Playing Five-Card Poker

There is a great increase in popularity in the game of poker. With the help of poker tournaments like the World Series of poker 99 (www.hisen.hmti.ac.by), the Texas Hold'em style of poker has overtaken the television, casino, and fundraising world. There are numerous willing to lay out some cold, hard cash for a chance at final table glory. There are also many of us that do not know how to play the popular card game. Poker is a game of skill and chance that will come 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 kind plus a pair 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 into the hand. An ante is a set bet used to begin every pot. The amount of this bet can be set to suit any group's needs. Once all players add their ante to the pot, they truly are dealt five cards, face down. All players are then allowed to look at their cards and decide if they desire to stay in the hand or fold, leaving the game and losing their ante. Currently players are examining their cards to find the best winning hand possible.

If a player thinks they have a good hand, or chance at one, they are going to stay in the overall game. These players will make their bets. The player to the left of the dealer starts the betting cycle. Their choice is to check or bet. If they check, they make no bet and the next player has the choice 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 a next player has the option to call, meet with the bet, or raise, meet with the bet and add more to it. A raise causes other players to commit more income 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, just as before.

At the end of the round of betting the winner will be determined. If with this final betting the pot was raised, the last someone to raise the pot is the first to show their cards. If all check, then the first person 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 profit the pot.

Ties are broken depending on 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 best 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 best straight or suit will win. A flush tie is won by the greatest card, or suit. Three of a sort, two pair, and 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 apart from the pair in the hand.

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