Double Draw Poker Casinos

Double Draw Poker resurrects the mechanics of classic five-card draw and layers in a second draw round that changes the strategy calculus. The two draws give you more flexibility to chase premium hands, but they also tempt you into drawing too aggressively and missing the qualifying threshold. The core tension is between playing safely (draw to a guaranteed pair) and playing aggressively (chase the flush or straight that pays 3:1 or better). If you enjoy video poker, the draw mechanic will feel familiar, but the two-round format and paytable structure require a different strategic approach. Compare this to Flop Poker, which uses community cards instead of draws.

Double Draw Poker Rules and Payouts

Double Draw Poker uses a standard 52-card deck. You place an Ante bet and receive five cards face up. After evaluating your hand, you select cards to discard and draw replacements from the deck. A second draw round follows immediately, using the remaining cards in the deck. After both draws are complete, you decide to raise or fold. If you raise and your final hand meets or exceeds a pair of 6s, you are paid according to the posted paytable. If you fold, you forfeit your Ante only.

The paytable typically starts at a push for a pair of 6s through 10s. A pair of Jacks or better pays 1:1. Two pair pays 2:1. Three of a kind pays 3:1. A straight pays 4:1. A flush pays 6:1. A full house pays 10:1. Four of a kind pays 40:1. A straight flush pays 100:1. A royal flush pays 500:1. The key variable between casinos is the full house and flush payout — higher numbers (10:1 and 6:1) are player favorable. Lower paytables (8:1 and 5:1) increase the house edge by roughly 1 percent. For another draw-based poker variant, see our 7 Card Poker guide.

Double Draw Poker Strategy

The two-draw format creates a strategy tree with branching possibilities. On the first draw, your decision is straightforward: keep any pair, any four-flush, any open-ended straight draw, or any three cards to a royal flush. Discard everything else. If you start with a pair and a three-flush, keep only the pair — chasing a low-probability flush draw over two draws sacrifices the guaranteed pair value. The expected value of a made pair exceeds a draw to a four-flush in most paytable configurations.

On the second draw, the strategy depends on what you achieved in the first round. If you made a pair or better, draw to improve the kickers or chase a second pair. If you hold a pair of Jacks to Aces, you are already above the push line, so drawing for a second pair or three of a kind adds value. If you hold a pair of 6s to 10s, you push, so drawing for improvement is worth the effort. The raise decision is binary: raise the maximum with two pair or better, raise 1x with a qualifying pair, and fold everything weaker. The lack of a dealer hand means you never worry about the dealer qualifying — your hand either pays or it does not.

Where to Play Double Draw Poker

Double Draw Poker is a niche variant available at 7 US casinos. It is most commonly found in Las Vegas and at larger regional properties with expansive poker pits. The game sits alongside other house-banked draw and stud poker games.

Before you sit, compare the paytable against other tables. The full house and flush payouts are the most important numbers on the board. Browse our US casino directory to find venues near you that offer Double Draw Poker.