Six Back Rules - Poker Game Database

Overview

Six Back is a 6-card draw game with a twist on the draw mechanic: you always discard one more card than you draw — discard 1 to draw 0, discard 2 to draw 1, up to the maximum of discard 4 to draw 3. Every exchange costs that one extra card, so your hand shrinks by exactly one: you start with 6 cards and always finish the draw holding a final 5-card poker hand.

Number of Players

2–6 players maximum

The Draw Rule

KEY RULE: You always discard one more card than you draw, so every exchange shrinks your hand by exactly one card — 6 dealt, 5 after the draw, no matter which option you pick:
• Draw 0 → discard 1 (stand close — keep your best 5)
• Draw 1 → discard 2
• Draw 2 → discard 3
• Draw 3 → discard 4 (maximum draw)

Dealing Order

Each player receives 6 cards face-down
Pre-draw betting (player left of the big blind acts first)
Draw phase — each player discards n+1, draws n (max draw 3)
Post-draw betting (SB acts first)
Showdown — best 5-card hand wins

Strategy Tips

You must always discard at least one card — there's no true "standing pat"
With 6 starting cards, you often see strong starting combinations — evaluate all 6 possible 5-card hands before deciding what to discard
Drawing 0 (discarding 1) signals a very strong hand; drawing 3 signals a big rebuild
With a 6-player max limit and 6 cards each, the deck is taxed — late draws might get reduced cards

SIX BACK