Draw poker

Draw poker is any poker variant in which each player is dealt a complete draw poker hand before the first draw poker betting round, and then develops the draw poker hand for later rounds by replacing cards.

The descriptions below assume that you are familiar with the general poker game play of poker, and with draw poker hand values (both high and low variations). They also make no assumptions about what draw poker betting structure is used. In home poker games, it is typical to use an ante, and draw poker betting always begins with the player to the dealer's left. In casino play, it is more common to use blinds; the first draw poker betting round thus begins with the player to the left of the big blind, and subsequent rounds begin with the player to the dealer's left, thus draw poker games are very positional.

Some sample deals below will assume that a poker game is being played by four players: Alice, who is dealing in the examples, Bob, who is sitting to her left, Carol to his left, and David to Carol's left.

Standard five-card draw

This is often the first poker variant learned by most players, and is very common in home poker games although it is now quite rare in casino and tournament play. When played skillfully, it can become monotonous. The lowball variations described later are more interesting poker games. Two to eight players can play.

Play begins with each player being dealt five cards, one at a time, all face down. The remaining deck stub is placed aside, often protected by placing a chip or other marker on it. Players pick up the cards and hold them in their draw poker hands, being careful to keep them concealed from the other players. The first draw poker betting round occurs at this point, starting with the player to the dealer's left. If more than one player remains after this round, the "draw" phase begins. Each player specifies how many of his cards he wishes to replace, and discards that many from his draw poker hand. The deck stub is retrieved, and after a burn card is dealt, each player in turn is dealt the same number of cards he discarded, so that each player again has five cards. It is important that each player discards the cards he wishes to replace before he takes any replacements, and that he take the same number of replacements as he discarded. A second draw poker betting round occurs after the draw phase, followed by a showdown if more than one player remains.

A common "house rule" in some places is that a player may not replace more than three cards, unless he draws four cards while keeping an ace (or wild card). This rule is only needed for low-limit social poker games where many players will stay for the draw, and will help avoid depletion of the deck stub. In more serious poker games such as those played in casinos it is unnecessary and generally not used. A rule that is used by many casinos is that a player is not allowed to draw five consecutive cards from the deck. In this case, if a player wishes to replace all five of his cards, he is given four of them in turn, the other players are given their draws, and then the dealer returns to that player to give him his fifth replacement (if no later player drew, it is necessary to deal a burn card first).

Another common house rule is that the bottom card of the deck is never given as a replacement, to avoid the possibility of someone who might have seen it during the deal using that information. If the deck stub is depleted during the draw before all players have received their replacements, the last players can receive cards chosen randomly from among those discarded by previous players. For example, if the last player to draw wants three replacements but there are only two cards remaining in the deck stub, the dealer gives the player the one top card he can give, then shuffles together the bottom card of the deck, the burn card if any, and the earlier players' discards (but not the three discards of the last player!), and finally deals two more replacements to the last player.

Example: Alice deals five cards to each player and places the deck stub aside. Bob opens the draw poker betting round by draw poker betting $1. Carol folds, David calls, and Alice calls, closing the draw poker betting round. Bob now declares that he wishes to replace three of his cards, so he removes those three cards from his draw poker hand and discards them. Alice retrieves the deck stub, deals a burn card, and then deals three cards directly to Bob, who puts them in his draw poker hand. David discards one card, and Alice deals one card to him from the deck stub. Alice now discards three of her own cards, and replaces them with three from the top of the deck stub. Now a second draw poker betting round begins. Bob checks, David draw poker bets $3, Alice calls, and Bob folds, ending the second draw poker betting round. David shows a flush, and Alice shows two pair, so David takes the pot.

Other draw poker games

Gardena jackpots ("Jacks to open" or simply "Jackpots")

Played as above, with standard draw poker hand values, and with a single joker in the deck acting as a Bug. Always played with an ante and no blinds. On the first draw poker betting round, no player is allowed to open the draw poker betting unless his draw poker hand already contains a pair of jacks or a draw poker better draw poker hand. Other players who checked on the first round may subsequently call or raise if someone else opens. If no player opens, a new deal begins and everyone antes again into the same pot. The player who opened the draw poker betting keeps his discarded cards near him on the table so that he can prove, if necessary, that he had a sufficient opening draw poker hand. For example, a player with the K, J, 9, and 7 of clubs and the J of hearts has a pair of jacks and may open. He may wish to "break openers" in this case by discarding the jack of hearts in an attempt to make the club flush, so he keeps the discarded jack to prove that he was entitled to open.

