Objective
Make the best deuce-to-seven low hand. Aces are always high, and pairs, straights, and flushes count against you. The best possible hand is 7-5-4-3-2 in mixed suits.
Setup and forced bets
Players post blinds and receive five private cards. Four fixed-limit betting rounds alternate with three opportunities to draw.
2-7 Triple Draw rules step by step
- 1
Post blinds and deal five cards
Small and big blinds open the pot. Each player receives five private cards.
- 2
Play the first betting round
Players act using the table’s fixed bet size and raise cap.
- 3
Take the first draw
Each live player may stand pat or replace selected cards. A second betting round follows.
- 4
Take the second draw
Players may replace cards again. A third fixed-limit betting round follows.
- 5
Take the third draw
Players get one final chance to stand pat or replace cards.
- 6
Play the final betting round
The final fixed-limit round occurs after the third draw.
- 7
Compare lowball hands
Lowest unpaired, non-straight, non-flush hand wins. Compare the highest card first, then the next highest until the tie breaks.
2-7 Triple Draw rankings: strongest to weakest
- Rank 1
7-low
Best: 7-5-4-3-2 in mixed suits. A 7-6 low is weaker than a 7-5 low.
- Rank 2
8-low
Any qualifying eight-high hand; compare the next-highest cards downward.
- Rank 3
9-low
Any nine-high hand with no pair, straight, or flush.
- Rank 4
10-low
Any ten-high hand with no pair, straight, or flush.
- Rank 5
Jack-low through ace-high
Unpaired hands remain better than paired hands, but lower high cards win. Aces are always high.
- Rank 6
One Pair
A pair is worse than every unpaired hand that is not a straight or flush.
- Rank 7
Two Pair
Worse than one pair.
- Rank 8
Three of a Kind
Worse than two pair.
- Rank 9
Straight
Straights count against the hand in 2-7 lowball.
- Rank 10
Flush
Flushes count against the hand and are worse than a straight.
- Rank 11
Full House, quads, or straight flush
These are progressively weaker lowball holdings; a straight flush is the worst category.
Strategy and best tips
Start with a deuce
Every best possible low contains a 2. Hands without a deuce have a lower ceiling and often need more cards.
Avoid making a straight
2-3-4-5 is a dangerous four-card start because many low-looking cards complete a straight, which counts against you.
Read draw counts
A player who draws one is usually closer to a made hand than a player drawing three. Standing pat applies immediate pressure.
Break weak made hands when warranted
A rough ten-low may be behind a pat opponent. Earlier draws provide more chances to improve than the final draw.
Use fixed-limit discipline
The price may look small one bet at a time, but repeated calls across four rounds add up quickly.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating an ace as low.
- Forgetting that straights and flushes are bad.
- Drawing to A-2-3-4-5 as if it were a wheel.
- Calling every street because the bet size is fixed.
Ready to play 2-7 Triple Draw?
Create a free play-money table for friends. No rake, deposit, payment, or credit card is required.
Create a free table