2-7 Triple Draw: The Purest Lowball Poker Game

What is 2-7 Triple Draw?

2-7 Triple Draw (also called Deuce-to-Seven Triple Draw or Kansas City Lowball) is a fixed-limit draw poker variant where the lowest hand wins. Each player receives five cards, then has three opportunities to discard unwanted cards and draw replacements, with betting rounds after each draw. The game uses "deuce-to-seven" hand rankings—the most punishing lowball system where straights and flushes count against you and Aces are always high.

The best possible hand is 7-5-4-3-2 of mixed suits, universally called "the wheel" or "number one." This hand narrowly avoids being a straight (there's no 6) while containing the five lowest cards possible when Aces are high. The game rewards patience, position awareness, and the ability to read opponents through their draw patterns—someone who stands pat (draws zero) likely has a strong made hand, while aggressive drawing suggests work in progress.

The World Series of Poker has featured 2-7 Triple Draw as a bracelet event for decades, recognizing it as one of poker's most skill-intensive formats. The game appears in mixed rotations including 8-Game, Dealer's Choice, and other professional formats where specialists can gain significant edges over Hold'em-focused players unfamiliar with lowball dynamics.

2-7 Hand Rankings: Deuce-to-Seven Lowball

Understanding deuce-to-seven hand rankings is essential before playing your first hand. This system differs fundamentally from both traditional poker hand rankings and Ace-to-Five lowball used in Razz. Mistakes in hand evaluation cost pots immediately.

The Core Rules of 2-7 Lowball

Aces are always high. In 2-7 lowball, an Ace is the worst card you can hold—equivalent to holding a King or Queen. Unlike Razz where Aces count as 1, Deuce-to-Seven Aces are strictly high cards that destroy low hands. Holding an Ace means you can never make anything better than an Ace-low.

Straights count against you. A hand like 7-6-5-4-3 is a straight, not a seven-low. This is the crucial difference from Razz and explains why 7-5-4-3-2 is the nuts—it's the lowest five cards that don't form a straight. According to PokerNews strategy guides, beginners frequently misread hands by forgetting this rule.

Flushes count against you. Five cards of the same suit form a flush, which is a high-ranking hand you want to avoid. When drawing to a low, always consider whether your cards share a suit—if you have four spades, drawing another spade gives you a flush instead of the low you wanted.

Pairs hurt your hand. Any pair forces you to use your remaining cards for evaluation, dramatically weakening your hand. A pair of deuces loses to any unpaired eight-low. Avoid pairing at all costs.

2-7 Hand Strength Rankings

The best possible 2-7 hands, ranked strongest to weakest:

• The Wheel (7-5-4-3-2): The absolute nuts. Must be mixed suits to avoid being a flush.
• Number Two (7-6-4-3-2): Second-best possible hand.
• Number Three (7-6-5-3-2): Third-best; notice 7-6-5-4-3 would be a straight.
• Smooth Eight (8-5-4-3-2, 8-6-4-3-2): Excellent hands that win most showdowns.
• Rough Eight (8-7-6-5-4): Still an eight, but barely—almost a straight.
• Nine-lows: Marginal; often outraced at showdown.
• Ten-lows and higher: Weak hands that frequently lose.
• Pairs: Very weak—any unpaired hand beats any paired hand.
• Straights, Flushes, Full Houses: The worst possible holdings.

Reading Hands: Smooth vs. Rough

Within each category, "smooth" hands beat "rough" hands. A smooth eight like 8-5-4-3-2 crushes a rough eight like 8-7-6-5-3. When comparing hands, start from the highest card and work down. If both players have an 8-high, compare the second card. If those tie, compare the third, and so on.

For example: 8-6-4-3-2 beats 8-7-4-3-2 (the 6 is lower than the 7). And 8-7-5-3-2 beats 8-7-5-4-2 (the 3 is lower than the 4). These distinctions matter enormously in close situations and determine whether you're betting for value or checking to control pot size.

Complete Game Structure

2-7 Triple Draw uses a structured format with blinds, four betting rounds, and three drawing phases. Understanding this rhythm helps you plan your draws and betting strategies across the hand.

Blinds and Initial Deal

Like Texas Hold'em, the game uses a small blind and big blind posted by the two players left of the dealer button. In a $2/$4 game, blinds are typically $1/$2. After blinds are posted, each player receives five cards face down—these are your private starting cards that no opponent can see.

