Top Four Playing Rules

Winning at 5 Card Draw requires that you learn only four basic rules – it's all the strategy you need to come out on top!

Playing 5 Card Draw online is about approaching the game with a plan, since play is quick and you could lose a lot of your bankroll just as quickly. Much of this means having a strategy, and the four rules below are like the bible for online 5 Card Draw play. Follow them throughout any part of the game, regardless of your skills, and you're bound to improve it significantly.

1. Determine the style of other players in the game:
You need to apply a different style of play according to the style you are faced with at the table:
- If your opponent is tight: play aggressively by making many big raises, now drawing any cards and being confident in general.
- If your opponent is loose: pursue only stronger hands and do not try to bluff your way through.

2. Only raise with a promising hand after two raises:
It is likely that after two raises at the table, one of the players will be out of chips and the other will probably be in a position to re-raise. This means that you should only raise a third time in that round if your hand is promising. But with the resultant increased stakes, it will be worth your while to be patient!

3. For only moderately good hands, fold in pot limit 5 Card Draw or call in limit:
- If pot limit 5 Card Draw games, you need to be decisive; either fold a hand that is only moderately good or go in full steam and raise – otherwise your opponents may take advantage of you!
- Make sure your raises aren't too small, though, because this will encourage other players to pursue their hands too and turn the odds of the game against you.

4. Do not raise your hand if you intend to draw later on:
In pot limit and no limit 5 Card Draw poker games where the raises are predetermined and fixed, try to prevent situations in which you replace cards before raising. This is because loose players will often change their style, switching between tight play (whereby they pursue only strong hands and otherwise fold) and loose play (whereby they pursue both strong and weak hands).