2-7 Single Draw Poker Rules

2-7 (Deuce to Seven) Single Draw is a form of draw poker, sometimes referred to as ‘Kansas City Lowball’. Lowball games reward the best low hand, making it the opposite of games likes Hold’em and Stud, in which the highest hand wins. NL 2-7 Single Draw Rules First lets take a look at the NL 2-7 Single Draw rules after which we will show you how NL 2-7 Triple Draw rules differ. NL 2-7 rules are the same as Holdem rules when it comes to the small and big blind. The small blind sits directly to the left of the dealer and the big blind sits directly to the left of the small blind. Like all games, poker comes with a set of rules that make up the game. Now the rules may differ slightly with the variants, but essentially, they are all based on the same fundamentals.

  1. What Is 2-7 Single Draw Poker Rules
  2. What Is 2-7 Single Draw Poker Rules
  3. How To Play 2-7 Single Draw Poker
  4. 2-7 Single Draw Poker Rules
2-7 Single Draw Poker Rules

2-7 (Deuce to Seven) Triple Draw Lowball is a poker game in which the low poker hand wins the pot at showdown. In other words, it is a form of ‘Lowball’. It is a ‘draw’ game, meaning that you are dealt five cards, and may discard from zero to five of them on the draw, and receive that number of replacement cards. In Triple Draw, each player has the opportunity to draw three times, though you may ‘stand pat’ (not discard any cards) on any or all of the draws.

How to Play 2-7 Triple Draw

First, it’s important to understand that the hand rankings are different in 2-7 than in other low games. In 2-7, straights and flushes count against your low hand, and aces are always high. So the best possible hand is: 7, 5, 4, 3, 2. The following 2-7 hands (not a complete list) are ranked from least powerful (#1, which will rarely win the pot) to most powerful (#16, the nuts):

  1. J, 7, 4, 3, 2 (all the same suit - a flush)
  2. 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 (a straight)
  3. 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 (a lower straight)
  4. 5, 5, 5, 6, 3
  5. 2, 2, 7, 6, 5
  6. A, 9, 6, 4, 2
  7. A, 8, 7, 4, 2
  8. A, 5, 4, 3, 2 (not a straight - ace-high)
  9. K, J, 8, 7, 4
  10. T, 7, 5, 4, 3
  11. T, 6, 5, 4, 3
  12. T, 6, 5, 4, 2
  13. 9, 7, 6, 4, 3
  14. 8, 6, 4, 3, 2
  15. 7, 6, 4, 3, 2
  16. 7, 5, 4, 3, 2

Blinds

Draw games are played using forced bets known as blinds, with the player sitting to the left of the dealer button posting a small blind, and the player to their left posting the big blind. The small blind is usually equal to half the size of the big blind. Lowball is also sometimes played with an ante, which is a small forced bet posted by each player in addition to the blinds.

The Deal

Each player is dealt five cards face down. There is then a round of betting, where you have the option to either call, raise, or fold. Players still left in the hand after the first round of betting now have the opportunity to draw. That is, each player selects which (if any) cards he wishes to discard by clicking on them. By clicking a second time on a card that you have planned to discard, you remove it from the discard set. You can discard all five cards if you wish. If you feel that you already have a strong hand, you can opt to ‘Stand Pat’. This means that you are choosing not to discard any of your cards. Discarding continues around the table clockwise. When it is your turn to discard, you press the button to confirm you wish to discard the selected cards.

After the first draw, there is another round of betting, beginning with the first active player to the left of the button.

There are two more draws with a round of betting following each one, resulting in three draws total, and four rounds of betting. If more than one player is still left in the hand at this point, a showdown takes place, with the player holding the best hand taking the pot.

So the sequence of action is:

  1. Five cards dealt to each player
  2. Betting round #1, beginning with player to left of big blind
  3. Draw #1, beginning with player to left of button
  4. Betting round #2, beginning with player to left of button
  5. Draw #2, beginning with player to left of button
  6. Betting round #3, beginning with player to left of button
  7. Draw #3, beginning with player to left of button
  8. Betting round #4, beginning with player to left of button
  9. Showdown (if necessary)

In draw games, it is possible for more cards to be needed than are remaining in the deck. In this case, the cards are reshuffled, and play continues using the new deck. For more information on reshuffling in draw games, please see Reshuffling the Deck.

