Closed-Card (Draw-type) Games

DRAW GAMES GENERALLY

Draw games preceded both open-card (stud-type) games and community-card (hold 'em-type) games in the evolution of poker. Standard high-hand-wins draw poker is the game you see most often in Old West movies. It is the most widely understood of all poker variations. Most players familiar with any type of poker know how to play draw. It remains popular in home games throughout the world, but it has become less common in public casinos over the years. In draw, all cards are kept concealed by the players until a showdown, if necessary. There are only two rounds of betting - one when the five cards are received from the dealer and examined, and another after remaining players throw away any cards they don't like and receive replacements. Besides the tradition game where winners are decided with the usual hand values, beginning in strength with royal flush and working down, draw poker is widely played in a variation called lowball, in which the low hand wins.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Because of peculiarities of California law, closed card poker games have been legal in California since the late 1800's. Even though other games (particularly stud games) were prohibited, Draw and Lowball were permitted, and gave rise to the modern public cardroom. The existence of these games in California is largely responsible for the birth of modern poker. Although neither game is very popular in public casinos anymore - probably because there are only two betting rounds, and therefore not enough action - they dominated the poker world through the 60's and early 70's, when Texas Hold'em began to take root in Nevada. Eventually a California court ruling permitted all poker games and the closed card games began to fade in popularity. Nonetheless, they are still offered in some locations, and are one of the most popular forms of poker in private games. Draw is among the simplest and most widely known poker games. It is sometimes played with a "jacks-or-better" opening requirement. This means a player must have at least a pair of jacks to open the pot. Games which require minimum openers are also sometimes played with a "progressive" feature, so that if nobody can open with at least a pair of jacks one hand, then everyone must re-ante, increasing the size of the pot, and the openers advance to queens or better. A fairly common variant of Draw is "Jacks Back," discussed hereafter. There are more variations of draw and lowball than most other games. The most common are discussed here.

Many modern poker rules have their genesis in closed card situations. The major California cardrooms - the most experienced in draw games - have fairly much standardized their Five-Card Draw rules. Caro & Cooke's Rules has deviated from the standard California Rules only in very minor ways.

BUTTON, BLINDS, ANTES

The game is largely one of positional advantage, so it is played with a rotating dealer button, giving each player the same opportunity to play hands in early and late positions. Sometimes the game is played with blinds, just like Hold'em games are. In addition to the two blinds to the left of the dealer position, a small blind is entered on the dealer position, making three total blind bets. One seat to the left of the dealer is the middle blind and two seats to the left is the big blind. In the common high-hand-wins variation, there are usually no blinds, but players ante. In the low-hand-wins variations, blinds usually are used instead of antes. Sometimes blinds are used in high-hand-wins, also. This latter form of high Draw is commonly called "California."

LIVE BLIND

If all opponents who play only call the big blind, rather than raise, the player having entered the big blind has an option to raise. This action, which is inconsistent with usual poker procedure, is called a "live blind" and is used in other forms of poker as well.

THE DECK AND DEAL

As noted elsewhere in Caro & Cooke's Rules, each player receives five cards facedown, one at a time in Draw and Lowball. The traditional version of the game, as it existed in the 19th century and is still commonly played, requires a standard 52-card deck. In California casinos, the game is played with a fifty-three-card deck that includes an extra card known as a joker or bug. This joker isn't a true wild card, because its use is limited to completing straight and flushes or serving as an ace. After completion of the deal there is a betting round. Players are then are given the opportunity to replace from zero to five cards followed by a second betting round. In limit games the stakes double on the second round, as they do on the turn in Hold'em and on fifth street in Seven-card Stud. Five cards constitute a playing hand. More or fewer than five cards after the draw constitute a folded hand.

THE DRAW

After the first betting round each active player who stays for the draw may replace from zero to five cards. Any player may draw up to five cards, dealt consecutively from the deck. A second betting round follows the draw. In most limit games the stakes double on the second betting round.

ORDER OF ACTION

If blind bets are used instead of antes or in addition to antes, action on the first betting round proceeds exactly the same as in Hold'em games, beginning with the player to the left of the blinds, who may call the blind bet, fold, or raise. In ante-only games, action begins with the player to the left of the dealer, who may bet or check. In some ante-only games, the player must either bet or fold in an unopened pot on the first betting round. Usually checking is allowed, though. Action on the second betting round begins with the person who opened the betting on the first round and proceeds clockwise from there. If that player has folded, first action begins to the left of the opening position. In blind games, the middle blind, if still active, and then the big blind, if still active, are considered to have opened the betting and act first. Therefore, the action always begins to the left of the dealer on the second betting round in blind games.

