PLAYERS: 3 to 6 is ideal.

CARDS: Five cards, all down. BETTING: Two rounds plus ante; betting tends to be relatively low.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Keep a close eye on how many cards each player draws from the deck.

WHAT WINS: Usually a high pair or better. Five-card draw, or draw poker, is one of the oldest poker games, and it is unique in that players have the opportunity to exchange their cards or draw from the deck to try and improve their hands. So, if you dont like what you see, you can always try your luck with some new cards. Unlike stud games, players only see the cards in their own hands. (But smart players will pay close attention to how many cards other players draw after the first round of betting, as well as their opponents betting patterns.)

Before opening the game, the dealer must decide how many cards each player can draw from the deck after the first round of betting. The standard limit is three. In some games, a player may draw four cards if he is holding an Ace, which must be shown to the table. After everyone has put in his or her ante, the dealer deals five cards facedown to each player.

Betting begins with the player to the left of the dealer. He may bet, check, or fold. Betting continues clockwise around the table, and each player has the opportunity to call, raise, or fold. Some people play that it is necessary to have at least a pair of Jacks to open the betting in five-card draw. If the player closest to the dealers left does not have a pair of Jacks or better, the betting moves clockwise around the table until a player with a pair of Jacks or better can open the betting.

After the first round of betting, all remaining players (those who did not fold) can draw up to three new cards from the deck (sometimes four cards are allowed; see front of card). The player discards the cards he does not want and is then dealt new cards from the top of the deck. Of course, if a player does not want any cards, he can stand pat and keep the hand he is holding.

Once all the players have received their new cards, the second round of betting begins. As in the first round, the player closest to the dealers left opens, and the betting moves clockwise around the table. After all the bets have been placed, the players show their handsthe player with the best hand takes the pot. (For more on hands, see pages 10-12.)

Tips& Stratgey

Traditionalists believe that to open the betting in five-card draw a player should have at least a four-card flush, four-card straight, or a high pair.

However, if betting is light and you are holding a small pair, a medium pair, or even two high cards, you might want to stay in for the next round. (A high pair is generally a pair of Jacks or higher; a pair of 7s, 8s, 9s or lOs would be considered a medium pair; and a pair of 6s or less is a small pair).

If the betting is high in the opening round and you are not holding at least a pair, there is a good chance that at least one player has at least a high pair. This is particularly true with more players at the table. However, if players are betting high in the opening round, it indicates strength, regardless of the number of players. Your chances of drawing a hand to beat them are slim, so consider folding (or bluffing) rather than chasing cards in the hopes of improving your hand. You might get lucky on the draw, but, in the long run, youll save a lot of money by getting out when you should.

If you are dealt a strong handa high three of a kind or betterhold off on raising or opening with a large bet: You do not want to scare off any potential bettors. With a strong hand, play it cool in the opening round and just call bets. In some cases, a raise might work if another player has already raised the opening bet.

However, if you have a high pair, consider making a fairly high bet. This is a strong hand but certainly not unbeatable. By betting high you might drive out some players and improve your chances of winning the pot.

It might seem obvious, but to improve your hand on the draw, you need something to draw to. So if you are holding a pair of Kings, keep them and draw three new cards. Players who keep their pair and draw three new cards have a 1 in 3.48 chance of improving their hand. (For more on the probabilities of improving your hand, see page 8991.)

In general, it is smarter to build on what you have, rather than chase a possible hand. For instance, if you are dealt 8-9-1O-J-J, dont break up the pair of Jacks in the hopes of drawing to a straight.

Drawing to a four-flush or a four-straight can pay off. However, going after an inside straight, or a three- straight (three cards in sequence) or three-flush (three suited cards) is risky at best. Smart players dont even try. Drawing to an inside straight (see Glossary, page 106) has very little chance of success and is a common novice mistake. Most professional players will tell you never draw to an inside straight.

During the draw, keep a close eye on how many cards other players draw. By noting their draw, you will gain some insight into the strength of their hands. In general, if they draw three cards, they are probably holding a pair. If they draw two, they have three of a kind or are foolishly going after a straight or a flush. If they draw one card, they might have two pairs or they may be trying to draw a straight or flush. Players can also stand pat (not draw any cards). This means they are holding a good hand, perhaps a full house, straight, or flush. Or they may be bluffing.

For bluffers, five-card draw allows two chances to ply their deceit: the betting and the draw. Players try to fool their opponents into thinking they have a better hand by standing pat or drawing just one or two cards or no cards at all and then raising in the second round of betting.

Try and detect any tells in other players once they pick up their new cards. Did you pick up any reaction when they received their new cards? Do they seem a little too eager to start the second round of betting?

Another strategic ploy in five-card draw is holding on to a kicker. A kicker is an extra high card you keep when drawing to a pair. Thus, if you have a low pair, say a pair of 6s, you hold on to a high card in the hopes of getting a high pair to go along with your low pair.

Holding on to kickers also throws off your opponents. If you draw two cards to a low pair and a high card, your opponents are left to wonder if you are holding three of a kind.

After the draw, pay attention to how players bet. If they bet aggressively or make a big raise, there is a good chance that they improved their hand (or theyre bluffing). If they check the betting or bet modestly, they are probably unsure whether their hand is good enough to win and are playing it safe.

By the second round, if you feel that your hand has a strong chance of winning, dont be afraid to bet aggressively. At this point, you want to maximize the pot and make your opponents pay to see your hand.