Showdown - Determining the Winner

The player with the best five-card 2-7 hand wins the pot. After the pot is awarded to the best hand, a new game of 2-7 Triple Draw is ready to be played.

If two or more hands have the same value, the pot is equally split among them. There is no rank of suit for the purposes of awarding the pot. Please remember, this is different from other forms of low or high/low poker, where an ace can be played either high or low. In 2-7, an ace is always the highest card.

Learn How to Play 2-7 Triple Draw for Free

If you are unfamiliar with 2-7 Triple Draw poker, we recommend you try the game out first to get a feel for how it’s played. You are always welcome to play on free poker tables at PokerStars, and sharpen your skills before playing real money poker.

Finally, if you like to play other draw variants, we recommend you check out Single Draw 2-7 Lowball, Five Card Draw, or Badugi, all of which are very popular poker games as well. These games are a nice change of pace from the amazingly popular Texas Hold’em game, and they are also available in our poker tournaments selection.

As well as 2-7 Triple Draw, we also offer many other poker variants. See our Poker Games page to learn more.

If you have any questions about 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball games at PokerStars, please email Support.

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Deuce to Seven draw poker isn't the most popular game in the world, but it has shown a slight resurgence lately due to an increase in online popularity. There are two forms of the game: Deuce to Seven Single Draw and Deuce to Seven Triple Draw. Both have basically the same structure, and the differences involve how many rounds of 'drawing' each game has. This article will teach how to play 2-7 Draw Poker, including the single draw as well as the triple draw variation. Read on for the full rules of the game:

Objective of Deuce to Seven Draw

In Deuce to Seven Draw, players make bets into a pot in the hopes of winning the collective pot. There are two ways a player can win a hand: either by forcing all of the other players to fold, or by having the best hand at the end of the game. To make the most money playing Deuce to Seven Draw, you want to get money in the pot when you have the best hand, and keep money out of the pot when you have a poor hand.

Deuce to Seven Draw Structure

Deuce to Seven triple draw is typically played at a table with six players, and the single draw variation usually is played at a table with seven players. Since each player receives a minimum of five cards, you can't really have more than 6 or 7 players at the table because the deck would run out of cards. Both games are usually played in either Fixed Limit or No Limit stakes. Tables are referred to based on their stakes. For example, a $1/$2 No Limit table would have a $1 small blind and a $2 big blind.

2-7 Single Draw Rules

We'll start by explaining the rules of 2-7 Single Draw and then explain 2-7 Triple Draw later on. Since both games are basically the same up until a certain point, it's easy to learn them both at once.

What Is 2-7 Single Draw Poker Rules

Shuffle Up and Deal

The game starts with two forced bets called 'blinds'. Blinds are used to make sure that every hand has money in the pot. There are two blinds: the small blind and the big blind. The small blind is paid by the player directly to the left of the dealer button, and the big blind is paid by the player two seats to the left of the dealer button. Every hand the dealer position rotates one seat to the left, and thus, the blinds also rotate one seat to the left. View the below diagram to get a visual understanding of who pays the blinds.

One difference between No Limit and Fixed Limit 2-7 Draw is the size of the blinds. If you're at a $1/$2 No Limit table, the small blind is $1 and the big blind is $2. However, if you're at a $1/$2 Fixed Limit table, the small blind is $0.50 and the big blind is $1. It's not a big deal, but it's just one strange difference between the two betting variations. Here's that image I promised you that shows the blinds in relation to the dealer:

Once the blinds are posted the next step is to deal out everyone's hole cards. Each player receives five face down cards that are dealt out one by one starting with the small blind and moving clockwise around the table. Once everyone has their hole cards, the first betting round begins.

First Betting Round

After everyone has their cards, the first betting round takes place. The first player to act is the player directly to the left of the big blind. This player can either call the big blind, fold, or raise the big blind. If it's a no limit game, the player has to raise to at least 2x the big blind if they choose to raise. After the first player acts, action continues clockwise around the table, and all the other players can call, fold, or raise. The first betting round ends when every player has either folded or called the highest bet.

2-7 Single Draw Poker Rules

The big blind sometimes ends up in a unique situation if no one raises during the first betting round. Since he/she already has their big blind in, they have the option of checking and receiving the first draw without putting any more money in the pot.

