5 Card Draw: Playing After the Draws
The key to success for a lot of 5 Card Draw players relies on their ability to play after the replacement cards are drawn. If you are new to the game, it is incumbent upon you to learn the ins and outs of playing after the draw. It can be the difference between winning and losing.
At first it may seem impossible, given the fact that you cannot see any of the cards on the table, unlike in 7 Card Stud or Texas Holdem. However, despite this fact, one can still gain insight and information based on the number of cards that they have drawn. From this you can make the proper 5 Card Draw strategy.
Obviously if a player makes a big raise after the draw, it can only mean that he has a big hand, like a high pair or a two pair. If a player replaces three of his starting hands, then the most he currently has is a pair, if at all. If a 5 Card Draw player take a couple of cards, he is likely trying to make a pair.
Your 5 Card Draw strategy should also take into consideration what the player on the table does before they make a draw. If one raises, takes a card on the draw and makes another raise, then he has a very good two pair. If he calls instead, then in likelihood he is on a flush or straight draw.
This will be confirmed if, after another draw, he makes the big raise. In that case, he has probably completed the flush, straight or even a full house. If that happens, your best option may be to fold, unless you have a bigger hand.
Of course, you also have to consider what kind of player he is; if he is a very tight or passive player, then you can be certain that he has something big. The reason is that those 5 Card Draw players never make a big raise or re raise unless they have a monster hand.
These actions happen all the time, yet very few players pay attention to them, and focus solely on what they hold, or hope they will get on the draw.
However, if you do, you can see that there is a lot that you can gain, and also apply the proper 5 Card Draw strategies instead of just relying on luck to win the pot.