The player to the left of the big blind acts first, with options to fold, call the big blind, or raise. As a fixed-limit game, raises are set amounts—small bet ($2) in early rounds, big bet ($4) in later rounds. Action continues clockwise until all remaining players have matched the highest bet.

First Draw

After the first betting round, remaining players draw cards starting with the player to the left of the button (or earliest remaining position). You may discard 0-5 cards and receive replacements from the deck. Drawing zero cards is called "standing pat" and signals a made hand—opponents will assume you hold something playable.

The number of cards you draw provides information to opponents. Drawing three or more suggests a very rough start. Drawing two indicates decent but incomplete. Drawing one suggests needing just one card to complete a strong hand. Standing pat claims you already have a playable low.

Second Betting Round and Second Draw

Following the first draw, another betting round occurs at the small bet increment. Position becomes crucial—acting last allows you to see how many cards opponents drew and how they bet before committing chips. Information gathering drives decision-making.

The second draw follows the same mechanics. Players who drew multiple cards on the first draw often draw fewer on the second (having connected partially), while pat players remain pat. Watch for opponents who stood pat on the first draw but now draw—they may have been "snowing" (bluffing with a bad hand).

Third Betting Round and Final Draw

After the second draw, betting increases to the big bet ($4 in our $2/$4 example). This escalation punishes players chasing weak draws—the mathematical cost rises just as their chances of improvement may be declining.

The final (third) draw is your last chance to improve. Many hands are made or broken here. A player who has drawn one card on each draw likely needs exactly this final card to complete their hand. Pat players have shown consistent strength. The dynamic tension between made hands and draws reaches its peak.

Final Betting and Showdown

The fourth and final betting round follows the third draw at the big bet amount. If multiple players remain after betting, cards are revealed and the lowest 2-7 hand wins the pot. If only one player remains (all others folded), they win without showing cards. The Two Plus Two poker forums contain extensive discussions of showdown dynamics and bluff frequencies in 2-7.

Starting Hand Selection

Strong starting hand selection separates winning 2-7 players from losing ones. With three draws available, even mediocre starts can improve, but premium starts provide enormous edges over the course of many hands.

Premium Starting Hands (Always Play)

Pat sevens: Any made seven-low (like 7-5-4-3-2 or 7-6-5-3-2) is a monster. Stand pat and bet for value. These hands are rare and extremely profitable when they occur. You can raise before the first draw to build the pot.

Pat eights: Made eights like 8-6-4-3-2 are excellent holdings that beat most opposition. Whether to stand pat or draw depends on how smooth your eight is and what action you face. Smooth eights (8-5 or 8-6 with low kickers) typically stand pat; rough eights might draw one hoping to improve.

One-card draws to a seven: Holdings like 7-4-3-2-X (where X is a bad card) require only one improvement to make the nuts or near-nuts. These hands justify aggressive pre-draw raising to build pots for when they connect. According to Upswing Poker training materials, one-card seven draws are among the highest-equity starting hands.

Playable Hands (Position-Dependent)

One-card draws to smooth eights: Holdings like 8-5-3-2-X are worth playing, especially in position. You're drawing to hands that beat rough sevens and most eights. These require discipline—if you miss all three draws, you must fold to aggression.

Two-card draws to sevens: Starting with three cards to a wheel (like 7-3-2-X-X) has potential but requires hitting twice. Play these from late position against loose opponents where implied odds justify the chase. Fold early position without a read that opponents are weak.

Pat nines: Made nines like 9-7-5-3-2 are marginal. They beat draws that miss but lose to any seven or eight. Whether to stand pat depends on opponent tendencies—against aggressive players who will bet made sevens and eights, you're often beat. Against passive players, nines may hold up.

Hands to Fold (Almost Always)

Any hand with an Ace: Aces are high in 2-7—instant poison. Unless you can discard the Ace as part of a three-card draw to excellent cards (like A-7-4-3-2, draw two), fold Ace-high hands pre-draw.

Any hand with a pair: Starting with a pair means you need to replace at least one card just to have an unpaired hand. Drawing three or more cards is a massive underdog against opponents drawing fewer.

Rough two-card draws: Starting with three connected cards (like 8-7-6-X-X) means you might make a straight by accident while drawing to your low. These trap hands cause expensive situations.

