Playing Draws in Five Card Draw

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Five Card Draw is a game that many people grew up playing at home, perhaps with their brothers or even grandparents. Draw poker is still largely played online but you don’t see a ton of strategy content at poker sites.

One common mistake I see often from Draw players are those that choose to play bad straight or flush draws Today, let’s take a look at the best types of draws to play.

Straight Draws

Many players will pick up four cards to a straight and immediately decide to chase down the straight. Some will even raise with it in the hopes to catch their draw. However, not all straight draws are created equal. Let me explain why.

First, a gutshot draw is a poor draw to chase. Why? You have exactly four cards that can come to make your hand. If you start 5-6-8-9, you can only catch a seven to make your hand.

If you are in the big blind and don’t have to put in any money, this isn’t a problem. When you’re in the small blind in a passive game where most will draw without raising, you can try it there sparingly. Otherwise, this is a bad play.

Unless you’re in the big blind, this is typically an easy fold.

The best draws are open-ended draws. This gives you eight cards to hit your straight, which doubles your chances to make your hand. Higher open-ended straight draws are preferable. For example, if you have K-Q-J-10 and draw one, there are times you will win if you pair up one of your face cards.

Stick primarily to one card straight draws. You see too many people trying to draw two cards to a straight, and doing so is simply gambling. The only real exception is if you’re in the big blind in an unraised pot.

Flush Draws

For flush draws, try to stick with one card flush draws. With a flush draw, you have nine potential outs that can come to give you your hand. Flushes that include an ace are naturally the best since you’re drawing to the nut flush. It’s uncommon for multiple people to have an ace-high flush in the same hand.

Like with straight draws, flush draws with high cards in them give you a chance to catch a pair. You’ll win your share of hands with just a pair of aces or kings when you miss your flush.

Outside of the big blind, there’s little reason to chase this draw.

Just like straight draws, you want to stay away from drawing two cards or more for a flush. In the big blind in an unraised pot is about one of the only places that I would recommend this type of play. If you have a three flush with two face cards with an ace suited, you may try and gamble with this in an unraised pot. However, in this case, you’re also chasing outs to straights in addition to your flush draw.

Straight Flush Draws

If you look down to four cards to a straight flush, you’re going to play the hand. It doesn’t much matter if you’re gutted or open-ended. You’re going to usually play this hand. The exception might be if you’re playing No-Limit Draw and someone shoves when you’re holding a gutshot. In most Limit games, you’re even playing the gutter.

Playing every straight draw dealt to you will be a long term losing proposition. Sure, there are times you can draw two, hit, and take down a massive pot. However, often you’re going to donate to the other player.

Instead, by selectively playing one card draws, you will give yourself the best odds to hit your hand and to rake in nice pots.