Drawing in 5-Card Stud Poker Games

5 Card Stud
October 16 2008

Poker involves risk taking - it is gambling after all. The risks you will take in poker usually consist of calling bets in order to draw cards that will make you a better hand. Sometimes you draw out these cards and sometimes you don’t. Some drawing situations are better than others, and an informed poker player will only chase outs when it’s a good time to do so.

In 5-Card Stud there are only a few hands to which you should consider drawing. Unlike Holdem or 7-Card Stud, your opponents have no clue as to what you may be drawing on until the bets have been made and called. Only then do you expose your intentions as to how many cards you’re drawing, so big bets to fend off drawing hands don’t really come into play in 5-Card Stud.

One-card draws, where you have four to a flush or an open-ended straight, can usually be played regardless of the number of players in the hand. As long as no players stand pat on their hand, you will have a chance to draw out. Big pairs, preferably aces, are good hands but usually need to improve to win against someone else’s opening bet.

If you have a smaller pair it’s a good idea to get out of hands with multiple players, as you’re likely beat and will be chasing two outs to take the lead. Even two pair, if you hit it, may not be good enough against multiple players. In most playing situations, anything smaller than a small pair should be folded.

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