Playing Five-Card Poker

There is a great increase in popularity in the game of poker. By using poker tournaments like the World Series of Poker, the Texas Hold'em style of poker has overtaken the television, casino, and fundraising world. There are numerous willing to set down some cold, hard cash for a chance at final table glory. There are also most of us that don't know how to play the popular card game. Poker is a casino game of skill and chance that is available in many forms; Texas Hold'em is but one. Someone new to the game should try learning a simpler version, five-card draw.

First things first, familiarization with the winning hand rankings is important. This order holds true for all versions of poker. The following list is from highest to lowest possible winning hands. The four suits are clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades.




Royal flush - ten, jack, queen, king, and ace of the same suit


Straight flush - five consecutive ordered cards of the same suit


Four of a kind - four cards of the same number


Full house - three of a sort plus a couple of another number


Flush - five cards of the same suit


Straight - five consecutive ordered cards of any suit


Three of a sort - three cards of the same number


Two pair - two individual groups of cards with the same numbers


Pair - two cards with the same number


High card - highest single card


All players are required to enter an ante to be dealt in to the hand. An ante is a set bet used to begin every pot. The total amount of this bet can be set to suit any group's needs. Once all players add their ante to the pot, they are dealt five cards, face down. All players are then permitted to look at their cards and decide if they need to stay in the hand or fold, leaving the game and losing their ante. At this time players are examining their cards to find the best winning hand possible.

If a player thinks they have a great hand, or chance at one, they'll stay in the game. These players will make their bets. The player left of the dealer starts the betting cycle. Their choice is always to check or bet. If they check, they make no bet and the next player has the option to also check or bet, add money to the pot making all players pay to stay in the hand. If the first player bets, then the next player has the option to call, meet with the bet, or raise, meet the bet and add more to it. A raise causes other players to commit more cash to the pot to play.

Once the betting circle is complete and all players have paid or folded, the players are allowed to discard up to three cards. Some circles allow replacing four cards if an ace may be the one card left. Players hope to better their hands with the cards they replace in this step. The cards are dealt one player at a time following proper dealing order. This is now followed by another round of betting, once again.

At the end with this round of betting the winner will be determined. If in this final betting the pot was raised, the last one to raise the pot is the first to show their cards. If all check, then the first person to the left of the dealer shows their cards first. All players' cards are then compared to the rank of winning hands. The winner gets all the money in the pot.

Ties are broken according to their rank. A tied royal flush is rare, but if it happens then the winner is determined by highest suit. The rank of suits is, from lowest to highest: clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades. The royal flush with the highest suit rank wins. A straight flush's winner is dependent upon highest straight or suit, if necessary. Four of a kind is won by the highest hand, as may be the full house. For a straight, the highest straight or suit will win. A flush tie is won by the highest card, or suit. Three of a kind, two pair, and dewapoker pair ties are won by the highest set. For cases that one pair is the same winning hand for two people, the winner is determined by the highest card besides the pair in the hand.

There are many variations of five-card draw poker, as with all other cards. It is best to ensure everyone is using the same rules ahead of the ante hits the pot. This simple step avoids any heartache over lost pots due to misunderstandings between players. Practice with family and friends for fun and enjoy the overall game. Once this version seems easy to play, expand to others; but always play responsibly.