Five Card Draw

5-Card Draw Poker Rules

5-Card Draw is one of the simplest poker games to learn. Unlike Texas Hold'em, there are no community cards. Each player gets five private cards and can exchange some of them for new cards.

1. Ante

Everyone puts an agreed amount into the pot before the deal.

Example: $1 ante from each player.

2. Deal

Each player receives 5 cards face down.

Players look at their own cards but don't show anyone else.

3. First betting round

Starting with the player to the dealer's left, players can:

• Fold — give up the hand.

• Check — bet nothing, if nobody has bet.

• Call — match the current bet.

• Raise — increase the bet.

4. The Draw

After the first betting round, each remaining player chooses how many cards to discard.

They can usually discard:

0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 cards.

The dealer gives them replacement cards from the deck.

For example:

Before draw:

A♠ A♦ 7♣ 9♥ 3♠

You discard the 7, 9 and 3.

After draw:

A♠ A♦ K♣ 4♥ 2♠

You now have a pair of Aces.

5. Second betting round

After everyone has drawn, another round of betting occurs.

Players can check, bet, call, raise, or fold.

6. Showdown

If more than one player remains, everyone reveals their cards.

The best 5-card poker hand wins the pot.

Hand rankings

From best to worst:

1. 🏆 Royal Flush

2. Straight Flush

3. Four of a Kind

4. Full House

5. Flush

6. Straight

7. Three of a Kind

8. Two Pair

9. One Pair

10. High Card

Example hand

You are dealt:

K♠ K♦ 8♣ 5♥ 2♠

You have one pair — Kings.

You discard:

8♣ 5♥ 2♠

You draw:

K♥ 9♦ 3♣

Now your hand is:

K♠ K♦ K♥ 9♦ 3♣

You made Three of a Kind — Kings.

A common house rule

For a home game, I'd recommend:

5-Card Draw

• 5-card deal

• $1 ante

• Betting round

• One draw

• Second betting round

• Showdown

• Maximum 3 cards may be drawn, unless a player has an Ace or another agreed rule

That keeps the game moving and makes it more strategic.

Important: Before playing, agree whether you're using antes or blinds, betting limits, maximum cards drawn, and whether a player can draw 5 cards. Different versions of 5-Card Draw use different house rules.