How to Play Poker – Five Card Draw

I just ordered a card shuffler and a dozen decks of playing cards. I will be doing reviews on them once received. I decided to revisit the rules of poker and this is what I came up with. *Links to affiliate

the game of Five-Card Draw, making sure to cover all the details and provide a clear step-by-step guide. This way, you’ll be ready to play and teach others as well.

To start, you need

1. A standard deck of 52 cards.
2. Poker chips or something to bet with (like candy, coins or cold hard cash).
3. 2-6 players.

The Rules as basic as possible

The goal of Five-Card Draw is to win chips by having the best five-card hand or by convincing other players that you have the best hand, making them fold.

Poker Hands

In poker, a “hand” refers to the set of cards held by a player that are used to form combinations according to the rules of the game. The composition and strength of a hand determine the outcome of a betting round and ultimately who wins the pot.

The “pot.”

The “pot” refers to the total amount of money or chips that players bet during a single hand. The pot accumulates through a series of betting rounds and is awarded to the player with the best hand at the end of the showdown or to the player who makes the last uncalled bet, causing other players to fold.

Here are the hands ranked from highest to lowest:

1. Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J, 10, all of the same suit (e.g., all hearts).
2. Straight Flush: Five cards in a sequence, all of the same suit (e.g., 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 of spades).
3. Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank (e.g., four 8s).
4. Full House: Three of a kind and a pair (e.g., three 10s and two 4s).
5. Flush: Any five cards of the same suit, not in sequence (e.g., 2, 5, 8, J, K all diamonds).
6. Straight: Five cards in a sequence, not all of the same suit (e.g., 7, 8, 9, 10, J).
7. Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank (e.g., three 5s).
8. Two Pair: Two different pairs (e.g., two 3s and two 7s).
9. One Pair: One pair of the same rank (e.g., two 9s).
10. High Card: When no one has any of the above, the highest card wins.

How to Play

1. Ante: Each player puts a small amount of chips into the pot (the pile of chips to be won) before the deal starts. This is called the “ante.”
2. Dealing: Each player is dealt five cards face down. Players can look at their own cards but should keep them hidden from others.
3. First Betting Round: Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, players can:
   • Bet: Place a bet if no one else has.
   • Call: Match the current bet if someone else has bet.
   • Raise: Increase the current bet.
   • Fold: Drop out of the hand, giving up any chance to win the pot.
4. The Draw: After the first round of betting, each player has the opportunity to exchange up to three of their cards for new ones from the deck. If a player has an Ace, they can choose to exchange four cards instead. The dealer collects the cards players want to exchange and gives them new ones from the deck.
5. Second Betting Round: Another round of betting starts with the player to the left of the dealer. Players can again choose to bet, call, raise, or fold.
6. Showdown: If more than one player remains after the final betting round, players reveal their hands. The player with the best hand wins the pot.

Example Game

Let’s go through an example to see how it works in practice:

1. Ante: Each player puts one chip into the pot.
2. Dealing:
   • Player 1 is dealt: 9♠, K♦, 4♣, 7♥, 2♠.
   • Player 2 is dealt: 8♥, 8♣, Q♠, J♦, 3♠.
   • Player 3 is dealt: 5♦, 5♠, A♣, K♥, 10♦.
3. First Betting Round:
   • Player 1 checks (no bet).
   • Player 2 bets 2 chips.
   • Player 3 calls (matches the bet).
   • Player 1 folds.
4. The Draw:
   • Player 2 exchanges three cards (Q♠, J♦, 3♠) and gets: 8♠, 2♥, 6♠.
   • Player 3 exchanges two cards (10♦, K♥) and gets: 3♦, 3♣.
5. Second Betting Round:
   • Player 2 checks.
   • Player 3 bets 2 chips.
   • Player 2 calls.
6. Showdown:
   • Player 2 reveals: 8♥, 8♣, 8♠, 2♥, 6♠ (Three of a Kind).
   • Player 3 reveals: 5♦, 5♠, A♣, 3♦, 3♣ (Two Pair).
   Player 2 wins the pot with Three of a Kind.

Tips for Playing

1. Know Your Hands: Memorize the ranking of hands so you know what beats what.
2. Watch Others: Pay attention to how other players bet. They might give away if they have a good hand or not.
3. Bluffing: Sometimes you can win even if you don’t have the best hand by making others think you do (this is called bluffing).
4. Stay Calm: Poker is a game of patience and strategy. Don’t get upset if you lose a hand.
5. Practice: The more you play, the better you’ll understand the strategies and the nuances of the game.

Terms you will hear in a poker game.

• Ante: A small bet all players must make before a hand begins.
• Bet: To put chips into the pot.
• Call: To match the current highest bet.
• Raise: To increase the current highest bet.
• Fold: To give up your hand and any chance of winning the pot.
• Check: To not bet, but remain in the game (can only be done if no one has bet yet in that round).
• Pot: Refers to the total amount of money or chips that players bet during a single hand.

By understanding these rules and practicing a few hands, you’ll soon be comfortable with Five-Card Draw and ready to play with friends and family. I’ve played in some big games with some heavy hitters, my success was mostly due to ignorance more than strategy. I never played poker in Vegas, but I have played blackjack… maybe I’ll write about that game someday.

In the words of Kenny Rodgers:

You've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
You never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealin's done