5-Card Draw Basic Strategy

5-Card Draw is considered the poker variant easiest to learn and play. This might be true if you refer strictly to the rules of the game, but it can be quite difficult to win if you lack certain skills. Reading people is important in games of 5-Card Draw, maybe more important than knowing hand rankings. Let me explain.

Watching the face and the behaviour of your opponents during the game can give away their intentions and the value of their hands. A player with a high hand might cheer up, and start betting higher amounts. A player with a grumpy face might have a lower ranking hand, and might be easily determined to forfeit.

When playing online, reading the faces is – obviously – not possible, so you have to read their betting habits. Bigger bets usually indicate a stronger hand. Also, it is important to watch the hands during the showdown – keeping track of an opponent’s bets and tieing that to their hand might give some hints about their betting style.

Also, it is important to keep an eye on the number of cards each opponent is drawing. The number of cards replaced can give you a hint about the strength of that respective hand. For example, if a player draws four cards, he may have a high card in hand and may be going for a pair or above. If a player draws just one card, he might have two pairs or three of a kind, but he might also have an incomplete flush or straight. Take special care when betting against a player who doesn’t draw any cards – this usually means he has a strong strarting hand.

Being selective with your starting hand is always a wise strategy when playing 5-Card Draw. If your odds are low, it’s usually a better idea to fold. You can, of course, draw four cards if you have a high card, say an ace, in your hand, but the chances of getting favourable cards are low. Initial hands with a pair or two, with an incomplete straight or flush are usually worth a try – you can always fold after the cards drawn aren’t the ones you expected.

Patience is a virtue when playing 5-Card Draw – you should not chase hands, but let them come to you. Avoid betting if your chances to win are low, and go for it when your chances are good. This way you can avoid losing too many hands and can go for a consistent winning.

Another important thing in poker, especially when playing at a real poker table, is to keep a ‘poker face’ – not to let your emotions showing on your face. When playing online, a ‘poker face’ means not to go all-in each time you have a hand that you are sure to win, as this will scare away players with lower hands that would have otherwise contributed to a higher pot.

Besides all this strategy, don’t forget to have fun. 5-Card Draw is a game after all, invented to entertain.

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