It is essential to make a mental note of the number of cards your opponents draw. The number of cards they draw will indicate to you how good their cards are. Usually if a person draws three cards it means that he has a pair. On the other hand if a player picks two cards it would be more than likely he has three cards of a kind or he is stupid enough to think he might get a straight or a flush.
If a player picks one card then there is a possibility he has two pairs or he may be trying to draw a straight or flush. Players can opt not to draw any cards. This would usually mean that they have a good set of cards such as a full house, a flush or a straight. Alternatively he could be pretending.
If a player is pretending then he has two chances of theory bluffing: the wager and the draw. Some players pretend to the other players that they have a good set of cards either by not taking any more cards or by taking one to two cards or by standing pat and then all of a sudden they begin raising the wager in the second round.
A player should attempt to perceive what is in the opponents’ mind when he draws new cards. Did you get an idea of what’s going on in your opponents’ mind when he drew new cards? Does your opponent appear keen to place a bet in the next round? A player could employ a different tactic in a five-card draw poker by keeping a ‘kicker’.
The term kicker refers to a high card such as an ace when you already have a pair. This way even if your pair is a small one such as a pair of fives then you have a high card in anticipation of getting yet another pair which is higher to compliment your low pair. When a player keeps kickers it confuses the other players.
Let us say you pick up two new cards while you have a high card and a small pair then the other players might assume that you have three cards of one type. When the players have picked their cards make a mental note of how the opponents are placing their bets. If the opponents are playing an aggressive game or if they raise the wager greatly the odds could be that they have a good set of cards (alternatively they could be pretending).
If the opponents check the betting or if they are betting moderately there is a possibility that they aren’t really certain that the cards they have could win the kitty for them therefore they aren’t betting too much money. If a player thinks he has a good set of cards during the second round of betting then he should bet aggressively. This way the player could increase the kitty to a substantial amount, which would force the other players to pay to see the hand.
Example:
Opening deal:
Player 1: 7♥, Q♥, K♦, 5♥, 6♥
Player 2: Q♣, 7♦, 6♦, 5♦, 4♣
Player 3: 3♣, 3♦, 2♠, 2♣, J♠
Player 4: J♦, J♣, 7♣, 8♥, 3♠
Player 5: Q♠, Q♦, K♣, 8♣, 2♥
Player 6: 9♦, 8♠, 6♠, 4♠, 2♦
Wagers:
The bets are to the tune of Rs. One. / Rs. Two. This is the usual rate at a small game. Anybody that can afford this amount is allowed to play here.
Player 1: Places a wager with a five flush and two high cards.
Player 2: Matches the bet with a five straight.
Player 3: Increases the wager because he has two pairs.
Player 4: Matches the wager with a pair of Jacks.
Player 5: Matches the wager with a pair of Queens.
Player 6: Has nothing to play with therefore he quits.
Player 1: Matches the amount.
Player 2: Matches the amount.
Picking the cards:
Player 1: Gets rid of the K♦ in anticipation of getting a flush.
Player 2: Gets rid of the Q♣ in anticipation of getting a straight.
Player 3: Gets rid of the J♠ in anticipation of getting a full house.
Player 4: Keeps the pair of Jacks and picks other cards.
Player 5: Keeps the pair of Queens while saving the King as a kicker he picks two Cards. Not everyone would agree with this as it makes more sense to save the kicker if one has a small pair.
THE FOLLOWING GAME:
Player 1: Got lucky! This player picked the 10♥, leaving him with a flush.
Player 2: This player ended with a straight. 3♣, 7♦, 6♦, 5♦, 4♣
Player 3: Not much good. 3♣, 3♦, 2♠, 2♣, 7♠
Player 4: Not much good. J♦, J♣, 8♣, 6♣, 4♥
Player 5: Not much good. Q♠, Q♦, K♣, J♥, 3♥
Wagers:
Player 1: Places a huge wager because he has good cards.
Player 2: Matches the wager.
Player 3: Quits. Since the previous players only picked one card each and both of them made a wager hence the improbability of beating his opponents with two small pairs.
Player 4: Quits because he only has one pair.
Player 5: Quits because he only has one pair.
Winner:
Player 1 who has a flush beats player 2.