Draw Poker Games

Posting the Blinds

The blinds mark the start of a draw poker game. The player sitting to the left of the dealer/dealer button posts a small blind, and the player to their left puts in a big blind. This is usually double the value of the small blind.

Dealing Cards to All Players

Each player sitting at the poker table receives five cards after the blinds have been posted. The majority of draw poker games begin with five cards dealt to each player.

First Betting Round

The player sitting to the left of the big blind starts the first betting round. They may call the big blind’s size, raise, or fold. Betting continues in a clockwise direction until the last player calls or folds.

Discard and Draw Cards

Each player (beginning with the small blind) chooses the cards they want to discard, though they may prefer to keep all cards dealt to them. Any players that discard cards receive an equal number of new cards.

Second Betting Round

At the start of the second betting round, the small blind performs the first action. They may check or bet. From that point on, action moves in a clockwise direction as before. The second betting round ends when the last player calls or folds. 

If playing draw poker games with three draws, players can discard and draw cards again, and a third betting round takes place.

Showdown

The showdown is the decisive point of a draw poker game. All players still in the game (those who didn’t fold) reveal their five-card hand. The pot is awarded to the player holding the highest-ranking hand.

5 Card Draw Poker

5 Card Draw Poker is the simplest type and a fantastic starting point for newcomers. The aim is to build the best five-card poker hand possible, with the option to draw new cards and wager in two betting rounds. 5 Card Draw Poker games are widely available at online casinos.

2-7 Triple Draw Poker

2-7 Triple Draw Poker is similar to 5 Card Draw Poker, though it’s a “Lowball” variant: the aim is to create the best low-value hand using 5 cards ranging from 2 to 7. An unbeatable hand in 2-7 Triple Draw Poker is: 7-5-4-3-2. The Ace is a high card. There are three draws and four betting rounds.

2-7 Single Draw

2-7 Single Draw (otherwise known as ‘Kansas City Lowball’) is played with just one draw and two betting rounds. Players are dealt five cards each. To win, players must create the best low hand with cards ranked between 2 and 7.  The best hand possible is 7-5-4-3-2 (as in 2-7 Triple Draw Poker).

Badugi Poker

Badugi Poker was created in Asia, and plays similarly to the two variants above. However, the biggest difference between Badugi Poker and other variants is that players are only dealt four cards at the start of the game instead of five. Their hands can only contain four cards throughout the game, too. Winning hands must have four different suits with no pairs. The best hand is 4-3-2-A.

Badacey Poker

Badacey Poker is a draw poker variant similar to Badugi Poker, though players are dealt five cards at the start instead of four. There are three betting rounds, and players must try to build the best four-hand with low-ranking numbers. The best Badugi hand wins half the pot, and the best A-5 Badacey hand wins the other half.

Archie

In Archie poker games, players compete to win with the best high hand or the best low hand (ace to five). To qualify for the pot, though, Archie rules usually stipulate that a high hand should be at least a pair of nines or sizes, and a low hand is eight low minimum. Archie is a triple draw game.

Drawmaha Poker

To win in Drawmaha, players need to have either the best 5 Card Draw hand or Omaha high hand. The pot is split between both winning draw poker hands. Each player gets five cards to start with, and have one chance to discard and draw new cards to build a stronger hand.