Poker-Resource:Draw Poker Games - 5 Card Draw and other Poker Games

Draw Poker Games.

The name 'Draw poker' refers to any number of poker games where players are permitted to exchange some or all of their cards for new cards during the course of the game. (i.e. A player may have two cards in their five card hand that are not useful in creating a good poker hand. The player discards these two cards and receives two new cards from the deck). The new cards are described as blind-cards.

In most draw poker games, players are dealt five face-down cards. and a round of betting takes place. The draw usually takes place after the first betting round. Players are given the option to improve their hand by exchanging a number of their cards for new cards from the remainder of the deck. The number of cards that a player can draw cannot exceed a maximum number which is specific to each type of draw poker game.

The draw is followed by the second round of betting. In a few games the first draw can occur before the first betting round. In draw poker games having more than one draw, betting rounds follows each draw, however there are usually only two betting rounds, one before the draw and one after the draw.

Although these are the basics of draw-poker games, the specifics are called by the dealer. It is the dealer who decides the number of draws in a game (usually a maximum of three) and how many cards each player may exchange. The dealer might call certain cards as wild. 'Aces wild' would mean that any player holding an ace in their hand could play the Ace as any card required to complete their hand.

It is good strategy to pay attention to the number of cards drawn by your opponents. A player drawing just one card is indicating that they already have a strong hand, but not as a good a hand perhaps as the one held by the player who draws no cards. Drawing no cards is also known as standing-pat.

Draw Poker Gameplay

1. Ante: Each player places a small bet in the pot.
2. Blind Bets: Before receiving any cards two players at the poker table place a small bet (the small blind and the big blind). As the games pass each player seated at the table will have their turn at making blind bets. The ammounts of the bets are predetermined, the large blind ususally being twice the amount of the small blind.
3. Deal: Players are dealt five face-down cards in a clockwise direction from the dealer. Players pick up the cards and examine them.
4. Betting: The first round of betting begins.
   1. A player may check, open with the minimum bet, open with a raise or fold. A player must usually have at least Jacks-or-Better (a pair of Jacks-or-Better) in their hand to open the betting. Players with lesser hands must check or pass the bet.
   2. If all players check, the hand will be passed out, after which all players will ante again and fresh hands will be dealt.
   3. If a played does bet, each remaining player must either call and match (or raise) the bet, or fold their hand.
   4. After the first betting round the draw takes place.
5. The Draw: Players may discard unwanted cards from their hands and replace them with new ones dealt by the dealer. In most games players may replace no more than four of the cards from their original hand.
6. Once the draw is completed, the final betting round takes place. In any betting round after the draw, the action usually begins with the opener and continues clockwise. If the opener folded the following player opens. Generally the betting limit after the draw is double the betting limit before the draw.
7. The Showdown: If more than one player remains in the game (i.e. all the other players did not fold), there is a showdown in which the highest hand wins the pot.
8. If only one player remained in th game they win the pot without having to show their cards.

Draw Poker Games: Variations

In all of these game variations the players receive all their cards in the initial deal. During the course of play they have the option to exchange some or all cards with fresh ones from the deck or from other players.

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