Learn How to Play Double Draw Poker

When you first start playing Double Draw Poker Online, you may notice it has some similarities with 5-card-draw poker. That game has only one draw, but in DD you will have a bonus opportunity to improve your hand — as you’ve probably guessed. In both, the player gets five cards face down from which they need to create a hand that will pay out.

You will see that DD is mostly used in lowball games, such as California Lowball and Kansas City Lowball. DD poker is played in the following way: you will have two rounds of drawing, during which you will have the option of discarding up to 3 cards, or none at all, depending on how strong your hand is. In lowball, you need the lowest possible hand in order for your bet to pay out, so you should dismiss those Queens, Jacks, and Kings.

Nevertheless, this variation makes use of the following combinations:

1. Five of a Kind (Four identical card (9 9 9 9) plus a Joker)
2. Natural Royal Flush (Broadway straight (10 J Q K A), all in the same suit, without jokers)
3. Wild Royal Flush (Broadway straight (10 J Q J A), all in matching suits, with one or two jokers)
4. Straight Flush (Five cards in order (3 4 5 6 7), all in matching suits)
5. Four of a Kind (Four same cards (J J J J A))
6. Full House (Three of a kind and a pair (10 10 10 8 8))
7. Flush (Five same-suited cards (2c 6c 9c Kc Ac))
8. Straight (Five consecutive cards (2 3 4 5 6))
9. Three of a Kind (Three of the same card (A A A 3 6))
10. Two Pair (Two pairs same-card pairs (4 4 K K 2))

Starting Out

Double Draw video poker uses a standard 52-card deck with the bonus of two Jokers, that have the role of a semi-wild. That means that you can use them only to complete your straight or royal flush. In every other case — full house, flush, pair, two-pair whatever — they are counted as Aces. DD poker has one bonus characteristic that distinguishes it from the sea of other variants — you are not competing against the house but, rather, against the pay table itself.

Remember that this game gives you somewhat higher chances of hitting a straight or a flush, considering the number of cards used. Also, that extra draw may not seem like a lot in theory, but it significantly adds to the excitement. Otherwise, you may take some time to get adjusted since you should aim for a low card hand.

The Game Progression

So, the game of Double Draw Video Poker begins with the first betting round after which every player will receive 5 cards. This is the moment when any player can choose to fold, forfeiting the bets they pay, or, rather, keep playing. If they choose the second option, they can ask for up to 3 bonus cards to complete the hand after dismissing the ones that are not the right fit. There is also an option to keep the hand they already have and not draw anymore, which would mean their hand is pretty strong as is, and likely to pay dividends.

In the second round, the players who want to continue can discard what does not suit them once again. This time, however, they can only draw one additional card. After the last round of betting has ended, the players dealt a card or otherwise proceed to a showdown when they compare hands to decide the winner. The winning hand is a two-pair or better, which brings an even pay-out on the ante bet. As a bonus tip, you should make ante and bonus bets equal.

Ace to Five Lowball

In this subtype, otherwise known as California Lowball, the players choose what to discard and draw in order to achieve the perfect hand, which is 5-4-3-2-A. In this case, you can keep your cards, and asking for bonus ones can bring you better chances of winning, assuming they are the lowest in value.

Moreover, the Joker card is used only in Single Draw version, where it is considered to be the best card you can get. When it comes to DD, however, it is only used as an Ace, or for completing a flush or a straight, as we mentioned above.

Deuce to Seven Lowball

When you are playing Kansas City Lowball, as this version is better known, you need to avoid Aces, since they are considered to be high and will decrease your chances of getting the perfect hand. Thus, the winning hand comprises the following: 7-5-4-3-2. Since straights and flushes do count, you should discard them as soon as you get the chance — another bonus tip.

Where to Find the Game

Sadly, tables that offer DD are sorely lacking. Nevertheless, people have cited tables in the following establishments:

Summary

Double Draw poker online is a fairly new addition to the market, but it has captured the hearts of many players around the world quite fast. Its rules can be applied when playing different variants, such as lowball which we mentioned above. It may not be widespread at the moment, but it will soon pay off for casinos to boast it in their repertoire. Slowly but surely, DD poker is taking center stage and assuming its rightful place in the casino gaming industry.

Most Frequent Questions

Why do you draw to inside straights on double double bonus poker?

Gutshots have a middle card missing to form a straight (like having a 7, 9, 10, and J). This means that you have half the odds of getting the card you need than if you had an open-ended straight. You should, therefore, avoid drawing to gutshots, as chance won’t be on your side. You may even be better off trying to create a pair.

Where to find double draw video poker?

A particularly frustrating problem with this game is actually finding it anywhere. Las Vegas, being the central hub for all gambling, will likely have a table/machine here or there. Outside that, though, you’ll be hard-pressed to encounter one. And online options are even more scarce. Some software manufacturers, like IGT, once produced this variant, but have stopped long since.

What casinos have double draw poker?

This variant is quite rare to find in casinos. Some high-profile establishments, like the ones in Las Vegas, might happen to offer it. However, it’s slim pickings beyond that. The odds of an online casino sporting it are, unfortunately, even smaller.