5 Card Draw Strategy & Tips

5 Card Draw has always been extremely popular in home poker games. Since major poker events, like the World Series of Poker, became televised, Texas Hold’Em has taken over as the most popular poker game. However, there are still many of us who prefer a good old fashioned game of 5 Card Draw poker.

It’s not easy to find a 5 Card Draw poker game online, but some online poker rooms, like PokerRoom and PokerStarsdo offer the game.

A 5 Card Draw Strategy is unlike the normal strategies of Hold’Em games as there are only 2 betting rounds. Instead, a good 5 Card Draw Strategy relies on instinct and the ability to bluff or outwit your opponents.

Each player is dealt 5 cards, followed by a round of betting. Players then discard as many cards as they wish (some rules define the amount that can be discarded) and are dealt new cards to replace them. Another round of betting commences. All hands are revealed and the highest ranking poker hand wins.

With only 5 cards and a single drawing round, it is very difficult to draw a straight, flush, full house or anything higher. Three of a Kind is the most common high-ranking hand, and is what most players are hoping for on the draw. When a player takes a single card, there’s a good chance they are shooting for a Straight or Flush.

One 5 Card Draw strategy, falling into the bluffing category, is to Raise on the first set of cards, discard nothing (keep all 5 cards) and Raise again. This strategy cannot be used frequently as the other players will catch on quickly, but if used properly, a pot can quickly sweep your way. This 5 Card Draw strategy is most effective when their opponents know them for only betting on good hands.

Another similar 5 Card Draw strategy is to Call or Check on the first round, discard a single card, then Raise high on the following betting round. Psyching out your opponents to make them believe you’ve drawn that one card you needed for a great hand can be extremely effective.

Choosing to be a loose or tight player has a lot to do with the Ante. If the Ante is high, loose play should be implemented or you may loose too much over time on the Ante alone. A low Ante should bring tight play, paying a minimal amount to shoot for big winning hands. A high Ante would be considered about 50% of the stakes. For example, a $0.50 Ante on a $1 Limit game would be a very high Ante. A nickel or dime in a $1 game would be low.

Position plays a large roll in a good 5 Card Draw poker strategy, as the last bettor is able to read each player before deciding whether to get out, call or raise the stakes. The last position bettor is usually able to scare other players out of the pot much more easily by raising when everyone else has called. The first and second position bettors are in the worst spot as they are unable to gather any information from their opponents before betting. If you’re in the first or second betting position with a good hand, it’s not a bad idea to check when possible, as a following bet will likely be placed, giving you the opportunity to Raise in the same betting round.

Last but not least - never bet on junk in the first round. Chances are you won’t be the only player left at the end of the hand and losing a lot of money and a big pot with a junk hand isn’t worth it. It also creates distrust from your opponents, ruining your ability to bluff at a crucial moment.

Utilize the tips and 5 Card Draw poker strategy above to bluff your opponents, take big pots and hopefully win more often at 5 Card Draw poker.