Draw poker facts for kids

Draw poker games are a fun way to play cards where you get to swap out some of your cards to try and make a better hand! These games usually involve special starting bets called 'blinds' and a system where your position at the table affects when you get to bet.

Here's how a typical game of draw poker works:

• First, players put in starting bets, either 'blinds' or an 'ante'.
• Each player gets five cards, face down.
• Then, there's a first round of betting.
• Players can choose to discard (get rid of) anywhere from zero to five cards.
• They then get new cards to replace the ones they discarded.
• After that, there's a second round of betting.
• Finally, players show their cards (this is called the 'showdown'), and the player with the best hand wins all the chips, known as the 'pot'.
• In games with blinds, the first betting round starts with the player to the left of the 'big blind'. In later rounds, betting starts with the player to the left of the dealer.
• In games with an ante, betting always starts with the player to the left of the dealer.

The way betting works is pretty similar across most draw poker games, unless the rules say otherwise. Some games have special changes in how cards are dealt, how many you can swap, or how betting works. We'll look at some of those below!

Popular High Hand Games

These games are all about getting the best, highest-ranking poker hand.

Standard 5-Card Draw

This is one of the most classic poker games.

• Players put in their 'blinds' to start.
• Everyone gets five cards.
• You can discard up to three cards and get new ones.
• Sometimes, if you want to swap out a fourth card, you might need a special card like an Ace or a 'wild card' (like a Joker) in your hand, depending on the house rules.

Gardena Jackpots (Jacks to Open)

This game has a fun twist on when betting can start.

• Players put in an 'ante' (a small starting bet), but there are no blinds.
• A Joker card can be used as a 'bug'. This means it can be an Ace, or it can complete a straight or a flush.
• In the first betting round, someone needs to have at least a 'pair of Jacks' or a better hand to start the betting. If no one has a strong enough hand, everyone 'checks' (doesn't bet), and the cards are dealt again after everyone puts in another ante.
• If someone does open the betting, other players can 'call' (match the bet) or 'raise' (bet more).
• Sometimes, if no one opens the betting, the required hand to open gets easier in the next round. For example, it might become 'Kings to open', and if still no one opens, then 'Aces to open'. This is called 'progressive jackpots'.

Low Hand Games

In these games, the goal is usually to get the lowest possible hand, not the highest!

California Lowball

This is a popular lowball game where the lowest hand wins.

• Players put in their 'blinds'.
• In the first betting round, you can't just 'check' (pass on betting). You must bet or fold.
• In the second betting round, checking is allowed, but you can't raise after someone checks.
• The best hand is called "Ace to five," meaning the lowest cards win, and an Ace counts as a very low card. So, A-2-3-4-5 (with no flush) is usually the best low hand.
• In a 'high-low' version of this game, where both the highest and lowest hands can win, you might need an 8-high or better low hand to qualify for the low pot.

Badugi

Badugi is a unique four-card lowball game.

• You are dealt four cards and play with a four-card hand.
• To make a 'Badugi' hand, all four cards must be of different ranks (like a 2, 5, 7, 9) AND different suits (like 2 of hearts, 5 of spades, 7 of clubs, 9 of diamonds).
• If you have cards of the same rank or same suit, you have to discard them to qualify your hand. For example, if you have two hearts, one of them doesn't count.
• The final hand ranking goes: a four-card Badugi is best, then a three-card Badugi, then a two-card Badugi, and so on.
• The lowest hand wins, using the Ace-to-5 lowball system. This game is often played as a 'triple draw' game, meaning you get three chances to swap cards.

Kansas City Lowball

This game is similar to California Lowball but with a few differences.

• It's played for 'deuce to seven' low, meaning the lowest hand wins, but 7 is the highest card allowed in a low hand, and straights and flushes count against you. So, 2-3-4-5-7 (not all same suit) is the best hand.
• It doesn't have the rule about a "7-high hand" forfeiting its right to the pot, or the rule about "no check after raise."

Other Fun Draw Poker Rules

Double-Draw and Triple-Draw

Many of the high and low games mentioned above can be played with more chances to swap cards.

• In 'double-draw' games, you get two chances to discard and get new cards, leading to three betting rounds.
• In 'triple-draw' games, you get three chances to swap cards, leading to four betting rounds. This gives you more opportunities to improve your hand!

Four–Before

This is a less common but interesting variant.

• Each player is dealt four cards to start.
• When you discard cards, you get one more card than you discarded. For example, if you discard two cards, you get three new ones.
• The goal is still to make the best five-card hand.

Jacks Back

This game combines elements of high and low poker.

• It's an 'ante' game, so no blinds are used.
• A Joker can be used as a 'bug' (an Ace, or to complete a straight or flush).
• In the first betting round, players can 'check' or 'open' (start betting) with any hand.
• If someone opens the bet, the game continues like a regular high-hand draw poker game.
• But if no one opens the bet, the game switches! It then plays like California Lowball poker, where the player next to the dealer opens the betting.
• If still no one opens, the cards are dealt again, and everyone puts in another ante.

Q-Ball

Q-Ball is a more complex draw poker game with unique betting.

• Three 'blinds' are placed: one by the dealer, one by the small blind, and a larger one by the big blind.
• One Joker card is used in the deck.
• Players are dealt three cards to start.
• The first betting round begins with the player after the big blind, and no checking is allowed.
• A fourth card is dealt to everyone.
• Then, there's a second betting round, again with no checking.
• A fifth card is dealt.
• There's a third betting round, where checking is now allowed.
• After this, players can discard and get new cards like in a normal draw game, followed by a fourth betting round.
• The game is played for 'Ace-to-5 low', meaning the lowest hand wins, with Ace counting as low.
• The betting amounts follow a specific pattern, often increasing in size through the rounds.