Draw Poker for Windows

This video-poker simulation game earns points on several fronts. First off, Draw Poker Gold Edition is tiny and completely free, two big pluses we always appreciate. The game is not graphically intense, but it gets the point across just fine and looks almost identical to the video-poker machines you find in casinos. However, if you want a full range of poker variations, this application isn't for you, as it offers only five-card draw. For a simple poker game, we were surprised to find so many configuration options. You can change the background scene or color, switch card decks, speed up the deal, and turn off the laughter that mocks you when you lose a big pot of dough. If you want to add more personality to the game, you can introduce differently themed jokers. Our only real complaint here is that this app turns up winning hands more often than seems possible. Maybe we were just extremely lucky in our tests, but we still would have appreciated the ability to turn off wild cards, specify how many decks were in the deal, and change difficulty levels. Nonetheless, both first-timers who want to learn five-card draw and seasoned players looking to hone their skills likely will enjoy this game.