Poker 5 Card Draw

5 Card draw is a very popular variant of poker and often the first poker game learned by most players.

Object of the game

The goal of 5 Card Draw is to make the best hand consisting of five cards. There are two rounds of betting. The first round takes place before players draw cards. The second takes place after the draw. With two rounds of betting, 5 card draw offers bluffing opportunities, which means you don’t necessarily need to have the best hand in order to win.

Blinds

At the beginning of each hand, the Dealer button is assigned and the player with the Dealer button is last to act in each round. The dealer button, along with the blinds, move clockwise to the next player after each hand. The blinds are paid by the two players after the Dealer (clockwise) Blinds provide action and build the pot.

The first player to the left of the Dealer pays the Small Blind and the second player the Big (double) Blind. The size of the blinds also provides information about table stakes. For example, in a table with $1/$2 stakes, the small blind is $1 and the big blind is $2. After posting the blind, four hole (pocket) cards for each player are dealt and first round of betting starts.

Betting

The player located directly to the left of the Big Blind may: fold , call the big blind or bet a higher amount (raise), depending on betting limits of the table. The same decision is required from every other player sitting at the table. The last player to act is the player who posted the Big Blind.

Draw

Each player remaining in the game, after the blinds have been posted, is allowed to exchange up to four of their cards.

Final betting and showdown

After the final betting round there is a showdown between all remaining players. The players reveal their cards and the player with the best hand wins. If two players have the same hand, the pot is divided between them (split pot or chopped pot).