Rules
for Draw Poker
Introduction
Draw poker is the original
version of the game and is always played with
closed hands of cards. Each player is initially
dealt five cards down. After the first betting
round, each player can exchange up to four
of these five cards.
To determine the winning hand
at the showdown, each player must display
all five cards.
The dealer for each game is
designated with a Dealer-Button. This button
is passed on in a clockwise direction after
each game. In this way, each player in turn
has the advantage of being last to call the
play.
Limits
Draw poker is a classic no-limit
game, however Spread-limits and Pot-limits
are not unusual.
Game Procedure
1. Determining the first
dealer :
The croupier deals one card
open to each player in turn, beginning with
the player on the left. The player with the
High-Card by Suit (Spades, Hearts, Diamonds,
Clubs) receives the first dealer button. The
open cards dealt are then returned to the
deck.
2. Ante :
Each player pays in the relevant
ante for the valid limit before the initial
deal
3. initial Deal :
The dealer gives five cards
down to each player, one after the other,
beginning with the player on the left of the
Dealer-Button.
4. First Betting Round :
The player on the left of the
Dealer-Button has the first say. The following
options are possible :
a) Pass
b) Bet within the valid
limit
The following players decide
in the following manner :
a) Pass
b) Call
c) Raise
5. Draw :
Each player can now exchange
up to 4 of their Hole-Cards, beginning with
the player on the left of the Dealer-Button.
The discarded cards are passed to the croupier.
The dealer takes these cards
and immediately exchanges them for the same
number of cards from the deck. Once all players
have exchanged cars, the game continues.
6. Second
and Final Betting Round :
The first active player left
of the Dealer-Button has the following options
:
a) Check
b) Pass
c) Bet within the limit
permitted.
7. Showdown
:
When all betting has finished,
the cards are revealed on the table. The dealer
decides on the winning hand.
IV Special
Draw Rules
1. Announcing
the Draw :
The players must say how many
cards they wish to exchange or declare that
they “Stand pat” i.e. do not wish to exchange
any cards.
2. Too few
cards for a complete draw :
In the event that not enough
cards remain for a draw, the procedure is
as follows :
The player receives the cards
remaining in the deck and then the dealer
shuffles the burn-cards and the cards discarded
by the previous players. The player then receives
the remainder of the exchange cards. The cards
discarded by the player are of course not
included in the shuffle.
3. Decision
on amount of Draw Cards :
The players may change their
minds on the amount of cards to draw, up to
the time the dealer deals the first exchange
card or the next player has announced the
draw.
4. Information
concerning Draw Cards :
The player must answer truthfully
when asked by another active player how many
cards they have exchanged, as long as the
second betting round has not yet started.
5. Too many
or too few cards :
a) Before the first
betting round
If a player claims to have
less than five cards before the first betting
round, then they shall receive the missing
amount of cards at the end of the deal as
long as the betting round has not started.
If the games has been opened, then only the
player with the Dealer-Button can receive
the missing amount with their draw cards.
b) After the draw
If a player claims to have
too few or too many cards after the draw,
this constitutes a bum-hand.
6. Open cards
:
If a card is accidentally dealt
open during the draw, the player is not permitted
to keep the card. The player receives a replacement
card at the end of the draw.
