As with Hold’em and Omaha, 5 card draw uses what is called a dealer-button to indicate the theoretical dealer of each hand. After each hand is completed, as with standard poker rules, the button moves clockwise to the next active player. This player will be considered “the dealer” for that hand.

The player next to the button / dealer is required to place the small blind. The small blind is equal to half the lower stake. This is a guideline for determining the blinds and not a strict rule.

The player to the left of the small blind is required to post the big blind, equal to the lower stake limit. All the blinds are considered live bets and the players who posted them will have the option of checking, calling, raising or folding when the betting returns to their position.

Each player is initially dealt five cards, and there is a round of betting at the lower limit of the stakes structure. When the betting is complete, each player in turn may discard and draw 0-5 cards. There is then one round of betting at the higher limit, and the hands are shown down.