PLAYING TIPS for 52 DRAW POKER
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HOW TO PLAY FIFTY-TWO DRAW POKER:
52 Draw poker is a variation of draw poker which also includes some common board cards. Each player is dealt 5 hole cards. Two cards are placed face down on the table. After a round of betting 1 of the cards is turned face up, another betting round and the second is turned up. Players may now discard and draw up to 3 cards to their hole cards. Players must use 5 hole cards OR 3 hole cards and both common board cards to make their hand. (Using 4 hole cards and 1 from the board is not permitted.) May be played high-low split. With 5 hole cards and a draw of up to 3 cards, 52 Draw Poker is not recommended for more than 6 or 7 players. Playing with more than 7 players will typically result in running out of cards which is something best avoided. Should that happen, collect and re-shuffle discards and use them. |
SUMMARY of ACTION:
Deal 5 hole cards to each player. Place 2 cards face down on table. Bet Reveal 1 card. Bet Reveal 2nd card. Bet Draw cards (maximum 3 per player). Bet High only or Hi-Lo Cards Speak: Showdown High-Low Declaration: Declare Bet Showdown |
PLAYING TIPS FOR 52 DRAW POKER
The first and most important thing to remember in Fifty-Two draw poker is that you must play either the five cards in your hand or 3 from your hand and both of the board cards. You can never play 4 from your hand and just one of the board cards. This is the most common mistake players make.
Position is important in 52 draw poker. Because of the opportunity to draw cards, players in late position have an advantage. They get to learn how many cards the players ahead of them draw before they have to make their own draw. That is valuable information for reading your opponents' intent to play high or low. As an example, suppose the board is KJ and everyone before you draws 2 or 3 cards. You should consider standing pat with just about any low hand. Standing pat will signal you have a very good hand. And, the odds are against an opponent drawing 2 or 3 cards to make a good low. Whenever you are in late position you should be keeping this move in mind, as it is important to show strength by betting or raising before the draw in order to make your standing pat believable. However, if two or more players make a 1 card draw they probably have a draw to a better hand than a ragged low and you should probably draw to improve. Against a single opponent who draws one card you may wish to still stand pat to see what happens next. You are hoping they either declare for the high hand or, if not, they fold to your bet or raise. If they call you are most likely up against a decent low. Should they raise it is more likely an excellent low. If you continue or fold now depends on the strength of your hand. Never announce your drawing decision until it is your turn.
For low, because there is the opportunity to draw cards, one might be tempted to play just about any starting hand, even something like A2. Fight that temptation. You should really have at least 3 cards in your hand, or cards with multiple potentials in order to play. Consider using the same starting hand selection that you would use in 5 card draw.
STARTING HAND SELECTION
By keeping the requirement noted above in mind, it is fairly easy to identify the types of starting hands you’d like in 52 draw poker:
A pat high hand: straight, flush, full house or 4 of a kind. Bear in mind that these are long shots. The probabilities/odds chart below outlines your chances of being dealt those hands.
Trips is also a good starting hand. If the board pairs, you have a full house. But, be cautious if the board pair is of a higher rank than your trips. You also have the opportunity to improve by drawing. Depending upon the board cards, trips may even stand up by themselves. But, if the board cards are coordinated (eg suited or connected) or both higher than your trips, play them cautiously and be prepared to fold if you do not improve.
A pat low hand: Generally at least an 8 low, but, obviously, the lower the better. The 2 board cards have a major bearing on what you will probably need to win. If both of those 2 cards are 7 or under, your pat 8 low is probably not enough. But, if one or both of the board cards is higher than your highest card you are usually in decent shape. When playing for low you always want your 5 card hand to be better than the best hand that can be made using the board cards. For example, with a board of 87, you'd want to have no worse than 86 as your low.
Drawing hands: 4 card drawing hands can be deceptive. Because of the rules you can't use 4 hole cards to make a hand. If you start with 4 card hands such as 4 to a straight or flush or 2 pair in order for the board to complete your hand both of those must be helpful. So, holding 4 to a flush, both the board cards must be of the same suit and your hand is actually made using the 2 board cards and 3 of your hole cards. Of course, even if the board cards miss you there is still a back-up plan for these hands as you can make a one card draw.
3 card drawing hands may be played if they include multiple draws such as both 3 card straight and flush with low potential as well.
The first and most important thing to remember in Fifty-Two draw poker is that you must play either the five cards in your hand or 3 from your hand and both of the board cards. You can never play 4 from your hand and just one of the board cards. This is the most common mistake players make.
Position is important in 52 draw poker. Because of the opportunity to draw cards, players in late position have an advantage. They get to learn how many cards the players ahead of them draw before they have to make their own draw. That is valuable information for reading your opponents' intent to play high or low. As an example, suppose the board is KJ and everyone before you draws 2 or 3 cards. You should consider standing pat with just about any low hand. Standing pat will signal you have a very good hand. And, the odds are against an opponent drawing 2 or 3 cards to make a good low. Whenever you are in late position you should be keeping this move in mind, as it is important to show strength by betting or raising before the draw in order to make your standing pat believable. However, if two or more players make a 1 card draw they probably have a draw to a better hand than a ragged low and you should probably draw to improve. Against a single opponent who draws one card you may wish to still stand pat to see what happens next. You are hoping they either declare for the high hand or, if not, they fold to your bet or raise. If they call you are most likely up against a decent low. Should they raise it is more likely an excellent low. If you continue or fold now depends on the strength of your hand. Never announce your drawing decision until it is your turn.
For low, because there is the opportunity to draw cards, one might be tempted to play just about any starting hand, even something like A2. Fight that temptation. You should really have at least 3 cards in your hand, or cards with multiple potentials in order to play. Consider using the same starting hand selection that you would use in 5 card draw.
STARTING HAND SELECTION
By keeping the requirement noted above in mind, it is fairly easy to identify the types of starting hands you’d like in 52 draw poker:
A pat high hand: straight, flush, full house or 4 of a kind. Bear in mind that these are long shots. The probabilities/odds chart below outlines your chances of being dealt those hands.
Trips is also a good starting hand. If the board pairs, you have a full house. But, be cautious if the board pair is of a higher rank than your trips. You also have the opportunity to improve by drawing. Depending upon the board cards, trips may even stand up by themselves. But, if the board cards are coordinated (eg suited or connected) or both higher than your trips, play them cautiously and be prepared to fold if you do not improve.
A pat low hand: Generally at least an 8 low, but, obviously, the lower the better. The 2 board cards have a major bearing on what you will probably need to win. If both of those 2 cards are 7 or under, your pat 8 low is probably not enough. But, if one or both of the board cards is higher than your highest card you are usually in decent shape. When playing for low you always want your 5 card hand to be better than the best hand that can be made using the board cards. For example, with a board of 87, you'd want to have no worse than 86 as your low.
Drawing hands: 4 card drawing hands can be deceptive. Because of the rules you can't use 4 hole cards to make a hand. If you start with 4 card hands such as 4 to a straight or flush or 2 pair in order for the board to complete your hand both of those must be helpful. So, holding 4 to a flush, both the board cards must be of the same suit and your hand is actually made using the 2 board cards and 3 of your hole cards. Of course, even if the board cards miss you there is still a back-up plan for these hands as you can make a one card draw.
3 card drawing hands may be played if they include multiple draws such as both 3 card straight and flush with low potential as well.