Ace to Five Triple Draw Poker

Ace to Five Triple Draw Poker (also written as "A-5 Triple Draw") has its own set of unique poker hand rules. With the advent of internet poker, some of the best poker sites online offer free poker games, along with the occasional poker tournament, for players to test their skills at this classic game, though more obscure, poker game.

The "triple draw" aspect is what makes it so much different than stud-based games like Texas Holdem and Omaha. It also introduces new levels of strategy that players can employ in other parts of their game. The Gambling City Guide to Ace to Five Triple Draw Poker offers readers the chance to gain insights and learn strategies for playing and winning at Triple Draw.

Rules for Ace to Five Triple Draw Poker

A-5 Triple Draw games start out much the same way as Texas Holdem or Omaha hands. The two players to the left of the button post "blind bets" before the deal. However, each player receives five cards face down and no community cards are used.

Due to the nature of draw poker, Ace to Five Triple Draw games typically allow only six players to a hand and the game uses a fixed-limit betting structure.

Players can discard some of their cards and draw new cards. Before and after the first round of draws, the bets are at the lower limit. For the next two drawing rounds, the bets are at the higher limit.

The poker hand rules for this game are that the best hand is a five-high straight, also called a "wheel". If two players tie for the highest card, the next-highest card is used as the tiebreaker.

For instance, a hand of 6-4-3-2-A will beat a hand of 6-5-3-2-A. The poker sites that offer the game will use their software to determine the winning hand.

Strategy for Ace to Five Triple Draw Poker

Ace to Five Triple Draw Poker strategy is relatively simple: discard high cards and pairs, draw new cards and hope for the best. The best way to practice this strategy is to try out some free poker games on any of the best poker sites offering the game.

Skills and Challenges of Ace to Five Triple Draw Poker

One of the challenges facing players making the transition from community card games to A-5 Triple Draw is the lack of information on an opponent's hand. In "flop" games, players can judge the strength of an opponent's hand based on their betting patterns and reactions to each card. In draw poker, the only information a player has is the number of cards an opponent discards.

The Big Game: Ace to Five Triple Draw Poker

Ace to Five Triple Draw Poker is often a component of "The Big Game" at the Bellagio. The world's best players, including Doyle Brunson, Barry Greenstein and Phil Ivey, play for thousands of dollars a hand (and millions a day) at a variety of games.

A-5 Triple Draw also hearkens back to the old Texas road gamblers, which included players like Brunson and TJ Cloutier, who played the game in backrooms and pool halls all over the Lone Star State.

World Series of Poker Ace to Five Triple Draw Poker Games

In 2002, poker pro John Juanda won the first A-5 Triple Draw poker tournament at the World Series of Poker. He won the $1,500 buy-in poker tournament and took home over $49,000 in addition to his first WSOP bracelet. The next year, Men "The Master" Nguyen won the event and pocketed $43,000.

Internet Poker: Playing Ace to Five Triple Draw Poker

In order to learn a game like A-5 Triple Draw, the experience gained playing at the best poker sites is invaluable. Most gaming software offers free poker sessions with "play money" to help players become accustomed to the poker hand rules, learn the mechanics of the game, and develop sound strategies for success.

Ace to Five Triple Draw Poker: Conclusion

Although not as popular as its 2-7 cousin, A-5 Triple Draw is still a fun and challenging game. The tactics and strategies that players learn in this game will also help them in other high-low game variations, such as Seven Card Stud and Omaha.