Five-Card Draw Rules | How to Play & Win
Five-Card Draw is the classic poker you’ve seen in movies: each player gets five private cards, there’s one drawing round where you can swap cards, and a final showdown. It’s simple to learn but full of psychology. This guide covers the rules, betting options, draw strategy, hand rankings, and common mistakes — in clean, easy English.
What Is Five-Card Draw?
Five-Card Draw is a draw-poker game: you get five private cards, a betting round happens, then you may draw (exchange) 0–5 cards to improve your hand, followed by a final betting round and showdown. There are no community cards and no up-cards — it’s all hidden information.
- Players: 2–6 is ideal; up to 8 in casual games.
- Deck: Standard 52-card deck.
- Betting formats: Fixed-Limit, Pot-Limit, or No Limit (home games vary).
- Antes or blinds: Either an ante from everyone or small/big blind like Hold’em.
Visual: Your Starting Hand
Example start: pair of aces or A-K-Q-J-x for a potential straight draw.
How to Play — Step by Step
- Antes or blinds: Either everyone antes, or two players post small/big blind. The dealer button rotates each hand.
- Initial deal: Each player gets five cards face down. First betting round begins with the player left of the big blind (or left of the dealer if antes).
- First betting round: Players choose to fold, call, or raise based on their five private cards.
- The draw: In turn, each player may discard 0–5 cards and receive the same number from the dealer. Standing pat means drawing 0 (you already like your hand).
- Second betting round: After the draw, another betting round happens. Players who improved often bet; missed draws may check or bluff.
- Showdown: If two or more players remain, everyone reveals hands. Best five-card hand wins the pot.
Some home games use a cap on how many cards you may draw (e.g., max 3 unless you hold an Ace). Confirm house rules before you start.
Starting Hands (What to Play)
- Premium pairs: AA, KK, QQ — raise pre-draw, often stand pat after draw if you improve to trips or better.
- High two pair: A-A-K-K, A-A-Q-Q — good value, especially in position.
- Open-ended straight draws: e.g., 10-J-Q-K — draw 1 for the ace or 9. Prefer when you also have high cards for pair backup.
- Four to a flush: Draw 1 to a high flush; prefer when you have an ace or king high.
- Weak pairs/loose draws: Often fold pre-draw unless the table is very passive and stacks are deep.
What to Discard (Draw Strategy)
- With one pair: Keep the pair, discard three (kickers) to draw to trips/two pair/full house. If your kickers are high and connected, sometimes draw two.
- With two pair: Usually draw one (to a full house). If the game is tight and you think two pair is already best, consider standing pat.
- With trips: Discard two singletons to draw to full house/quads — but mix in pat plays to stay unpredictable.
- With four to a flush/straight: Draw one. Favor flush draws with A/K high; straight draws with high cards have extra winning ways.
- With nothing: Fold most of the time. Bluffing is part of the game, but choose good spots (position, table tendencies).
Betting Basics
- Raise your premiums pre-draw: Build the pot with AA/KK/QQ and make it expensive for weak draws to continue.
- After the draw: Bet for value when you improve; check or bluff selectively when you miss.
- Position matters: Acting last lets you see how many cards opponents draw and how they react — huge information edge.
Reading Opponents (Draw Counts & Lines)
Because there are no community or up-cards, your best clues come from how many cards opponents draw and their betting lines:
- Pat (draw 0): Often two pair, trips, a straight/flush, or a made bluff. Respect pat hands, but don’t overfold if your line makes sense.
- Draw 1: Frequently two pair (drawing to a full house), or four to a straight/flush.
- Draw 2: Often trips drawing to a full house, or a pair + two high kickers kept.
- Draw 3: Standard with one-pair starts; strength depends on position and prior aggression.
- Draw 4–5: Usually weak; can be a setup for a post-draw bluff, but loses credibility at experienced tables.
Poker Hand Rankings (Best → Worst)
- Royal Flush
- Straight Flush
- Four of a Kind
- Full House
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- One Pair
- High Card
Same order as Texas Hold’em. Five-Card Draw is all “high” hands (no lowball unless you play special variants).
Example Hands (Pre-Draw Plans & Post-Draw Lines)
Example 1 — One Pair, Draw Three: You hold A♠ A♦ 7♣ 5♥ 2♣. Raise pre-draw. Discard 7-5-2, draw three. If you improve to trips or two pair, value bet post-draw; if you miss, consider a small bet in position versus timid opponents.
Example 2 — Two Pair, Draw One: You hold K♣ K♦ Q♠ Q♦ 9♥. Drawing one to a full house is standard. If you miss, two pair is still strong heads-up; value bet thinly against draws that bricked.
Example 3 — Four to a Flush, Draw One: You hold A♥ 9♥ 7♥ 3♥ J♣. Draw one for the heart. If you miss, you still have ace-high showdown value; choose bluff lines carefully based on positions and ranges.
Example 4 — Standing Pat as a Bluff: You hold K♠ Q♣ 9♦ 6♦ 3♠ and your opponent drew three. You stand pat and bet post-draw to represent a made hand. This works best against tight players and with a consistent story from pre-draw.
Example 5 — Trips Pre-Draw: You hold Q♣ Q♦ Q♥ 8♠ 4♣. Raise pre-draw. Most players discard two and try to boat up, but sometimes stand pat to balance ranges; mix both lines so you’re hard to read.
Core Strategy
- Tight aggression wins: Select good starts, bet for value, and don’t pay off obvious strength.
- Exploit draw counts: Punish wide three-card draws by raising pre-draw and betting post-draw.
- Balance your pat range: Mix real made hands with occasional pat bluffs to protect value bets.
Bet Sizing & Position
- Raise larger out of position pre-draw to reduce multi-way pots with one pair.
- In position post-draw, size for value when ranges are capped (opponents drew two or more).
- Don’t over-bluff calling stations; bluff more versus players who fold missed draws.
Common Mistakes
- Overvaluing one pair: One pair often needs improvement; don’t stack off without reads.
- Drawing too many: Drawing four or five telegraphs weakness and kills fold equity post-draw.
- Telegraphing your hand: Always drawing three with one pair makes you predictable; mix in two-card draws with high kickers sometimes.
- Bluffing wrong targets: Don’t bluff loose callers who hate folding; value bet them instead.
Popular House Rules (Know Before You Play)
- Jacks or Better to Open: You need at least a pair of jacks to open the first betting round. If no one can open, the hand is re-dealt with new antes.
- No Open, No Draw: If nobody opens, no one may draw; redeal after new antes.
- Draw Limits: Some games allow drawing max 3, unless you hold an Ace (or a pair of Aces), then 4.
- Multiple Draws: Rare in Five-Card Draw, but some home games allow two draws (this turns it into a lowball or special variant).
Agree on rules before the first hand. Write them down if it’s a home game.
Keep Learning
Compare Five-Card Draw with community-card and modern action games:
Five-Card Draw — FAQ
How many cards can I draw?
Standard is 0–5, but many home games cap at 3 unless you hold an Ace. Always confirm house rules.
Is Five-Card Draw luck or skill?
Both. You can’t see opponent cards, so psychology, position, sizing, and reading draw counts matter a lot.
What beats what?
Normal high-hand rankings: Royal Flush down to High Card. There is no lowball unless specified.
Should I ever stand pat as a bluff?
Yes, sometimes — especially versus tight opponents who respect pat bets. Balance it with real made hands so you’re not obvious.