How to Play 2-7 Triple Draw: Rules, Rounds & Key Info
If you’ve mastered Texas Hold’em and want to try something completely different, 2-7 Triple Draw might be your next favorite game. It’s a lowball poker variant where the worst hand wins, and every draw counts. This guide covers everything you need to know to start playing—rules, hand rankings, betting structure, and where to find games online.
2-7 Triple Draw is a draw poker game where each player is dealt five cards. The goal? Make the lowest possible hand. But here's the catch: straights, flushes, and pairs count against you, and aces are high (which means they’re bad).
The best possible hand in 2-7 Triple Draw is:
7-5-4-3-2 (all of different suits)
Basic Rules of 2-7 Triple Draw
Game Format
Typically played with 2–6 players
Fixed-limit betting structure (most common online)
Uses a standard 52-card deck
How the Game Plays Out
1. The player seated immediately to the left of the dealer button posts the Small Blind (SB), and the next player to the left posts the Big Blind (BB).
2. Each player is dealt five private cards, face down, one card at a time in clockwise order, starting with the player in the Small Blind.
3. Action begins with the player to the left of the Big Blind (known as “Under the Gun”). Players can fold, call the big blind, or raise (within the fixed-limit betting structure). Once all active players have matched the highest bet, the round ends.
4. Starting with the player closest to the dealer’s left, each active player may discard zero to five cards and receive replacements from the deck.(Players who “stand pat” keep all five original cards.)
5. All players who changed cards is death new cards, faced down, starting with the playing left of the button and going clockwise.
6. The second betting round starts, beginning with the first active player to the left of the dealer button. The same fixed-limit betting rules apply.
7. The second draw phase, again starting with the first active player left of the dealer, each active player can discard and draw new cards (0–5). Players may also choose to stand pat. 8. In this example, all three players discards one card.
9. The players have got their new card and another round of betting occurs, beginning with the first active player to the dealer’s left (seat 2). The player on Seat 2 chooses to check, Seat 4 makes a bet and then calls Seat 1´s raise after Seat 2 choosed to fold.
10. Third draw phase (Final Draw) Each remaining active player has one last chance to discard and draw (or stand pat).
11. Seat 4 draws one, Seat 1 stands pat.
12. After the players have got their new cards the final betting round starts. Here we see the player on Seat 4 takes the safe path and check-calls his opponents bet.
13. Showdown. The lowest hand wins. In this case the player on the button has 7 high, which is better than the opponents 8 high.
Note: If, for example, the opponent also would have had a 7 instead of the 8, that player would have won because he has 2, 3, 4 as lowest cards while the player on the button has 2, 3, 5 as lowest cards.
Hand Rankings: What Beats What?
In 2-7 Triple Draw, you're aiming for the “worst” traditional hand—no pairs, no straights, no flushes, and the lowest high card. Here's how hands are ranked from best (lowest) to worst:
Hand
Example
Notes
7-high
7-5-4-3-2
The nuts
8-high
8-6-5-4-2
Still very strong
9-high
9-7-5-3-2
Decent
Pair
5-5-3-2-A
Bad
Straight
5-4-3-2-A
Worse (it’s a straight)
Flush
9-7-5-3-2
Flush = auto loss
Betting Rounds Explained
Fixed-Limit Betting in 2-7 Triple Draw
Each round of betting has structured limits. For example, in a $2/$4 game:
First two betting rounds: $2 increments
Last two betting rounds: $4 increments
Max of one bet and three raises per round
Where to Play 2-7 Triple Draw Online
Real Money Poker Sites
Real Money 2-7 Triple Draw Sites
PokerStars – Most traffic and game availability
GGPoker – Sometimes featured in mixed games or during WSOP events
Partypoker – Offers it sporadically in mixed game lineups
Play Money Options
PokerStars Play
Replay Poker
Governor of Poker 3 (casual mobile experience)
Famous Players Known for 2-7 Triple Draw
Several pros have built reputations in lowball formats, especially in high-stakes mixed games:
Phil Ivey – Dominant in mixed cash games, including 2-7
Daniel Negreanu – Regular in WSOP Triple Draw events
Billy Baxter – One of the early legends in lowball games
John Monnette – WSOP winner in Triple Draw events
Nick Schulman – Known for commentary, but also strong in 2-7 formats
Final Takeaway
2-7 Triple Draw is a refreshing break from traditional poker. It’s all about making the lowest hand and mastering the draw rounds. While it’s less common than Texas Hold’em, it offers a unique layer of skill and fun once you understand the rules.
Whether you want to test the waters on play money apps or dive into real cash games, now you’ve got a solid foundation to get started.
FAQs: 2-7 Triple Draw Rules
What is the best possible hand in 2-7 Triple Draw?
7-5-4-3-2 with no flush or pair.
How many draws do you get?
Three. You can choose to stand pat (keep your cards) or draw up to five new cards each time.
Is it played with community cards?
No. Each player uses only their own five cards.
Are there wild cards?
No. Standard 52-card deck only.
Can you bluff in 2-7 Triple Draw?
Sure, but that’s strategy talk. For now, focus on learning how to read hand strength.
