← All card games

Five-Card Draw Rules

Five-Card Draw is the classic poker game everyone learns first: five cards, one draw, and the best hand wins.

👥 2–6 players ⏱ 20–40 min 🎯 Difficulty ●●○○○ 🃏 Betting Games

Setup

Each player is dealt five cards face-down. Antes or blinds seed the pot.

How to Play

A betting round, then each remaining player discards and draws up to five new cards. A final betting round follows.

Showdown

The best five-card poker hand wins. Since players can draw to straights and flushes, drawing games reward hand-reading.

Strategy

Keep pairs and draw to improve them; draw one to four-card flushes and straights. Position matters — acting last lets you size up opponents.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cards can you draw in Five-Card Draw?

Up to five — you may discard your entire hand and draw a new one.

Is Five-Card Draw the same as video poker?

Video poker is based on Five-Card Draw, but you play against a pay table rather than other players.

▶ Play Five-Card Draw online — free