DRAW POKER GAMES

DRAW POKER GAMES
HomePokerEdge.com has "table tested" most of these draw poker game variations and we think you will find them interesting, challenging and fun additions to your dealer's choice home poker game. In addition to explaining how to play each game, we provide valuable playing tips and insider information on how to play and win many of these unique draw poker game variations. 

The descriptions and instructions provided assume you already familiar with how to play draw poker and other basic poker games. If you want to know more about any of these games, please let us know via our Contact HPE page. Ask a question or share your own playing experiences. We enjoy hearing from our readers and will provide a personal response. ​​

The Dealer's choice poker games on this page are based on draw poker, but there are lots of other games, too:
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 Hold 'em Poker Games
 Omaha Poker Games
 Stud Poker Games 
 Wild Card Poker Games  
 Other (non-poker) Games
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Most of the games described may be played as high-low split. Playing high-low split poker games introduces many additional factors that must be considered.  See our High-Low Poker Guide for playing tips, hand odds or probabilities and much more information you will need to play high-low spilt poker games. ​​

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ARCHIE  
5 card draw played as high-low split with minimum hand qualifying requirements for both the high and low.  The minimum hand needed to win high is a pair of nines.  The low hand must be eight-high or lower (i.e., 5 unpaired cards with no card higher than an eight).  Lowest hand is 5432A and straights and flushes do not disqualify the low hand, so a low straight or flush could scoop the entire pot. If there is a qualifying hand in only one direction, but not the other, the single qualifying hand wins the entire pot.   All winning hands must be shown to verify that they meet the qualifying requirements.  If no player has a qualifying hand, the game is re-played, but only with those players who stayed in the previous hand to the showdown.   No player may bet or raise at the showdown unless they possess a qualifying hand.  They may only check or call another player's bet.  This is done to prevent a non-qualifying player from trying to thin the field if the game needs to be re-played.

OMA-DRAW
A  combination of 5 Card Draw and a 5 card version of Omaha.  The highest 5 Card Draw hand and the highest Omaha hand split the pot.
Each player is dealt 5 hole cards.  After a round of betting deal 3 community board cards as the flop.  Each player may now discard and draw up to 3 cards to their hole cards.  From that point continue the game as in Omaha.  For their Omaha hand each player uses exactly 2 hole cards and 3 board cards.   Their 5 Card Draw hand is the 5 cards held as their hole cards. 

42 (FORTY-TWO) DRAW POKER
A variation of draw poker which includes some common board cards. Each player is dealt 4 hole cards. Two cards are placed face down on the board. After a round of betting 1 of the board cards is turned face up, another betting round and the second is turned up. Players may discard and draw up to 2 cards to their hole cards. Players make their hand by using any 5 of the 6 cards available to them (4 hole cards and 2 board cards).   
Playing tips for 42 Draw Poker.  Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, hand odds, starting hand selection and more.

52 (FIFTY-TWO) DRAW POKER
A variation of draw poker which 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 discard and draw up to 3 cards to their hole cards. Players must use all 5 hole cards OR 3 hole cards and both board cards to make their hand. (4 hole and 1 board is not permitted.)  
Playing tips for 52 Draw Poker.  Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, hand odds, starting hand selection and more.​

5-4-3 DRAW POKER
A variation of 5 card draw poker with the addition of 2 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 discard and draw up to 3 cards to their hole cards. Players make their hand in any of 3 ways: use 3 hole cards and both board cards OR 4 hole cards and 1 board card, OR all 5 hole cards and no board cards.  
Playing tips for 5-4-3 Draw Poker.  Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, hand odds, starting hand selection and more.

