Poker 5 Card Draw Calculator
Deal random 5 card poker hands for 1 to 5 players and see each hand ranked automatically using standard poker hand rankings.
| Player | Hand Ranking |
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Poker Hand Rankings Reference Table
Poker hand rankings determine the winner whenever players show down their 5 card hands. This reference table lists every standard hand from highest to lowest, with the current best possible hand highlighted.
| Rank | Hand | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Flush | 10, J, Q, K, A all of the same suit |
| 2 | Straight Flush | Five cards in sequence, all the same suit |
| 3 | Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same rank |
| 4 | Full House | Three of a kind plus a pair |
| 5 | Flush | Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence |
| 6 | Straight | Five cards in sequence, mixed suits |
| 7 | Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same rank |
| 8 | Two Pair | Two separate pairs of matching ranks |
| 9 | One Pair | Two cards of the same rank |
| 10 | High Card | No matching ranks or sequences, highest card wins |
Poker 5 Card Draw Rules Explained
Poker 5 card draw rules explain the simplest and oldest format of poker, often played without betting in casual home games. Each player receives 5 cards face down from the dealer, and after looking at their hand, players try to improve it before the final showdown.
One person acts as dealer, and the role can rotate clockwise so every player gets a turn. The dealer deals each player 5 cards one at a time, going clockwise around the table, with the first card going to the player on the dealer’s left.
The Discard and Draw Phase
The discard and draw phase lets each player exchange up to 3 cards from their original hand for new ones from the deck. A player holding an ace may discard the other 4 cards but must keep the ace, and a player who likes their original hand can choose to draw zero cards.
The Showdown
The showdown happens after every player has received their replacement cards. All players reveal their hands at the same time, and the hand with the highest poker hand ranking wins the round.
How Poker Hand Rankings Work
How poker hand rankings work follows a fixed order from royal flush at the top down to high card at the bottom. Every 5 card hand falls into exactly one of these 10 categories, and a hand in a higher category always beats a hand in a lower category regardless of the specific cards involved.
- Royal Flush: 10, J, Q, K, A of the same suit
- Straight Flush: five sequential cards of the same suit, such as 5-6-7-8-9 of clubs
- Four of a Kind: four matching cards, such as 3-3-3-3
- Full House: three of a kind plus a pair, such as 8-8-8-5-5
- Flush: five cards of one suit, not in sequence
- Straight: five sequential cards of mixed suits, such as 2-3-4-5-6
- Three of a Kind: three matching cards, such as 7-7-7
- Two Pair: two different matching pairs, such as Q-Q-5-5
- One Pair: two matching cards, such as K-K
- High Card: no other hand type, ranked by the highest single card
Breaking Ties Between Hands
Breaking ties between hands relies on comparing the rank of the cards that form the matching combination first, then comparing the remaining cards if needed. For example, a hand with Q-Q-5-5-9 beats Q-Q-5-5-2 because the 9 outranks the 2 as the deciding kicker card.
Is an Ace High or Low
Is an ace high or low depends on context, since an ace usually ranks above a king as the highest card in the deck. An ace can also serve as the lowest card in the straight A-2-3-4-5, which some players call a wheel, although this rule can vary between games.
Tips for Playing 5 Card Draw
Tips for playing 5 card draw focus on making smart discard decisions during the draw phase, since this is the only chance to improve a hand. Holding a pair and discarding the other 3 cards gives strong odds of improving to two pair, three of a kind, or better.
- Hold pairs, three of a kind, and made hands rather than breaking them up
- Discard low unmatched cards that do not contribute to a straight or flush
- Remember that drawing 3 cards to a pair has a reasonable chance of improvement
- Compare your hand against the poker hand rankings before deciding what to keep
Frequently Asked Questions
Poker 5 card draw is a poker variant where each player is dealt 5 cards face down, then has the chance to discard and draw up to 3 new cards before showing their final hand. The player with the best 5 card hand wins.
The order of poker hand rankings from highest to lowest is royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, and high card. A higher ranked hand always beats a lower ranked hand.
A full house, four of a kind, straight flush, and royal flush all beat a flush in poker. A flush beats a straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, and high card.
In 5 card draw poker, each player can discard and draw up to 3 new cards after the initial deal. If a player holds an ace, they may discard all 4 other cards but must keep the ace, so the draw limit can vary slightly with house rules.
Ties in 5 card draw poker are broken by comparing the highest ranked cards within each hand. For example, if two players both have two pair, the player with the higher pair wins, and if both pairs match, the highest remaining card decides the winner.
An ace is normally the highest ranked card in poker, ranking above a king. An ace can also act as a low card in the straight A-2-3-4-5, sometimes called a wheel, but this depends on the specific game rules being used.