Rules of 2-7 Triple-Draw Lowball

You can think of Lowball as the "opposite of a good poker hand," because here you're trying to get the worst hand possible. In 2-7 Triple-Draw Lowball (pronounced "Deuce-to-Seven Triple-Draw Lowball"), the lowest hand wins the pot; with straights and flushes counting (you don't want those crazy high hands here) and aces are always high (A-2-3-4-5 is not a straight, it's just a fairly high un-paired hand). The best possible hand is a non-flush 7-5-4-3-2, next best is a non-flush 7-6-4-3-2. Unlike split games, you do not have to have a qualifying hand for low, you just have to be the lowest at the table.

Order of play

1. Every player is dealt five cards, face down.

2. There is a round of betting, started by the two blind bets.

3. In turn from the dealer button, players remaining in the hand may discard, and be dealt replacements for, zero to five cards. This is the first draw.

4. There is a round of betting.

5. Again, players remaining in the hand may discard, be dealt replacements for, zero to five cards. This is the second draw.

6. There is a round of betting.

7. For a last time, players remaining in the hand may discard, be dealt replacements for, zero to five cards. This is the third draw.

8. There is a round of betting.

Lowest hand wins the pot. The first time you play, you'll find 2-7 Triple-Draw Lowball to be considerably different from other forms of poker -- more subtle than Hold 'Em, more dramatic than Stud. If you're ever looking for a change in your poker menu, consider taking a bite of 2-7 Triple-Draw Lowball.