BETTING CAP

Historically unlimited raises have been allowed. Sometimes the betting is limited to six raises. These raises are more than what is traditionally allowed in most other forms of poker to compensate for the reduced number of betting rounds. However this tends to lend to collusion, so Caro & Cooke's Rules limits raises to four. (Alternate Rule. A bet and six raises shall be permitted.) As in all other poker games, in head's up play raises are unlimited. If the second betting round starts with more than two players and other players fold, so that the hand becomes head's up, the betting cap remains. Caps are always in effect whenever a betting round begins with three or more active players who have chips remaining. (Alternate Rule. Once the field of active opponents is reduced to two players, the betting cap is removed. Caro & Cooke's Rules recommends the main rule in the interest of simplicity.)

OPENING BET

The minimum opening bet is the size of the large blind (unless otherwise posted). Thus, in a $30-$60 limit game where the Blinds are $10, $20, and $30, a player may open for a $30 call or for $60, raising the big blind, before the draw.

ASKING HOW MANY CARDS WERE DRAWN

If one active player asks another how many cards he drew, the player is obligated to respond honestly until there has been action after the draw, and the dealer is also obligated to respond honestly. Once there has been action after the draw, the player is no longer obligated to respond and the dealer shall not respond.

CHANGING NUMBER OF CARDS TO REPLACE

After stating how many cards he wishes to draw, a player may change the number of cards that he wishes to draw, provided that no cards have been dealt off the deck in response to the initial request and no player has acted in any way on his hand based on the number of cards that were originally requested.

EXPOSED CARDS

In high-hand variations of Draw, cards that are exposed face up by the dealer before the draw must be kept. Cards that are exposed by the dealer on the draw cannot be kept. Cards exposed on the draw will be replaced from the deck after all players remaining to act have made their draws. The purpose of this procedure is to minimize the impact of the exposed card on other hands, so that each player gets his proper card. In low-hand variations, other rules may govern which exposed cards can be kept before the draw.

RAPPING THE TABLE

Rapping the table in turn constitutes a pass, but rapping the table in turn in draw games may mean the declaration of a pat hand. A player who indicates a pat hand by rapping the table, not knowing the pot has been raised may still play his hand.

ALL-IN FOR THE ANTE

A player who is all-in for the ante (or part of the ante) may declare the pot opened if he has the minimum required openers or if no minimum openers are required. One who is all-in and declares the pot open without being able to show a hand that meets an opening requirement will lose his ante money and shall not continue to play on any subsequent deals until a winner is determined. Even if that player buys in again, he must wait until the pot has been legally opened and someone else has won it before the draw, provided: a) No cards have been dealt off the deck in response to your request; and b) No player has acted in any way on his hand based on the number of cards that player requested. If an all-in player playing for just the antes has declared the pot open, all callers must come in for the full opening bet. If a player has only a full ante and no other chips on the table, he may play for just the ante. If no one opens and there is another ante, he may still play for that part of the antes that he has matched, without putting in more chips.

OPENERS BUTTON

Some establishments use a house button, known as an Openers Button, to designate the player who opened the pot. This is particularly common in establishments that spread Jacks-or-Better

FIVE-CARD DRAW  

ALL PRIOR RULES APPLY.

The previously stated rules apply to all forms of Draw. However there are several rules that are particular to Five Card Draw games that are played for high, as opposed to Lowball.

THE JOKER

The joker may only be played as an ace or to complete a straight or flush, including a straight flush. When used to complete a flush, it serves as the highest unmatched rank. This means that if a player held ace-queen-nine-six of hearts and the joker, then the joker would serve as the king of hearts. There is no such thing as a "double-ace flush."

FIVE ACES

Because of the joker, all hand rankings are the same except that the highest hand in this game is five aces - four natural aces, plus a joker - ranking above a royal flush.

CHECK-RAISING

Check and raise is permitted. In games using blind bets, this applies to the second betting round only, because it isn't possible on the first betting round.

OPENING REQUIREMENTS

Traditional Five-Card Draw without minimum opening requirements is also known as California Draw, or Guts. In this game, players can open with any five cards, regardless of the strength of their hands.

JACKS-OR-BETTER.  

ALL PRIOR RULES APPLY

Except as expressly in conflict with the provisions of this section, all previously stated rules of Draw Generally and Five-Card Draw for high apply to Jacks-or-Better.

