A 5 Card Draw Strategy

DangerMouse · A 5 Card Draw Strategy

Well I said I`d try and write up a playbook for 5 card draw and here it is. It isn`t any kind of definitive guide it`s just the plays I used in the MLP games. If you want to read an experts view on the game I believe the original Super Sytem had a section written by Mike Caro. That being said here`s what I have.

Pre-Draw

As I mentioned in a couple of posts I had never played the game with antes before and that made a huge difference in my approach to the game. With antes there was a lot more in the pot than if there were blinds and if no-one raises then everyone at the table gets to change cards. I`d noticed this on the first game and I came into the second game with the intention of opening up my range of raising hands. I had the advantage of knowing that at least a few players would be following Harry`s guide to starting hands and what to look for when their opponent changed cards.

So the first thing I did was raise with almost any pair if at least two people had already checked. Of course doing lots of raising is quite risky so I implemented a smallball approach. I`d raise either a quarter or half of the pot during the early stages of the game.( In the latter stages I had to go up to pot sized bets sometimes. )Basically if people began to call me a lot I`d move it up a notch to drive them out whilst still keeping the pot relatively small if I was called. If I was re-raised it was no big deal I could get away from the hand cheaply and if I was called I had the chance to take the pot after the draw. The times I was re-raised off the hand were more than paid for by the numerous small pots I picked up uncontested.

On the whole I tried to keep my bet sizes standard so you could never tell if I had a full-house or a pair of fives. I did occasionally mix things up but that was purely on a whim. Sometimes I`d have a weak hand and sometimes a strong one. The small ball approach was the reason I managed to extract a lot of value when I did have a genuine hand. Because I was in so many pots and always raising a similar amount it was very hard to put me on a hand (I believe).

The Draw

The draw offers the most information other than the betting. It`s also the ideal time to make a play against your opponent.

Reallistically anyone who has called a raise will either change 0,1,2 or 3 cards. The number of cards they take should give you some idea where you are. Of course that applies to their read on you too. To take that away is very easy, you just change less cards than you really want to. So if for example you`d raised with 9h 9c Kd Js 2c and you pick up a caller who will have to act first. He takes 1 card and as most players won`t call a raise with a flush or straight draw he very likely has 2 pair. If your read is right, to beat him you will have to catch either another pair or a set of nines. The odds aren`t great on that so instead of changing 3 cards you only change 2. If you`re lucky your hand will improve but if it doesn`t and more importantly if his doesn`t then a bet of around half the pot should take it down for you. It`s very difficult to call with 2 pair when your opponent seems to have a set. This play can also be used when you are out of position but it`s little more risky and you`re probably better off drawing 3 and hoping you improve.

You can use the same technique to disguise a set. Instead of taking 2 you take 1 and hope that one of your opponents will have something like aces up and be confident enough to call your bet or even bet into you. You`re not really risking much with this play. It`s unlikely you will draw a pair so you might as well keep a high card and take a shot at pairing it or hitting the case card for your set. This is also the play to make in the unlikely event you are dealt quads, even though your hand is made you should change the extra card to disguise your strength.

I used both of the above plays but not all the time, sometimes I would draw two cards when I had a set or three cards when I only had a pair. Again it was all about causing confusion and not being predictable.

You can also raise from late position with a straight or flush draw if you only need 1 card. It is similar to betting a draw on the flop in NLHE, and you`re doing it for exactly the same reasons. To either take the pot there and then or to add value to the pot in case you hit. Because a lot of players won`t bet a flush draw everyone is much likelier to put you on 2 pair which means you`re likely to get nicely paid off if you hit and anyone has a strong 2 pair or catches a set.

I haven`t bothered with any post draw plays because it was so situational and player dependent. Apply your normal NLHE tactics and bet if you think you have the best hand or that you can take it irrespective of your cards.

Note : harry's guide for basic strategy : 5 Card Draw - Basic Strategy & Ideas

Know-nuffin

Very interesting post, with many things for me to ponder their.

Thank you for taking the time over that.

Definitely one for the classic threads room

Miklosik

Thank you so much DM. I really wanted to save a few hands during that mini-league to ask you about but I couldn't find it on Doyles. I would really like to try something like this again. It's like a breath of fresh air to get away from NLHE every once in awhile.

HOUSECATS

Thanks DM for the great advise.

tukie

thanks for the tips. I play the doyles five card draw freeroll very frequently. I have won 2nd in it once but haven't had much luck lately. I may try some of your tactics next time I play it.

harry_lime

Thanks for that DM. I've added links connecting our threads at the bottom of each top post as these guides should prove a good basic ground piece for anyone starting or beginning to advance in the game.

If we do this again (and i'm sure we will sometime), i may add some counter plays (much as i was using in the last game) as an addition in one of these threads.

Great work DM !

DangerMouse

Thanks guys I`m glad a couple of you found it interesting

. I wanted to put some hand history examples in the post but I could only access the final game and there were a lot less of these plays in that game. Partly because I`d wrapped up the series and partly because Harry played some very effective counter-strategy.