DOG LEG POKER
A combination of 5 card draw and 5 card stud.  Start the game by dealing and playing 5 card draw in the normal manner.  After the draw the game turns into a variation of 5 card stud.  Each player arranges their cards in any order they wish and places them in a pile face down on the table in front of them.  Once that is done, the order of the cards may not be changed. Each player initially reveals their first two cards, but thereafter cards 3, 4 and 5 are revealed one card at a time.  There is a round of betting between each reveal. 
May be played as cards speak with no declaration.  If declaration is used, it should be made prior to revealing the last card. 
Playing tips for Dog Leg Poker.  Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, hand odds, starting hand selection and more.

JACKS OR LOWBALL
5 Card Draw poker.  Played for high with a pair or jacks or better required to open. Clockwise from the left of the dealer all players have the opportunity to open or pass. If a player opens the game continues as standard 5 Card Draw poker with the highest hand winning the entire pot.
However, if all players pass the game converts to Ace to Five Lowball Draw poker.  Starting again from the left of the dealer, all players now have the opportunity to open or pass. There is no minimum low hand needed to open; any hand may do so.  Lowest hand wins the entire pot

JACKS BACK
5 card draw played as high-low split with minimum hand qualifying requirements for both the high and low.  The minimum hand needed to win high is a pair of jacks.  The low hand must be jack high or lower (i.e. 5 unpaired cards with no card higher than a jack).  Lowest hand is 5432A and straights and flushes do not disqualify the low hand, so a low straight or flush could scoop the entire pot. If there is a qualifying hand in only one direction, but not the other, the single qualifying hand wins the entire pot.  All winning hands must be shown to verify that they meet the qualifying requirements.  If none of the players has any qualifying hand, the game is re-played, but only with those players who stayed in the previous hand to the end.  At the showdown no player may bet or raise unless they possess a qualifying hand.  This is done to prevent a player with a non-qualifying hand from unfairly trying to thin the field should the game need to be re-played.
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PICK EM DRAW POKER
Deal 2 cards face down to each player followed by a round of betting.  Now, deal piles with 3 cards in each pile on the table equal to the number of players plus one.  Each pile is to have 2 cards face down and 1 card face up, with the face up card on the top. Starting with the player to the dealer's left each player selects 1 of the piles, which now gives them a 5 card hand.  The one remaining group of cards is mucked.  After a round of betting, each player may discard and draw up to 2 cards.  

5 CARD DRAW with OPEN DISCARD
5 card draw poker played as high-low split.  Played exactly like traditional 5 card draw, except that each player must reveal to the other players the cards that they are discarding when they make their draw.  This will provide information regarding whether a player may be going for the high hand or the low hand.  It also gives players information regarding the chances of drawing to their hand. 

5 CARD DRAW with OPEN DRAW
5 card draw poker played as high-low split.  Played exactly like traditional 5 card draw, except that each player's draw is dealt face up.  In order to help disguise a players hand this game must be played high-low split.  

ACE - FIVE LOWBALL
Ace to Five Lowball is 5 Card Draw poker played as low only.  The best hand is 5432A.  Only the ranks of the cards are important as straights and flushes are ignored.  There is one opportunity to draw cards.  Also known as California Lowball.
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2 - 7 LOWBALL (DEUCE to SEVEN LOWBALL)
Version of 5 Card Draw poker for low only.  The best low hand is 75432.  Straights and flushes disqualify the low hand. Aces are counted as a high card only.   There is one opportunity to draw cards.  Also known as Kansas City Lowball. 

2 - 7 (DEUCE to SEVEN) LOWBALL TRIPLE DRAW
Version of 5 Card Draw poker for low only.  The best low hand is 75432.  Straights and flushes disqualify the low hand. Aces are counted as a high card only.   There are 3 opportunities to discard and draw cards with a round of betting after each draw.  

 3 CARD TRIPLE DRAW
This game is played as low only with lowest hand being 32A. 
Deal 3 cards to each player.  There are 3 opportunities to draw cards with a betting round between each.  Players may discard and draw up to 3 cards in each round.  Re-shuffle and use discards if necessary.
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5 CARD TRIPLE DRAW
This game is played for low only.  The lowest hand is 5432A.  Deal 5 cards to each player.  There are three opportunities for each player to discard and draw up to 4 cards in each.  Betting rounds before the first draw and after each draw.  Prior to each draw, shuffle the discards in with the other cards remaining in the deck.