Position Strategy in 2-7 Triple Draw

Position matters enormously in 2-7 Triple Draw—more than in many other poker variants. Acting last provides two critical advantages: you see how many cards opponents draw before deciding your own draw, and you control the final betting action.

Information Advantage

When you act last in the draw, opponents' card counts reveal their hand ranges. An opponent drawing three likely started with only two low cards—they need significant help. Someone drawing one has a strong four-card holding needing one improvement. A pat player (drawing zero) claims a made hand. This information shapes your own drawing and betting decisions.

In early position, you draw first without this information. You must decide whether to stand pat, draw one, or draw more without knowing opponent intentions. This information disadvantage costs expected value across thousands of hands.

Playing In Position

From the button or cutoff, expand your starting hand range to include more speculative draws. When you can see opponents act first on every street, marginal hands become playable. Two-card draws to smooth eights, one-card draws to rough eights, and even pat nines gain value from positional control.

Use your positional information to determine whether betting or checking is optimal. If an opponent drew three, then drew two, then drew one—and you have a made eight—bet for value. They're unlikely to have connected three times perfectly. If an opponent stood pat all three draws and bets into you, respect their strength and consider folding marginal made hands.

Playing Out of Position

From the blinds and early positions, tighten your starting requirements significantly. Only play premium hands—one-card draws to sevens, pat eights or better, or smooth one-card draws to eights. Fold speculative hands that need positional advantage to profit.

When you're out of position with a made hand, consider leading out with bets rather than checking. Checking invites opponents to draw aggressively with free cards. Betting forces them to pay to chase, improving your edge even when you can't see their draw counts first.

Draw Strategy: How Many Cards to Take

The number of cards you draw communicates information while also determining your improvement chances. Optimal draw strategy balances these considerations against your actual holdings.

Standing Pat

Drawing zero cards announces hand strength. Opponents will assume you hold at least a playable eight and often a seven. Only stand pat with legitimately strong hands (smooth eights or better) or when executing a "snow"—an intentional bluff representing strength you don't have.

Pat sevens should always stand pat. There's no card that improves you (every possible draw either pairs you, makes a straight, or replaces a seven with a higher card). Pat smooth eights usually stand pat unless facing massive aggression suggesting you're beat.

Drawing One

One-card draws represent strong four-card holdings needing one improvement. Common one-card draws include 7-4-3-2 (drawing to wheels), 8-6-4-3 (drawing to smooth eights), or 9-7-5-3 (drawing to marginal nines).

With three draw opportunities, a one-card draw has significant chances to connect. If you have four cards to a seven and draw three times, you'll make a seven or better roughly 65% of the time. This explains why one-card draws play aggressively—they're favorites to improve.

Drawing Two

Two-card draws indicate three solid low cards with two bad ones. Holdings like 7-4-2-K-Q (drawing two) have wheel potential but need two perfect catches. Two-card draws are speculative—play them in position against weak opposition, fold them from early position or facing aggression.

When drawing two, prioritize which cards to keep. Always keep your lowest cards while avoiding potential straights. With 7-5-4-J-J, keep 7-5-4 and draw two (the pair is gone, and 7-5-4 doesn't form a straight).

Drawing Three or More

Drawing three or more cards signals desperation—you started with at most two low cards and need massive improvement. These holdings rarely profit against competent opposition and should typically be folded pre-draw rather than chased.

Occasional three-card draws occur when you hold exactly two excellent cards (like 2-3-X-X-X where all X's are high or paired). Even here, folding often represents the better EV play. The expected value calculator can help analyze these marginal spots mathematically.

Snowing: The Art of the Pat Bluff

"Snowing" refers to standing pat with a bad hand, representing strength you don't have. This advanced bluff technique exploits opponents who respect pat hands and creates profitable situations when executed correctly.

When to Snow

Snowing works best against opponents who will fold to represented strength and when you're unlikely to win by drawing anyway. If you start with 9-8-7-6-5 (a straight), drawing any card makes a nine at best—and you'll likely pair or stay straight. Standing pat and betting aggressively may steal pots you'd never win otherwise.

Position favors snowing. When you're last to act and see opponents drawing multiple cards, they probably won't improve. Standing pat and betting may convince them their draws missed against your "made hand." Snowing from early position is riskier—you don't know how many cards opponents will draw.

Snow Credibility

Your snow must be believable. If you raised pre-draw, drew three cards on the first draw, then suddenly stand pat on the second draw—opponents will suspect the snow. Credible snows require consistent action: call pre-draw, draw one on the first draw, stand pat thereafter, and bet with confidence.

