Draw poker has many variations of play. The basics of the game are that you are dealt five cards and you need to build the best hand possible in order to win. You are allowed to throw away up to three cards and get new ones to try for a better hand.
The first variation in draw poker and probably the most common is called Gardena Jackpots or, as it is more often referred to, Jacks to open. What this means is simple: in order to start the bidding and finish the hand someone has to have at least a pair of jacks or better in their hand. If no one has this then the hand ends and the deal goes to the next person. You always play this game using an ante. An ante is simply a starting bet of a specified value usually determined at the beginning of the game.
Another variation used is called Deuces Wild, which is basically the same style as Jacks or better with the exception that deuces (twos) are wild and may be used as anything. You still need a pair of jacks or better in order to open the round to bidding.
A variation of draw poker called ‘Spit’ or ‘Spit in the Ocean’ is played with each player receiving four cards to start. A fifth card is rolled over face up in the middle. That is the community card that everyone uses and is also wild, so that every card in that rank that you have in your hand is also wild. With this game you may throw away up to two cards to make a better hand.
Another good variation on draw poker is called Q-ball. This is played with three blinds rather than with an ante. What this means is that the deal places a unit to bet while the player to his left places one unit and the player after him places two units. The cards are then dealt three cards to each player then the player to the left of the player with the big blind must call the big blind, raise the stakes or fold and betting continues around the table. You are unable to check in this round. Another card is then dealt and again there is no checking allowed. A third round is then dealt with no checking. Once the fourth round is dealt you can then check or bet like normal and you may also get rid of up to three cards to change and make a better poker hand.
In draw poker no matter what variation you are playing the concept is always the same. You are trying to make the best hand possible out of five cards. You have the opportunity to get rid of up to three of your worst cards and replace them with three new ones and hope that you can make a better hand then what you had before, and also in the hopes that you can beat the hands of the other players.
