What happens if the deck runs out during the draw?
The discarded cards (not those of the player currently drawing) are shuffled and dealing continues from them.
Want to move on to Texas Hold'em?
It is the poker played all over the world. Practice it with real hands and an explanation on every decision. Free, and no real money.