The poker game is named after the city of Gardena, California, where this poker game was especially popular from the 1930s to 1970s (though it was always secondary to lowball). At that time, there were more public poker tables in that small city than in all the rest of the United States. Public poker rooms are still a big industry there, though Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and other locations now have many more poker rooms than they did at that time. Because "Jacks to open" was the primary form of high-draw poker hand draw poker played there, traditional draw poker was often described by the retronym "Guts to open".

In home poker games, it is common that when a deal is "passed out" (that is, when no one opens), the players re-ante, and the qualifier to open is raised to a pair of queens. If that deal is passed out, the qualifier is raised to kings, and finally to aces. This is called "progressive" jackpots.

California lowball

This was the primary poker game played in California during the heyday of Gardena in the 1970s. It is still played today, though its popularity has somewhat lessened since the introduction of stud poker and community card poker to the state.

Played as above, using Ace-to-five low draw poker hand values, with a single joker in the deck. Always played with blinds rather than antes, so players may not check on the first draw poker betting round (but may on the second round). A player with a 7-high draw poker hand or draw poker better who checks after the draw forfeits his right to win any money placed in the pot after the draw. (In other words, you may not check a "seven" unless you intend to fold when someone else draw poker bets). Another common rule in low-limit poker games is that a player who checks on the second draw poker betting round may not subsequently raise on that round. This latter rule is never used in poker games with pot limit or no limit draw poker betting structure.

Other forms of lowball

Five-card draw, with no joker, and Deuce-to-seven low draw poker hand values is called "Kansas City" or "Low Poker" or even "Billy Baxter" draw in honor of the player who dominated the world championship in the event for many years. The 7-high rule and the no check-and-raise rule do not apply. In the eastern United States, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere, Ace-to-six low draw poker hand values are common.

California high/low split

Played as above, with a single joker, used as a Bug. High draw poker hand and low draw poker hand (using the Ace-to-five low values) split the pot. An 8-high or draw poker better low is required to win low. If no draw poker hand qualifies low, high draw poker hand takes the whole pot. Played Cards speak, that is, players do not declare whether they intend to win the high or low half of the pot (or both); they simply show their cards and the best draw poker hands win. Because ace-to-five low values are used, a draw poker hand such as a low straight or flush can win both high and low, called "scooping" or "hogging" the pot.

High/low with declare

This is common in home poker games but is rarely found in casinos today. Played as are other versions of five-card draw, but after the second draw poker betting round and before the showdown, there is a simultaneous Declaration phase. Each player takes two chips from his stack and takes them under the table, bringing up a closed fist that contains either no chips (indicating that the player intends to win the low half of the pot), one chip (indicating that the player intends to win the high half), or two chips (indicating that he intends to scoop). When everyone has brought up the closed fist, the players all open their draw poker hands simultaneously to reveal their choices. If any player shows two chips, and his draw poker hand is the best low and the best high, he scoops the pot. Otherwise, half of the pot goes to the player with the highest draw poker hand who declared high, and the other half to the player with the lowest draw poker hand of those who declared low. There is no qualifying draw poker hand to win either high or low, and if no one declares in one direction, the full pot is awarded in the other (for example, if all players declare low, the low draw poker hand wins the whole pot rather than half). A player who declares for a scoop must win both ends outright, with no ties. For example, if a player declares scoop, has the lowest draw poker hand clearly but ties for high, he wins nothing. The other player with the same high draw poker hand wins the high half of the pot and the next-lowest draw poker hand wins low (assuming he declared low--if no other player declared low, the high draw poker hand who declared high wins the whole pot).

This poker game can be played with Deuce-to-seven low or Ace-to-six low draw poker hand values, but in that case it is nearly impossible to scoop (though you can still win the whole pot if everyone declares the same direction).

