Five Card Draw
Rules for Poker

Poker is a distinctly American game which emerged out of New Orleans around the mid 1800s. Five Card Draw is considered to be the most basic form of Poker. Suitable for as few as two and as many as seven players, Five Card Draw is typically the first variation of Poker most people play and it is from this game that other versions have emerged, such as Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Five Card Stud, and Seven Card Stud. Five Card Draw is distinguished from other variations of Poker by the fact that all the player’s cards are dealt face down and known only to the player and no one else.

The Cards

Five Card Draw Poker is played with a standard deck of 52 cards. Cards rank A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and A, where the Ace can be counted as 1 in a straight, ranking below the 2, or as high, ranking above the King.

Objective

The objective of the game is to win the pot by either;

having the highest-ranking hand at the showdown, or;
to be the last player standing after everyone else has folded.

The Deal

Beginning with the player to the Dealer’s left, each player is dealt five cards, one at a time, face down.

The Play

Each player then picks up their cards and looks at them. Beginning with the player to the Dealer’s left, each player takes it in turn to bet, raise or fold.

The Draw

Once the betting round is complete, then beginning with the first active player closest in rotation left of the Dealer, each player takes it in turn and may exchange as few as no cards or as many as 3 cards. To do this, the player first discards face down, the number of cards he/she wishes to exchange, and is replenished from the deck the same number in order to restore his/her hand to five cards. If any player holds an Ace, they can show this and this entitles them to exchange as many as four cards.

A Round of Betting

Beginning with the first active player to the Dealer’s left, each player then takes it in turn to check, bet, raise or fold.

The Showdown

Betting complete, beginning with the player who was last to bet, each player in turn then shows their hand. The highest ranking hand wins the pot. If two or more players show the same ranking hand, the tie is resolved by identifying the hand with the highest high card. If this does not resolve the tie, then the pot is split evenly between the winning players. At the end of the hand, the deal proceeds to the left.