5 Card Draw Poker

5 Card Draw Poker is a variant of draw poker, which is generally the type of poker that most people learn to play first. It is played by two or more people, with a standard deck of 52 cards, excluding the jokers. As in most other poker games, the objective is to make the best 5-card poker hand with the cards that you are dealt, according to the poker rankings.

In 5 Card Draw Poker, the bets are also called “blinds.”   The difference is, that when playing 5 Card Draw Poker, each player gets his own 5 cards which are not visible to the rest of the players. (These are called hole cards) And once you have received your cards, you are allowed to keep some of your cards and discard some of your cards, which the Dealer then has to replace for you. Say for example you are holding A-A-3-8-6; you could decide to keep the pair of Aces, and discard the other three. The Dealer then has to give you three new cards, while you are of course hoping to receive another Ace or maybe 2 Aces, to strengthen your hand.  

The number of times that you are allowed to discard and replace cards, varies from poker room to poker room, depending on the house rules. But the following are the basic rules or steps for 5 Card Draw poker, as it is generally played at most poker rooms:  

• Five cards are dealt to each player, face down, which are not visible to the rest of the players. These are called “Hole cards.”
• The first player after the big blind (to the left) then opens the betting round, and has the option to fold; call or raise. The same procedure is followed by the rest of the players in a clockwise direction.
• Once the first round of betting is complete, there is a “draw.” This means that you now have the choice to discard some of your cards to replace them. When playing poker online; you’ll simply click on the cards that you wish to discard. Once again in a clockwise direction, the remaining players around the table will also get an opportunity to choose the cards that they would like to discard. When it is your turn again, you simply click the button to confirm that you do indeed want to discard the cards that you have selected. Should you not wish to discard any of your cards, because you feel that you already hold a strong hand, you do not have to do this, and you can simply keep your cards. This is called to “stand pat,” or to “stay.”
• After everyone who wanted to have then received their new cards, another betting round then ensues, in the same direction as during the first betting round- and players can once again choose to fold, raise or call.
• Showdown then follows, during which all players that still remain in the game show their cards, to establish who has the best five card hand, according to the poker rankings.
• The player with the best 5 card poker hand, wins and takes the pot (all the money/poker chips that have been bet by all the players).

The best way to learn to play 5 Card Draw Poker, as with any other poker game, is to actually start playing it. And before you know it, you’ll be playing like a pro!

Fortunately, at Piggs Peak Poker, we provide you with free poker software, so you can practice play for as long as you like, until you are ready to start betting for real money. So make use of this great opportunity and click here to start downloading your free poker software now.