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The Rules for Johnson Draw Poker.

Standard Five-Card Draw Poker

Other Draw Poker Games

Johnson Draw Poker (and Jacks Back Poker)

Johnson draw poker is played with one joker which acts as a bug. It must be played with antes and no blinds. Each poker player is dealt five cards. The first betting round begins with the player to the dealer's left, who may check or open with anything. If any player opens, the poker game continues as traditional five-card draw poker. If the first round is passed out (that is, no one opens), then the player to the dealer's left may now open if he chooses, but the poker game has switched to California Lowball Poker. On the rare occasion that the deal is passed out yet again, players re-ante and deal again.

This poker game plays well head-up (that is, with only two players). When this poker game is played with a pair of jacks or better required to open on the first high-hand round, the poker game is called Jacks Back.

Some examples might help clarify: On the first deal, players ante and Alice deals five cards around. Bob sees that he has a 6-high straight, which is a very good for both high and low poker hands. He also wants to be deceptive about the value of his hand, so he checks. Carol opens for $1, David folds, Alice raises to $2, and Bob (who now realizes that Carol and Alice want to play high hands) re-raises to $3, which is called by Carol and Alice. Bob announces that he "stands pat" (draws no cards). Carol draws three cards, and Alice draws two. Bob bets $2, Carol folds, Alice raises, and Bob calls. Bob shows his straight, but Alice has made a full house and wins the pot.

On the second deal, Bob has the same poker hand: a 6-high straight, and makes the same play, checking. This time, Carol also checks, as does David, and finally Alice. Now it is Bob's turn again, but now they are playing lowball. He opens for $1. Carol folds, and David raises to $2. Alice folds, and Bob re-raises to $3 (a 6-high is a very good low poker hand; much better, in fact, than a 6-high straight would be for high). David calls. Bob stands pat, and David draws one card. Bob bets $2 (he is required to bet under California lowball poker rules since he has a hand better than 7-high), and David calls. Bob shows his 6-5-4-3-2 low, and David shows 7-5-4-3-A low, and Bob wins with his 6-high.

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