Draw Game · Blinds · Single Draw · Draw 5 Max · 8 Players Max
Overview
Four-Before deals each player 4 cards face-down, then holds one draw round with a unique twist: you always draw one more card than you discard. This means you're guaranteed to finish with 5 cards regardless of how many you discard. The maximum draw is 5 (discard all 4 and receive 5 new cards). The best standard poker hand wins.
Watch a Sample Hand
All three players discard 2 and draw 3. Hero turns two aces into four aces. P3 also makes four of a kind — but four kings can't beat four aces!
POT: $40
YOU (Hero)
FOUR ACES · WIN!
Player 2
Player 3
Ready to Deal
Press Next Step to begin dealing the sample hand.
Step 0 of 5
The Draw Rule
KEY RULE: You always draw one more card than you discard. Discard 0 → draw 1. Discard 1 → draw 2. Discard 2 → draw 3. Discard 3 → draw 4. Discard 4 → draw 5. You always end with exactly 5 cards.
Draw Options Summary
Discard 0, Draw 1: Stand pat but receive 1 bonus card — choose which 4 to keep as your final hand
Discard 1, Draw 2: Remove one weak card and receive two possible replacements
Discard 2, Draw 3: Replace your two weakest cards with three new ones
Discard 3, Draw 4: Keep your one best card and build around it with four new cards
Discard 4, Draw 5: Keep nothing — receive an entirely new hand of 5 cards
Strategy Tips
Every player gains a net card — everyone improves. Starting hand strength matters less than draw potential
Pairs and three-of-a-kind become powerful draws: keep your pair/trips and discard everything else to draw the maximum replacement cards
"Standing pat" (discard 0) still gives you 1 new card to add to your existing 4 — you must choose which 4 of your 5 to keep
A pat hand (discarding 0) signals a very strong 4-card hand, since drawing 1 always improves it
With 8 players max and everyone drawing 1–5 cards, expect the table to upgrade significantly — plan for big hands at showdown