LAST ONE STANDING
A cross between draw poker and 5 card stud that is played as high hand only.  All cards are dealt face up though out the game. Start by dealing each player 3 cards.  After the 3rd up card is dealt the highest 3-card hand starts a betting round.  Deal 4th card with the highest 4 card hand starting another betting round. Deal the 5th card with the highest 5 card hand starting another betting round.
Starting with the player to the left of the high hand, each player (except the high hand) must now discard and draw up to 5 cards. Each player slides the cards they wish to discard forward, but still face up. The dealer replaces those cards also face up. If a player's new hand is not better than his original hand he's out of the game. The high hand must stand as is. 
Any discarded and folded cards are shuffled back into the deck. 
The high hand starts another betting round, then each remaining player again must draw new cards.  This process is repeated until all but one person has been knocked out of the game for not bettering their hand with their draw.
Improving or not improving a drawing hand can be incremental.  For example, a player holds KQJT2, discards the deuce and draws one card.  Any card of 3 or better will improve this hand. (i.e., KQJT3 is an improvement over KQJT2.)  Another example:  A player has AAKKQ and discards the Q.  Only another A or K will improve this hand.  Drawing any other card will not improve it. 

3 CARD DROP with DRAW- LONG VERSION
A three card poker game played for high only. Each player is dealt 3 down cards. There is an initial ante and one round of betting prior to the draw.   Best 3 card hand wins with this ranking: high card, pair, flush, straight, trips, straight flush. (Why is straight ranked higher than flush? See the probabilities of 3 card poker.) After receiving and looking at cards each player may draw up to 2 cards before the declaration.  A round of betting occurs before drawing cards.  Each player must now decide if they wish to drop out or stay in game. This is done by all players simultaneously declaring in or drop by means of chips: no chip in hand = drop. One chip in hand = play. Here is what happens after declaration:
When only 1 player declares "play" that player wins the entire pot and the game is over.
If all players drop out there is no winner.  All players ante again and the game is replayed.
If more than 1 player declares "play", there is a showdown. The highest hand wins the pot. However, the game does not end. Each loser must now fund a new pot by paying in an amount of chips equal to the pot that was just won. Additionally, each player must re-ante. A new hand is dealt to compete for this new pot.
The key elements to 3 card drop with draw is that the game can not end until only one player declares "play" and that the game keeps repeating and the pot keeps increasing until that happens.  There is the potential to create huge pots and win or lose sums well beyond your normal limits or expectations and comfort level. There is also the potential create a lot of tension and ill-will between players when a losing player must pay an unusually large sum into a pot.  This is not a game for the faint of heart.  You can limit the pots by reducing the additional antes to a fraction of the initial ante, stopping re-antes altogether after a few rounds and by exempting a loser from also having to make a re-ante.  You may also wish to place a maximum cap on the amount losers must pay.
Playing Tips for 3 Card Drop with Draw Poker (all versions):  Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, hand rankings, starting hand selection, hand and drawing odds and more.

3 CARD DROP with DRAW - SHORT VERSION
This version of 3 card drop with draw will result in a quicker game, smaller pots and reduced likelihood that it will cost the loser(s) a lot of money. As in the long version, when only 1 player declares "play" they win the entire pot and when no one declares "play" the players re-ante and play again. However, when more than 1 player declares "play" the winner takes the pot plus each loser must match the pot and pay it to the winner. The game then ends.

3 CARD DROP with DRAW and GHOST HAND
Play exactly like 3 Card Drop with Draw, but deal an additional hand to a "ghost" player.  The "ghost" hand is only revealed when just one player declares "play".  When that occurs, the "ghost" hand is exposed.  The "play" player's hand must beat the ghost hand in order to win the pot.  If it does not, that player must pay the pot and the game continues.  The ghost hand must remain secret, so it does not draw and must stand pat with its 3 original cards.

