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.

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