Mix snowing into your strategy sparingly. If opponents see you snow twice in a session, they'll call you down more frequently. Occasional snows keep opponents guessing; excessive snowing becomes exploitable. The Card Player Magazine strategy section contains extensive discussion of bluffing frequencies in draw games.

Defending Against Snows

When opponents stand pat, consider their full action history. Did their pre-draw play suggest a one-card draw (consistent with improving to pat) or something weaker? Are they the type to bluff? What's the pot size—is calling to catch a bluff profitable?

Made nines and rough eights become "bluff catchers" against possible snows. You beat bluffs but lose to legitimately pat hands. Calling with these marginal holdings depends on opponent tendencies and pot odds.

2-7 Triple Draw in Mixed Games

2-7 Triple Draw appears in major mixed-game rotations including 8-Game (used at the WSOP Poker Players Championship), Dealer's Choice tournaments, and various high-stakes mixed formats. Understanding 2-7's role within these rotations is essential for serious mixed-game competitors.

8-Game Rotation Context

The standard 8-Game rotation includes: Limit Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, Stud, Stud Hi-Lo, 2-7 Triple Draw, No-Limit Hold'em, and Pot-Limit Omaha. 2-7 represents the only deuce-to-seven lowball game in the mix, testing a completely different skill set from the high-hand games.

Players who ignore 2-7 preparation leak chips when the rotation reaches this game. Hold'em specialists unfamiliar with lowball dynamics make fundamental errors—overvaluing Aces, forgetting straights count, misreading hand strengths. The HORSE poker guide covers additional mixed-game concepts.

Comparing 2-7 to Razz

Both 2-7 and Razz are lowball games, but they use opposite hand evaluation systems:

• Razz: Aces are low, straights/flushes ignored. Best hand: A-2-3-4-5.
• 2-7: Aces are high, straights/flushes count. Best hand: 7-5-4-3-2.

This fundamental difference means skills from one game don't transfer directly to the other. A wheel in Razz (A-2-3-4-5) is a straight in 2-7—a disaster. Players must mentally reset when switching between these games within a mixed rotation.

Strategic Adjustments for Mixed Games

When 2-7 appears in rotation, tighten starting requirements if the table includes unfamiliar opponents. Lowball specialists may be lurking, waiting to exploit players who don't understand deuce-to-seven dynamics. Play premium hands aggressively to capitalize on your own knowledge while minimizing marginal situations.

Pay attention to which opponents seem comfortable during 2-7 rounds versus which look uncomfortable. Target players who make basic errors—playing Aces, not understanding smooth versus rough, betting patterns inconsistent with their draws. These leaks translate directly to chips.

Common 2-7 Triple Draw Mistakes

New 2-7 players consistently make predictable errors. Recognizing and eliminating these mistakes accelerates improvement dramatically.

Playing Aces

The most common beginner mistake is treating Aces as low cards. Players from Texas Hold'em backgrounds instinctively value Aces—but in 2-7, an Ace is the worst card in the deck. Fold any hand containing an Ace unless you're discarding it immediately.

Ignoring Straights

Holding 7-6-5-4-3 looks like a great seven-low until you realize it's a straight. Players forget this rule repeatedly, especially when focused on chasing specific cards. Before celebrating a "made seven," verify your five cards don't form a straight.

Drawing to Straights Accidentally

When your four good cards include consecutive ranks (like 8-6-5-4), drawing carelessly can create a straight. Needing a 7 or lower—you catch a 7, making 8-7-6-5-4, a straight. Consider which draws create straights and avoid those hands when possible.

Overvaluing Nines and Tens

Made nines feel strong because they're "made hands," but they lose to any seven or eight. Standing pat with 9-7-6-4-3 when an opponent is drawing one to a possible eight is often -EV. Nines are bluff-catchers at best; don't fall in love with them.

Predictable Draw Patterns

Always drawing the same way with the same holdings becomes exploitable. Opponents learn that you always stand pat with eights, always draw one to sevens, always snow with straights. Mix in occasional deviations to remain unpredictable—though not so often that you sacrifice significant EV.

Chasing Without Odds

Drawing three cards on the third draw, hoping to spike perfect-perfect, almost never works. By the final draw, pot odds must justify continuation. If your hand hasn't developed across two draws, folding often beats chasing. The pot odds calculator can help evaluate these marginal situations.