​OUTHOUSE
Outhouse derives its name from its unique "no flushing" rule.  That is, common flushes are not recognized as legitimate hands, although straight flushes are.
Outhouse has 2 pots.  One is referred to as the "main pot" which builds throughout the game and is awarded at the end of the game to the best 5 card poker hand.  Each round also has a "side pot" which is awarded to the best 2 card poker hand at the end of each round. A new side pot is created on each following round.  There are a total of 3 rounds.  An equal amount is always placed into each pot on ALL bets or raises. (i.e., if you make a 2 chip bet you must place 2 chips in each pot.  That 2 chip bet will actually cost you 4 chips in total)
 1st Round: Start the game by dealing a total of 5 cards face down to each player with a round of betting after each receives their 3rd, 4th, and 5th cards. Each player then selects 2 of their 5 cards and places them face down in front of them.  Each player's 2 card hand is revealed and the best hand wins this first "side" pot.
The money in the main pot remains.  Each player keeps their remaining 3 cards. The exposed 2-card hands are shuffled back into the deck.
2nd Round: Each player is dealt 3 more cards face down, one card at a time with a round of betting between each card.  For this round the deal and betting starts with the player who won the first pot.
Again, all bets are split between the main pot and the new side pot.
At the end of this round each player is now holding 6 down cards - 3 from the initial deal, and 3 new ones.
Again, each player places 2 cards face down in front of them, those cards are revealed, and the best 2 card hand wins the side pot.
Final Round:  Each player now has 4 cards remaining.
Deal each player 3 more down cards, one at a time with a round of betting between each card. Start with the player who won the 2nd side pot.
Each player places 2 cards face down in front of them, those cards are revealed, and the best 2 card hand wins the side pot.
Each player's remaining 5 cards are revealed, and the best 5 card hand (except flushes) wins the main pot.

SPIT IN THE OCEAN
5 Card Draw with a shared common card.  Deal each player 4 down cards.  Deal a single card up in the center of the table.  This card is used as the 5th card in each players hand.   After a round of betting each player may draw up to 3 cards to their hand.

JACKS TO OPEN - TRIPS TO WIN
Standard 5 card Jacks to Open Draw poker with this additional requirement:  In order to win the pot a player must have at least 3 of a kind.   Whenever a pot is opened, but no player possesses at least 3 of a kind at the showdown all remaining players ante again and the game is replayed. ​

DRAW POKER with JOKER
5 card draw poker with 1 joker added to the deck. It is played high only.  The joker serves as a wild card, but in a limited way. It may be used to complete straights and flushes and also as an ace, but not for any other purpose. 

RUNNING OUT of CARDS
A risk to draw poker games is the possibility that there are an insufficient number of cards remaining in the deck to complete a hand.  The best way to deal with that is to avoid it in the first place.  It may be that your simply refrain from dealing games where the chance of running out of cards is high.  Alternatively, the number of cards that can be drawn by each player may be reduced to a number that assures that, if all players draw the maximum, there are sufficient cards remaining in the deck to do so.  Lastly, it is important that the dealer remain aware of the possibility of running out of cards and be ready to implement a remedy when necessary.

Running out of cards in draw poker games requires a complicated remedy.  It requires reusing the cards discarded by prior players, while preventing players from receiving any of the cards they themselves discarded back as part of their draw. When it is noted that there are insufficient cards remaining, shuffle all the discards from this point back into the deck. The next player makes their discard, but those cards are held separate for now. The cards they discarded are shuffled back into the deck after they have received their draw. The next player follows the same procedure, and the process repeats until the drawing round is completed.  ​

HOLD 'EM POKER GAMES

OMAHA POKER GAMES

STUD POKER GAMES

WILD CARD POKER GAMES

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