2-7 Triple Draw Rules and How to Play

2-7 Triple Draw is a deuce to seven lowball poker game played with a standard 52-card deck. The game is traditionally played in fixed limit format, though in recent years NL and PL games have become available. 2-7 Triple Draw rules are quite simple: there are four betting rounds with three draws between them. At showdown, the best hand using deuce to seven hand rankings wins the pot.

Play 2-7 Triple Draw Online at PokerStars

To some players, it is not obvious that this is a lowball game. Every so often, even at the high stakes games, a player will show up capping every street and then at showdown reveal a high hand such as trips, or a full house. Soon after, the player discovers the 2-7 Triple Draw rules, and their confusion turns to disgust or embarrassment. As a new player, you’ll want to remember not only that this is lowball, but that it is deuce to seven lowball.

In deuce to seven lowball, the best possible hand is 2-3-4-5-7. This is because the ace is always high and straights (as do flushes) count against rankings. The goal is to make the lowest hand possible without it being a straight or a flush. In unpaired (non ranking) hands, the highest of a player’s five cards is the first compared to determine who has the lowest hand. For example, 2-3-4-5-10 is a ten-low and would lose to 4-5-6-8-9 which is a 9-low. If two players have the same low, the second card is then examined,and if the same, the third card, and so on and so forth until a winner is determined.

Detailed 2-7 Triple Draw Rules

2-7 Triple Draw starts with the two players to the left of the dealer-button posting a live small blind and a live big blind. Starting with the small blind, players are dealt one card at a time until each has five cards. The first round of betting takes place and when complete, the first of three draws begins. The draw starts with the player to the left of the dealer having the option to discard any number of their cards and have them replaced with new ones. This option goes around the table, with each player having the chance to draw.

After the first draw, the second betting round takes place with stakes equal to the first, and a second draw follows. After the second draw, a third betting round occurs with the stakes now doubled. The players then have one more chance to draw new cards and when complete, the final betting round takes place using the same doubled stakes. The final action is a showdown where the player with the best deuce to seven lowball hand is awarded the pot.

2-7 Triple Draw Rules on Reshuffles

2-7 Triple Draw rules state that if no cards are left for a draw, mucked cards will be shuffled and put back into play. House rules are different from card room to card room on which cards are added to this shuffle. In live games, it is common that players still in the hand will have their discarded cards remain in front of them, and only mucked and burn-cards will be added to the draw. At online poker site UB, all cards that have been discarded are added to the deck when no fresh cards remain, meaning a player could potentially draw a card they’ve already discarded. PokerStars.com has a rather unique 2-7 Triple Draw rule for this situation, as they reshuffle all cards, but block a player from being able to receive a card they previously discarded.

The differences between house rules are often small; however, for serious players, it might make sense to read or request the “2-7 Triple Draw Rules” from the website or establishment hosting the game, to make sure there are no discrepancies.

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