Double-draw and Triple-draw

Any poker game above can be played with two or three draw phases and therefore three or four draw poker betting rounds. Double-draw California lowball is a particularly good poker game. Triple draw lowball, either ace-to-five or deuce-to-seven, has gained some popularity among serious players. The 2004 World Series of Poker included a deuce-to-seven triple-draw lowball event.

Four-before

Another variation that can be applied to any poker game above, but that is especially suited to lowball. On the initial deal, only four cards are dealt to each player. A draw poker betting round follows, then each player draws one more card than he discards, completing his draw poker hand to five cards. Then the final draw poker betting round and showdown. Note that it is impossible to be dealt a "pat" draw poker hand, that is, a draw poker hand (such as a straight or flush) that is complete before the draw.

Johnson (and "Jacks back")

Played with one joker which acts as a Bug. Must be played with antes and no blinds. Each player is dealt five cards. The first draw poker betting round begins with the player to the dealer's left, who may check or open with anything. If any player opens, the poker game continues as traditional five-card draw poker. If the first round is passed out (that is, no one opens), then the player to the dealer's left may now open if he chooses, but the poker game has switched to California lowball. On the rare occasion that the deal is passed out yet again, players re-ante and deal again. This poker game plays well head-up (that is, with only two players). When the poker game is played that a pair of jacks or draw poker better is required to open on the first high-draw poker hand round, the poker game is called "Jacks back".

Some examples might help clarify: On the first deal, players ante and Alice deals five cards around. Bob sees that he has a 6-high straight, which is a very good draw poker hand for both high and low. He also wants to be deceptive about the value of his draw poker hand, so he checks. Carol opens for $1, David folds, Alice raises to $2, and Bob (who now realizes that Carol and Alice want to play high draw poker hands) reraises to $3, which is called by Carol and Alice. Bob announces that he "stands pat" (draws no cards). Carol draws three cards, and Alice draws two. Bob draw poker bets $2, Carol folds, Alice raises, and Bob calls. Bob shows his straight, but Alice has made a full house and wins the pot.

On the second deal, Bob has the same draw poker hand: a 6-high straight, and makes the same play, checking. This time, Carol also checks, as does David, and finally Alice. Now it is Bob's turn again, but now they are playing lowball. He opens for $1. Carol folds, and David raises to $2. Alice folds, and Bob reraises to $3 (a 6-high is a very good low draw poker hand; much draw poker better, in fact, than a 6-high straight would be for high). David calls. Bob stands pat, and David draws one card. Bob draw poker bets $2 (he is required to draw poker bet under California lowball rules since he has a draw poker hand draw poker better than 7-high), and David calls. Bob shows his 6-5-4-3-2 low, and David shows 7-5-4-3-A low, and Bob wins with his 6-high.

Q-Ball

This is a lowball poker game designed by Michael Wiesenberg that combines some of the variations mentioned above. It is generally played with three Blinds--one unit from the dealer, one unit to his left, and two units for the second player to the dealer's left. The deck contains one joker. Each player is dealt three cards, followed by a round of draw poker betting beginning with the player immediately after the big blind who may call the big blind, raise, or fold (there is no checking on the first round). Next, each player is dealt a fourth card, followed by a second round of draw poker betting starting with the still-active player to the dealer's left. No checking is allowed on this round either, despite the fact that there is no draw poker bet facing the first player; the first player must Open or fold. Each player is then dealt a fifth card, followed by a third draw poker betting round beginning on the dealer's left. At this point, checking is allowed. Finally, each player draws as in normal draw poker, followed by a fourth draw poker betting round and showdown. Ace-to-five low values are used.

Played at Fixed limit, it is recommended that the draw poker betting structure be 1-2-2-4; that is, the second and third draw poker betting rounds should allow a draw poker bet of twice the amount of the first round, and the final draw poker bet should allow four times the amount of the first round.

"Home" poker games

These are somewhat less-serious poker games that are typically played only in home poker games at small stakes. This does not necessarily mean that there is less opportunity for skillful play, just that the poker games are seen as more social than competitive.

