Want to play the 5 Card draw poker game in a live casino? You aren’t alone. Don’t just go out there and put in your money – practice it first for free.
5 Card Draw is one of the most popular poker variants out there. It is a relatively simple variant of the popular poker game that is pretty easy to learn, and its betting rounds are also uncomplicated, which makes it perhaps the best choice for beginners. Also, it has a slower pace than many other poker games, also great for those still learning what it means to play poker.
Here are some of the terms you need to know in a 5 card draw poker game.
Hand: Refers to one particular game. It also refers to the five-card draw in a player’s hand at any time in the game. A hand can refer to many aspects of a poker game. It can refer to the five cards that a player has at any point while playing. It can also refer to winning card combinations like full house or Flush. The time between placing the first bet and the final payout also goes by the name of hand.
Pot – The place where the players submit their bets. It is usually in the middle of the table where the players are seated at a live casino table. Pot also refers to the total money won by the player with the best hand.
When used in a context like “pot limit” – something you’ll often encounter in relation to poker tournaments – “pot” refers to the total value of stakes placed by all the players around the table. As in, the total of the money on the table at any time can’t exceed the amount set as the “pot limit”.
Poker chips – Plastic, clay, or ceramic coins represent bets. The poker chips are color-coded, and each color represents a particular amount. The typical values of basic poker chips of colors white, pink, red, blue, green, and black are $1, $2.50, $5, $10, $25, and $100, respectively. Professional poker chips have more colors and higher amounts.
The chips are pretty much the same as the ones used by casinos, by the way.
Check – When it’s your turn to bet but you decide not to, passing the opportunity to place a bet to the next player at the table.
Call – When a player places a bet in the pot, which is equal to another player’s bet. It needs to be done if the player wants to stay in hand. It basically means “I match your bet with an equal amount”.
Raise – When a player raises the bet amount by putting a high-value poker chip in the pot. When the bet is raised, the other players must meet that bet amount to stay in hand.
Rags – It is a hand consisting of cards that give the player no chance of winning. Think of a hand with no face cards, no matching suits, consisting of low cards in no particular order. For example, 2-4-6-9-10 of different suits is “rags”.
Fold – When a player tosses his cards in the pot and announces that the player is no longer part of the hand. This usually happens when the player’s hand is “rags” or the bets are high enough for a player not to risk it. When you fold, you automatically lose any money you may have placed in the pot.
Bluffing – Betting or raising to misguide other players into folding. Players who have low card combinations resort to bluffing as a last-ditch attempt to win. The goal is to scare the opponents into folding, thus winning the money in the pot.
Calling one’s bluff – when an opponent, suspecting that you are bluffing, “calls” your bet and challenges you to show your cards.
Kicker – The fifth card in a two-pair and four-of-a-kind combination.
Boat – Refers to the Full House card combination.
Trips – Refers to the Three-of-a-Kind card combination.
Limit– A limit is set for bets and raises. Players can bet or raise within that limit.
Pot Limit – A condition where the players’ bets cannot exceed the amount in the pot.
No Limit – Any player can bet any amount they please.
Small Blind – A forced bet placed by the player on the left of the dealer. Forced bets are placed before cards are dealt.
Big Blind – A forced bet placed by the player on the left of the small blind player. The big blind is two times the small blind. For example, if the small blind in that game is $2, then the big blind will be $2 x 2= $4.
Ante – A forced bet that every player has to place in the pot before cards are dealt. The ante is imposed when the small and big blinds system is not being followed.
While this all sounds complicated – every jargon does – you’ll see that you’ll get the hang of it quickly if you decide to play 5 Card Draw, or any other poker variant, even casually.
