The single draw version of 2-7 is often referred to as Lowball poker. It is draw game, which means players are dealt five cards and may discard any number of these cards in exchange for new cards. Unlike other popular games like Texas Hold em and Stud, where the player holding the highest ranking hand wins, in 2-7 Draw poker, the best low hand wins. In 2-7 Single Draw, players have the opportunity to discard and draw one time; in 2-7 Triple Draw, players can draw three times. This does not mean, though, that players have to draw. They can “stand pat,” which means the player does not discard or draw any cards.
In 2-7 poker, straights and flushes do count against a low hand, and Aces are always valued high (you may notice this is opposite of Stud poker). Therefore, the best hand possible in the2-7 range, or the nuts, is 7-5-4-3-2.
Like games that begin with a flop, draw poker is played with blinds. Draw games are often played with antes, in addition to blinds. Players are dealt five hole cards, face down. After players have viewed their hands privately, the player after the big blind can fold, call, or raise, and the action continues around the table, clockwise, until the round is complete. A draw follows. Each player discards any unwanted cards and removes them from his hand, and the dealer replaces these cards with new cards.
The purpose in exchanging cards is to improve your hand, by saving cards that have the potential to make a good hand, and discarding those that do not. Each player follows in clockwise order. Then another round of betting follows. Remaining players can either bet or fold (or check if no bets are placed). In a 2-7 Single Draw game, the action stops here and results in a showdown of the best 2-7 hand winning, unless all players have folded, and a new hand can begin.
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2-7 Triple Draw
In 2-7 Triple Draw poker, the game would ensue, continuing past the first draw. The first draw would be followed by the second round of betting, which like all remaining betting, starts with the player to the left of the dealer. The next event is a second draw, then a third betting round, followed by a third and final draw, and a fourth betting round. Then, if necessary, a showdown is carried out. Should the deck run out of cards, the discarded pile is reshuffled and re-used.
After the final betting has taken place, the best five-card 2-7 hand wins . Two equal hands will result in a split pot.
If you are used to playing Hold ‘em, you will have to reframe your mind to play 2-7 poker because hands that are typically strong in other games become weak in 2-7 Draw. Pairs, trips, straights, and flushes are not strong hands here. Poker players who can master both frames of mind will definitely increase their mental grasp of poker, in general.
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