Advanced Concepts

Beyond fundamental strategy, several advanced concepts separate expert 2-7 players from intermediate ones.

Breaking Hands

Sometimes the optimal play involves breaking a made hand to draw to a better one. With 8-7-6-5-2, you have a made eight—but it's rough. If opponents show weakness (drawing multiple cards), standing pat may be correct. But against a player standing pat who likely has a seven, breaking the 8-7 to draw one might be superior. This advanced concept requires accurate hand reading.

Counting Outs and Blockers

Track which cards have been exposed or folded. In some 2-7 games, discards are face-up (or reconstructable from memory). If three 7s have been folded, your draw to a wheel is weakened—only one 7 remains. Conversely, if no 7s have appeared, your odds improve. This card-tracking skill transfers from Seven Card Stud variants.

Bet Sizing Tells

In fixed-limit 2-7, bet sizes are predetermined, but timing and confidence provide information. An opponent who hesitates before betting may be unsure of their hand strength. Quick calls often indicate made hands; long tanks suggest draws that may have missed. Interpret these patterns while managing your own timing to avoid giving away information.

Adjusting to Opponents

Against loose opponents who play too many hands and draw too often, tighten up and value bet aggressively. Your made eights will dominate their speculative draws. Against tight opponents who only play premiums, increase stealing attempts and snow more frequently—they'll fold to represented strength.

Comparing 2-7 Triple Draw to Other Lowball Games

Several poker variants involve low hand evaluation. Understanding how 2-7 differs from these games prevents confusion when moving between formats.

2-7 Single Draw: Uses the same hand rankings as Triple Draw but allows only one draw. This increases variance—you get one chance to improve. Played more commonly as a high-stakes game because the reduced drawing rounds favor skilled hand selection.

A-5 Triple Draw: Uses Ace-to-Five lowball (like Razz) in a triple draw format. Aces are low, straights/flushes ignored. Best hand: A-2-3-4-5. Less common than 2-7 but occasionally appears in dealer's choice games.

Razz: Seven Card Stud format with A-5 lowball rankings. No draws—cards are dealt across seven streets. See the full Razz poker guide for complete rules.

Badugi: Four-card lowball game where suits matter—you want four cards of different suits with no pairs. Completely different dynamic from 2-7, though both reward patience and position. See the Badugi poker guide for rules.

Omaha Hi-Lo: Split-pot game using A-5 lowball for the low half. Understanding low hand development transfers between formats, though the specific rankings differ from 2-7. The Omaha Hi-Lo guide covers this split-pot variant.

Learning Resources for 2-7 Triple Draw

2-7 Triple Draw receives less instructional coverage than Hold'em, but quality resources exist for dedicated students looking to master this demanding game.

Books and Written Strategy

Doyle Brunson's "Super/System 2" includes draw poker coverage from expert contributors. While not exclusively focused on 2-7, the draw game principles apply. More recent strategy content appears on training sites and poker forums, where mixed-game specialists share hands and analysis.

Online Play

Major online poker sites offer 2-7 Triple Draw tables, though traffic is considerably lower than Hold'em or PLO. PokerStars maintains dedicated 2-7 games at various stakes. Mixed-game tables (8-Game, HORSE variations) provide additional 2-7 exposure within rotations. Micro-stakes tables allow practice without significant financial risk.

Practice and Study Habits

Review hands after sessions, focusing on close decisions. Could you have extracted more value with that smooth eight? Should you have broken your rough eight to draw? Did your snow get called because your action pattern was inconsistent? According to Two Plus Two poker forums, consistent hand review accelerates improvement in draw games more than volume alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Responsible Gaming Reminder

2-7 Triple Draw, like all poker variants, involves elements of chance and financial risk when played for real money. The strategies discussed in this guide can improve decision-making but cannot eliminate variance. Even optimal play results in losing sessions due to card distribution.

If you choose to play 2-7 for money, establish strict loss limits before each session and respect them regardless of circumstances. Never chase losses or play stakes beyond your comfortable bankroll. For support with gambling-related concerns, the National Council on Problem Gambling offers confidential resources at 1-800-522-4700.

2-7 Triple Draw can be enjoyed without money through play-chip sites, home games with chips, or as a mental exercise. The strategic challenge of lowball poker remains engaging regardless of stakes, and many players find the puzzle of building the worst possible hand genuinely fascinating.