The Draw

After the first betting round is completed players receive their first draw. The draw starts with the first player to the left of the dealer. This player has the option to draw 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 cards, or to draw zero cards and 'stand pat'. After that player draws, the draw continues clockwise around the table until every player has received their new cards. Once all cards have been dealt out, there is another betting round.

Second Betting Round

The second betting round starts with the first player to the left of the dealer. He/she can either check or bet. Action then continues around the table clockwise, and each player can either check (if no one has bet), bet (if no one has bet), call (if there has been a bet), raise (if there has been a bet), or fold. The betting round ends once every player has either called the highest bet or folded.

NOTE - In 2-7 Single Draw you would now have a showdown. If you'd like to skip right to the showdown, click this link. If you'd like to learn the remaining rules of 2-7 Triple Draw, keep reading.

2-7 Triple Draw Rules

Since 2-7 Triple Draw starts out exactly the same as 2-7 Single Draw, we decided to condense this article so it wouldn't be a mile long. If you've already read all of the above steps, keep reading to find out the remaining rules of 2-7 Triple Draw.

Second Draw

Ok, so now you've just completed the second betting round and are ready for the second draw. This draw is exactly the same as the first draw. It starts with the first player to the left of the dealer, and each player has the option to draw 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 cards, or to once again 'stand pat'. Once every player has received their cards you now have the third betting round.

Third Betting Round

What Is 2-7 Single Draw Poker Rules

The third betting round is exactly the same as the second betting round. It starts with the first player to the left of the dealer, and moves clockwise around the table. Each player has the option to check, bet, raise, call, or fold. Of course, if there haven't been any bets you can't raise, and if another player has already bet then you lose the option to check. Once all players have either called the highest bet or folded, you move on to the third and final draw.

How To Play 2-7 Single Draw Poker

Third Draw

2-7 Single Draw Poker Rules

This draw is once again the same as the previous draws. Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, each player can draw 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 cards, or stand pat and draw none. Once each player has received their cards you move on to the fourth and final betting round.

Last Betting Round

The final betting round starts with the first player to the left of the dealer, and continues around the table clockwise. Each player can check, bet, call, raise, or fold. Once everyone has either called the highest bet or folded, the betting round is over and you have a showdown.

The Showdown

Showdowns in 2-7 Draw are much different than showdowns in typical poker games like Texas Hold'em. Instead of using normal hand values, players use a 'low' hand system. Basically, you attempt to make the worst possible five card poker hand. Aces are high, and straights and flushes count against you. Here is a chart showing the best 2-7 hands:

Hand Rank:Hand:Example Hand:
#17-Low7-5-4-3-2 Off Suit
#28-Low8-7-5-4-3 Off Suit
#39-Low9-5-4-3-2 Off Suit
#4Ten-LowT-9-7-4-2 Off Suit
#5Jack-LowJ-8-7-4-2 Off Suit
#6Queen-LowQ-8-6-5-3 Off Suit
#7King-LowK-J-8-3-2 Off Suit
#8Ace-LowA-K-8-7-4 Off Suit
#9PairK-K-5-4-3
#10Two Pair8-8-5-5-3
#11Three of a KindJ-J-J-4-3
#12StraightJ-T-9-8-7 Off Suit
#13Flush2-5-6-9-T Suited
#14Full House8-8-8-3-3
#15Four of a KindJ-J-J-J-2
#16Straight Flush2-3-4-5-6 Suited
Rules

In the event of a tie, you'd look at whoever has the lower version of that hand rank. For example, if two players both have Ten-Lows, you'd look at the next highest card to see who's was lower. Imagine that one player has T9654 and the other has T9743. The first cards are both Tens, so you'd move to the next one. These are both nines so you'd move to the next one. The first hand has a six, and the second has a seven. Six is lower than seven, so the first hand would be the winner.

In the event of two players having a pair or a straight, the lower hand would win. Example - a pair of twos beats a pair of fives, and an eight-high straight beats a ten-high straight.

History of 2-7 Draw

Not much is known about the history of this poker game, other than it probably developed as a variation of 5 card draw, because that is the game it resembles most. It is basically a carbon copy of five card draw, other than the 2-7 hand values that are used for the game, and a rarely used no check/raise rule.

Where to Play Deuce to Seven Draw Poker?

Once you learn the rules of 2-7 Draw, your next step is finding an online poker site that offers the game. Not many sites offer 2-7 Single or Triple Draw, but we have found the best 2-7 Draw Poker Sites. Here's our #1 site:

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