Five Card Draw Winning Hands
We have to consider combinations of cards formed by taking out groups of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 cards and adding the next number of cards in the deck that bring the total card count to 5, which means we have to do 5C0 + 5C1 + 5C2 + 5C3 + 5C4 + 5C5 calls to checkhand. So the sum of total calls is. Pick the poker variation you're playing in the top drop-down menu and the number of players in the hand (you can add in up to five players). Odds are available for: Texas Holdem, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, 7-Card Stud, 7-Card Stud Hi-Lo and Razz. How to Play 5 Card Draw Rules Starting a Hand. Each hand starts with a specific player being designated as the dealer. This is indicated by a dealer. First Betting Round. When every player has five cards, the first round of betting starts. The player to the left of the. The common 5-card-draw advice of “don't play straight or flush draws” (sometimes known as “come” hands), is somewhat equivalent to the NLHE advice “don't play SC's OOP”. But NLHE players understand that SC's can be played profitably OOP, it all depends on what occurs postflop.
Calculator Use
Without betting, the basic rules of 5 card draw poker are as follows:
- One person is the dealer. The deal can rotate clockwise among the players so that each person has a turn at dealing.
- Starting with the player to the dealer's left, the dealer deals each player five cards, clockwise, one card at a time (face down with real cards): First card to each player, second card to each player, etc.
- Each player then discards and draws up to 3 new cards to try and make a better hand than what they were dealt. If a player holds an ace, he can discard the other four cards but must retain the ace. A player does not need to draw any cards if he wants to keep his original hand.
- Starting with the player to the dealer's left, the dealer deals each player new cards to replace any that they have discarded. The dealer deals all new cards to one player before moving on to the next player.
- After everyone receives their new cards, players show their hands and the best hand wins.
Poker Hands Ranking
The following is a list of 5 card poker hands, from the best to worst, without jokers or wild cards in play
1. Royal Straight Flush
10-J-Q-K-A, all of the same suit.
2. Straight Flush
Five cards, of the same suit, in order, such as 5-6-7-8-9 all of clubs.
3. Four of a Kind
Four of the same card, such as 3-3-3-3-8.
4. Full House
Three of a kind and a pair together, such as 8-8-8-5-5 or K-K-K-A-A
5. Flush
Five Card Draw Winning Hands
Five cards all of the same suit, but not in order, such as 4-6-7-Q-K of spades.
6. Straight
Five cards in a row, such as 2-3-4-5-6, but not all of the same suit.
7. Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same number or rank, such as 7-7-7 in a hand such as 7-7-7-5-Q.
8. Two Pair
Two pairs of cards of the same number or rank, such as Q-Q-5-5 in a hand such as Q-Q-5-5-4.
9. One Pair
Two cards that match, like K-K.
10. High Card
If no one has any of the above hands, the player with the highest card in his hand wins.
High card will also be important if you tie another player. For example, say you both have 2 pair of the same cards: you have Q-Q-5-5-9 and your opponent has Q-Q-5-5-2. You would win because a 9 beats a 2. If you had K-K-5-5-9 you would win based on having the higher pair as kings beat queens.
References
In five card draw it is crucial that you play only high quality starting hands. Consistent play of low pairs and hands on the draw will produce equally consistent losses to your bankroll. Read below for a solid guide on what starting hands you should play in online five card draw. Most of this article covers pairs and two pairs, but assume that anything higher than two pair is almost always a playable hand. Also, keep in mind that we are referring to a nine or ten people table. If you are in a game with less players, you can loosen up a little bit more (but not too much).
Premium Pairs
Premium pairs in five card draw are aces, kings and queens. These are all strong hands that will win you a lot of money in the long run. There is however a time and a place for each of these three hands. A pair of aces can be played from any position at the table. This is your bread and butter hand and you need to play it aggressively. Open bet or raise with aces unless you know for sure an opponent has a better hand. Kings and queens are strong hands, but should be played with caution in early positions. You should open bet or raise with these hands in middle to late position. Be aggressive with all the premium pairs, but play them wisely and in proper position. In most five card draw games, you should not open bet in 1st position with a pair of queens!
Jacks and tens
These are playable pairs but generally should only be played from late position or in the blinds. Playing pairs lower than tens is a great way to lose lots of money playing five card draw online. Only play shorts (pairs below ten) when you can for cheap or have an obvious read on a weak opponent.
Two pair
Two pair is one of the hardest hands to play well in five card draw. You can make it easier to play by playing only high quality two pair hands. High quality hands are those usually consisting of jacks up or better. In early position you should only play two pair of at least kings up. In middle position you can add two pairs with queens up to your arsenal. Jacks up and tens up are okay too, but they should be played with as much caution as a single pair of these two ranks. Play them in late position.
Starting hands chart
Card Winning Hands
Use this chart as a guide for what hands you should play from what positions when playing five card draw online. As you can see, one of the most important skills to learn in this game is to make the right choices according to your position on the table.
Position | Hands to play |
Small Blind | Most pairs, come (drawing) hands and Ace high/face can be played here if the pot hasn’t been raised. Raise with a pair of eights or better. |
Large Blind | Any hand if you can check. Pair of aces or kings, or pretty much any two pair or come hand if the pot has three or four players in it and you can call cheap (proper odds). |
Under the gun | A pair of aces, two pair only if kings or higher are included |
4th position | A pair of aces, two pair only if queens or higher are included |
5th position | A pair of aces, two pair only if jacks or higher are included |
6th position | A pair of kings, two pair only if tens or higher are included |
7th position | A pair of queens or better |
Dealer button | A pair of Tens or better. Open with a pair of nines if you hold face cards or tens. |
Five Card Draw Winning Hands
Use the table above as a reference, but don’t forget to adapt your play according to the number of players on the table and their behavior.