Shotgun ("Roll 'em out" and "Skinny Minnie")

This is a draw poker game that plays much like a Stud poker game. First five cards are dealt to each player, followed by a draw poker betting round, and a draw. Now, in place of a second round and showdown, there is a Rollout phase, which begins with the players arranging their five cards in any chosen order, placing them face down in front of themselves. Each player's top card is now revealed, followed by a draw poker betting round. Then each player reveals his next card, followed by a draw poker betting round. Then a third card is revealed, followed by a draw poker betting round, a fourth card, a draw poker betting round, and finally a showdown. Players may not change the order of their cards at any time during the rollout phase.

This poker game can be played for high or low, but plays best at High-low split, in which case it is called "Skinny Minnie".

Spit in the ocean

This might be classified as a hybrid draw/Community card poker game, but it is placed here because it plays mostly as a draw poker game. On the initial deal, each player is dealt four cards, and then a single card is dealt to the center of the table face up. This card plays as if it were the fifth card in every player's draw poker hand. It is also a wild card, and every other card of its rank is also wild. The first draw poker betting round is then played, followed by a draw in which each player replaces cards from his draw poker hand with an equal number, so that each player still has only four cards in draw poker hand. A final draw poker betting round is followed by a showdown. High-draw poker hand values are used.

Here's a sample deal: Alice deals four cards to each player, then deals the next card face up to the center of the table. it is the 6 of diamonds, and this makes all 6-spot cards wild. Bob opens for $1, Carol raises to $2, David folds, Alice and Bob call. Bob discards two cards, and receives two replacements. Carol draws one card, and Alice draws one. Bob checks, Carol draw poker bets $2, Alice raises to $4, Bob folds, Carol reraises to $6, and Alice calls. The cards in Carol's draw poker hand are Q-Q-6-4. Because the 6 in her draw poker hand and the one on the board are wild, her draw poker hand is four queens. Alice's draw poker hand contains K-J-9-7, all spades. With the shared wild card, this gives her a flush, which loses to Carol's four queens.

Anaconda ("Pass the trash")

Seven cards are dealt to each player. Before the first draw poker betting round, each player examines his draw poker hand, and removes exactly three cards from his draw poker hand and places them on the table to his left. After each person has thus discarded, he picks up the cards discarded by his right-draw poker hand neighbor and places them in his draw poker hand (thus, each player will have given three cards to his left-draw poker hand neighbor). It is important that each player discard before looking at the cards he is to receive. After the first pass, there is a draw poker betting round. Then a second pass occurs, each player passing two cards to his right. A second draw poker betting round is followed by a third pass, each player passing one card to his left. Finally, a fourth draw poker betting round and a showdown, in which the player with the best five-card high draw poker hand he can make out of the seven in his draw poker hand wins the pot.

In some casual poker games, the showdown is replaced by a rollout phase, as described above in "Shotgun". This makes a total of eight draw poker betting rounds in the poker game, which generally destroys any chance for skillful play in the later rounds.

Ad hoc variants

Any of the above poker games can be modified in many ways upon player whim, by designating additional wild cards, draw poker betting rounds, more or fewer cards, altered draw poker hand values, and any other change agreed upon by all players prior to each deal. You can announce such a poker game by using the name of an existing poker game and specifying the variations, for example "Three-card Triple-draw California lowball, Kings wild" (a surprisingly good poker game head up). Many times this will result in a poker game that does not play well, but occasionally will produce a poker game that is well-suited to a particular group of players. Even if it doesn't, such poker games can be used sparingly to enliven an otherwise serious poker game.

Here are some general guidelines:

• If you want to designate some normal suited cards as wild, choose cards that would otherwise be bad for the poker game being played. For example, deuces wild for high-draw poker hand poker games, kings wild for lowball, 9-spots wild for High-low split (where an 8-high or lower is necessary to win low).
• High-low split poker games play best with more than four players.
• When playing high-low split, it is necessary to have either a Declaration phase or a qualifier (but not both). The most common form is 8-high or draw poker better to qualify low, but also common is any pair/no pair (that is, a pair or draw poker better is required to win high, and no pair or draw poker better low is required to win low), and 9-high for low.
• Designating more than four wild cards (or possibly six) will result in considerable confusion and many ties.
• Two to five draw poker betting rounds makes a good poker game. One round or more than five rounds reduces the amount of skill involved.
• Giving each player more than eight or nine cards usually makes a bad poker game. (Note that in Anaconda, each player will have seen up to thirteen cards!)