OPENING REQUIREMENTS

Draw is frequently played with the requirement that a player hold a pair of jacks or better to open the betting. This game is known as Jacks-or-Better. If no player opens the pot, the dealer position moves forward and each player must ante again, unless a pre-established limit of antes has been reached for that particular game.

SHOW OPENERS

A player who opens the pot in jacks-or-better must show his openers, whether the hand is called or not, in order to win the pot.

FALSE OPENERS

If the opener should show false openers before the draw any other active player who has not yet acted on a hand meeting the minimum opening requirements has the opportunity to declare the pot opened. However, any player who originally passed openers is not eligible to declare the pot open. The false opener has a dead hand and his opening bet stays in the pot. Any other bet placed in the pot by the opener may be withdrawn, provided the action before the draw is not completed. If no other player declares the pot open, all bets are returned except the opener's first bet. The opener's first bet and antes will remain in the pot, and all players who were involved in the hand are entitled to play the next hand after anteing again.

After an opener shows false openers, any player who legally declares the pot open becomes the new opener, who must subsequently prove openers to win the pot. This is consistent with the principle that any player who has legally declared the pot opened must prove openers. If the opener is the only remaining player, either before or after the draw, and he cannot prove openers or if the opening hand is otherwise fouled, then all bets are returned except the opening bet and antes. Those players--and only those players--who participated in a falsely opened hand are eligible to compete thereafter, and must re-ante. Those players and only those players participate in the next hand.

In all cases the pot will play (even if the opener shows or declares a fouled hand) if there has been a raise, two or more players call the opening bet, or all action is completed before the draw. Once the action has been completed before the draw, the opener may not withdraw any bets, whether or not the hand contains openers. An opener may be allowed to retrieve his hand to prove openers at the floorperson's discretion. Any player may request that the opener retain the opening hand and show it after the winner of the pot has been determined.

SPLITTING OPENERS

A player who opens the pot may "Split" his openers and discard one of them, but must announce that he is doing so and place all discards under a chip to be exposed by the dealer after the completion of the hand. If a player declares that he is splitting openers, but it is determined that he could not possibly have had openers when the final hand is compared to the discards, he shall not be eligible to win the pot. A player is not splitting openers if he retains openers. One who begins with ace, joker, king, queen of spades and the ten of clubs is not splitting openers if he throws the ten of clubs away; he is breaking a straight to draw to a Royal Flush and in doing so has retained openers (ace, joker).

LOWBALL

ALL PRIOR DRAW RULES APPLY

Except where expressly inconsistent as set forth in Caro & Cooke's Rules, all rules of Five-card Draw apply to Lowball. However there are several special rules relating to Lowball which markedly distinguish it from Draw. As in Five-Card Draw each player may ante. But more commonly, three blinds are posted, as previously described, and there are no antes. Each player is dealt five cards facedown, after which there is a betting round. Players are required to call the blind bet, raise or fold. The players who remain in the pot now have an option to improve their hand by replacing cards in their hands with new ones. In limit poker, the bet doubles after the draw unless otherwise posted. Lowball is frequently played with a Kill.

LOW HAND WINS

Lowball is Five-Card Draw poker with the lowest hand winning the pot, ignoring straights and flushes, and rating the ace low. In Ace-to five Lowball (a.k.a. California Lowball), the way the game is most frequently spread, the best hand is 5-4-3-2-A, followed by 6-4-3-2-A. (See Kansas City Lowball Rules.)

THE JOKER

As with Five-Card Draw, California Lowball is played with a fifty-three card deck that includes a joker. The joker automatically plays as the lowest card not present in a player's hand.

VERBAL DECLARATIONS AT SHOWDOWN BINDING

As in other games, cards speak. However unlike in other games a verbal declaration in regards to a player's hand is binding. IE If a player calls an "8", that player must produce at least an "8" low or better to win. If by miscalling his hand one causes another player to muck or foul his, the misdeclarant's is dead. If both hands remain intact, the best hand wins. If a miscalled hand occurs in a multi-handed pot, the miscalled hand is dead, and the best remaining hand wins the pot. As in all games, a player for his own protection should always protect his hand until an opponent's winning cards are shown down.

VERBALLY ANNOUNCE PAIRS

Any player spreading a hand at showdown with a pair in it must announce "pair" or risk losing the pot if it causes any other player to foul a hand. If two or more hands remain intact, the best hand wins the pot.

