5 Card Poker – Rules, Hands In Order & How To Play

If you’ve ever been curious about poker, but felt unsure where to start, 5 Card Poker (more widely known as 5 Card Draw) is one of the simplest versions to learn. 

This blog takes you through the essentials: what the game is, how a round plays out, some key rules, and how different hands are ranked. By the end, you’ll have a clearer picture of how the game works and what makes it different from other forms of poker. 

What Is 5 Card Poker?

5 Card Poker, often referred to as 5 Card Draw, is a traditional version of poker played with a standard 52-card deck. The game usually involves between two and six players, each aiming to try and create the strongest possible five-card hand. Unlike community card games such as Texas Hold’em, every card you hold in this game belongs solely to you and remains hidden from other players until the final reveal.

The game is known for being easy to understand compared to some other poker formats. Each round is relatively short, which makes it suitable for beginners who want to get familiar with the structure of poker, without too many stages to remember. 

The basic idea is that you start with five cards, have a chance to swap some of them, and then compare your final hand against others. Whoever has the highest-ranking hand wins the pot — the total of all bets placed during the round.

It’s important to note that poker combines elements of decision-making and chance. Even if you play cautiously and understand hand rankings well, outcomes depend on how the cards are dealt.

How To Play 5 Card Poker

The gameplay is relatively straightforward once you understand the sequence. A typical round usually follows these steps:

1. Starting the hand – Each player places an ante, which is a small compulsory bet. This helps to build the pot and ensures that each round has value. In some home games, blinds may be used instead.
    
2. Dealing – Every player receives five cards face down. These cards belong only to you.
    
3. First betting round – Once you have your cards, you can either:
   
   • Fold – choose not to continue in this round and give up your ante.
      
   • Call – match the current highest bet on the table.
      
   • Raise – increase the size of the bet, which other players will need to match if they want to continue.
      
4. The draw phase – Players who remain in the round can discard and replace some cards. Depending on house rules, you may exchange up to five cards, although many casinos limit this to three unless you hold an Ace.
    
5. Second betting round – Another round of betting takes place with the same options to fold, call or raise.
    
6. Showdown – If more than one player remains, everyone reveals their hands. The player with the strongest hand ranking wins the pot.

In digital poker games offered by many licensed UK casinos, cards are shuffled and dealt using a Random Number Generator (RNG) to ensure fairness. In live online poker, a real dealer handles the deck on camera, but the order of play remains the same.

5 Card Poker Rules

Although the game is simple, a few standard rules may apply:

• Deck – A full 52-card deck is used, with no jokers.
   
• Antes or blinds – Games usually begin with an ante or blind bet to seed the pot. The size of this is normally set before play begins.
   
• Draw limit – Most live casinos and online sites restrict the number of cards you can discard. If discarding more than three is allowed, it usually requires holding at least one Ace.
   
• Betting – Bets are placed in fixed order, moving clockwise around the table. The betting limits (such as fixed-limit, pot-limit or no-limit) depend on the game type chosen.
   
• Showdown – If two players have the same hand ranking, the pot is either split or awarded to the player with the highest-value cards within that ranking. For example, a pair of Kings beats a pair of Jacks.

It’s important to remember that rules may vary between casinos or online operators. Before playing, it may be a good idea to check the game information section, paytable or rule sheet to make sure you understand the version you are joining.

5 Card Poker Hands In Order

Hand rankings in 5 Card Draw are the same as in most other versions of poker. From strongest to weakest, they are:

• Royal Flush – A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit.
   
• Straight Flush – Five consecutive cards of the same suit, such as 7, 8, 9, 10, J of clubs.
   
• Four of a Kind – Four cards of identical rank, for example four Queens.
   
• Full House – A Full House consist of Three cards of one rank and two of another, such as three 9s and two 5s.
   
• Flush – Five cards of the same suit in any order, like 2, 6, 9, J, K of spades.
   
• Straight – Five consecutive cards in mixed suits, such as 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
   
• Three of a Kind – Three cards of the same rank, such as three 4s.
   
• Two Pair – Two separate pairs, for example a pair of 10s and a pair of 6s.
   
• One Pair – Two cards of the same rank, such as two Jacks.
   
• High Card – When no other combination is made, the highest card counts. For example, Ace-high beats King-high.

Knowing this order can help you judge whether it may be worth betting, folding, or exchanging cards in the draw phase.

5 Card Draw: 5 Card Poker Nickname

Although the guide so far has used both names, the correct and most widely accepted term is 5 Card Draw. The term “draw” highlights the stage where you can swap some of your cards for new ones, which is the defining feature of this version of poker.

The phrase “5 Card Poker” is sometimes used informally, but if you’re searching for the game at a UK-licensed online casino, you’ll be more likely to find it listed under 5 Card Draw. Understanding this terminology can help you locate the right version in an online game library, or when joining a live table.

5 Card Poker FAQs

How Many Cards Can You Discard In 5 Card Draw?

This depends on the rules in place. In many online or live casino games, the maximum is three. Some home versions may allow players to exchange all five cards, but this is less common in formal settings.

What’s The Difference Between 5 Card Draw & Texas Hold’em?

The main difference lies in the dealing method. In 5 Card Draw, you receive five private cards and may exchange some of them once. In Texas Hold’em, each player starts with two private cards, but the strength of your hand is built using five community cards shared with all players.

What’s The Best Hand In 5 Card Draw?

The best possible hand is a Royal Flush, which consists of A, K, Q, J and 10 all of the same suit. This is very rare and beats every other hand ranking.

Poker blends chance with decision-making, and even the most experienced players cannot predict how the cards will fall. 

Because no strategy can promise any winnings, it’s best to see the game as a form of entertainment. If you choose to play, set yourself a budget, take breaks during longer sessions, and stick to sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), where games are fair and safer gambling tools are available. 

By keeping within your limits, you can enjoy the game while remembering that every hand is ultimately shaped by chance.

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*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to these games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.

**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.