MUST BET SEVENS

In limit play, if a player checks a seven-low or better and it is the best hand, all action after the draw is void, and that player cannot win any money on any subsequent bets. He is, however, still eligible to win whatever existed in the pot before the draw if he has the best hand. A player who checks a seven or better and is beaten by a better low loses the pot and any additional calls made. This is known as the "must bet sevens" rule and is a part of Lowball's tradition. In ace-to five Lowball, in the event of an all-in bet that is less than half a bet, a seven or better may call this short bet after the draw and win. However, if another player overcalls this short bet and loses, the person who overcalls receives his bet back. If the seven-or-better fulfills his or her obligation by completing to a full bet, all subsequent betting action will stand. You cannot check-raise after the draw, even with a hand worse than seven-low.

NEW PLAYER ENTERING GAME; MISSED BLIND

A new player entering the game may either wait for the big blind or kill the pot and receive a hand immediately. (Alternate Rule. The new player may only kill the pot if no other player at the table objects.) A player who misses the blind must wait until it is his turn to post the blind to receive a hand. In multiple blind games, if for any reason the big blind passes an active player, that player may either wait for the big blind or kill the pot (provided no active player objects) in order to receive a hand. This does not apply if the player has taken all of his blinds and changed seats. In that situation, he will be dealt in when his position, in relationship to the blinds, entitles him to a hand.

PLAYER WITH LESS THAN HALF A BLIND

A player who has less than half a big blind when it is his turn to post may receive a hand. However, the next player to the left is obligated to enter the big blind. In the event that the all-in player wins the pot or buys in again, the player will then be obligated to post an amount equal to the big blind in the position where he next receives cards. Half a blind or more constitutes a full blind.

EXPOSED CARDS

In limit ace-to-five Lowball, before the draw, an exposed card of seven or under must be taken, and an exposed card higher than a seven must be replaced after the deal has been completed. This first exposed card is used as the burn card. After the draw, an exposed card cannot be taken. The draw is completed to each player, in order, and then the exposed card is replaced. A flashed card before the draw is not treated as an exposed card unless it lands face up without any intervention on the part of the player. After the draw, all flashed cards are considered exposed cards and replaced.

POT-LIMIT/NO-LIMIT VARIATIONS

In pot-limit and no-limit Lowball a player must take an exposed card of A, 2, 3, 4 or 5 before the draw and any other card must be replaced. After the draw, any exposed card must be replaced. After the draw, a player may check any hand without penalty; the must-bet-sevens rule does not apply. Check and raise is always permitted in pot-limit and no-limit.

KANSAS CITY LOWBALL

In Kansas City Lowball (a.k.a. Deuce-to-Seven), the best hand is 7-5-4-3-2, not of the same suit, followed by 7-6-4-3-2, etc. The distinction is that in Kansas City Lowball Aces play for high only and straights and flushes count as high hands. Thus, a holding of 5-4-3-2-A is not considered to be a straight but rather an ace-5 high that therefore beats other ace-high hands and pairs, but loses to king-high hands. In this variation of lowball an exposed card of 7, 5, 4, 3 or 2 before the draw must be taken. Any other exposed card including a six must be replaced. Check and raise is permitted on any hand after the draw. Exposed cards after the draw are handled the same as in California Lowball. Kansas City Lowball is generally played with a traditional fifty-two card deck. All other Lowball and Draw Rules not inconsistent with the provisions of this section apply to Kansas City Lowball.

JACKS BACK

Jacks back is a five-card draw game that is a hybrid of Jacks-or-better and ace-to-five Lowball. At the deal, it is Five-Card Draw with Jacks-or-better to open. The game converts to Lowball if no one with a pair of jacks or better opens the pot for high. In that case, the player immediately to the left of the dealer button must automatically open the pot for the designated opening lowball bet. This is an ante game, with a single added blind to the left of the dealer when the game turns to lowball. A pot that is opened as high uses all Jacks-or-Better rules. A pot that is opened as low uses all Lowball rules. Check and raise is always permitted in Jacks Back on the high side and never on the low side where the Must Bet Sevens Rule applies.

If the opening forced Lowball bet is not raised; the player who made the forced bet has the option of raising after the dealer has acted. See the live blind rule above. If no one opens for high and the player to the left of the button has less than half the blind, the next player is forced to make the blind bet. After the hand, if the all-in player wins the pot or buys in again, the button remains in the same position for the all-in player to take the blind, should no one open for high. The button then advances to its proper position.

If the pot is opened falsely for high and no one calls, the opener loses the opening bet, and the bet remains in the pot. The button then freezes, and the hand is re-dealt.