2-7 Single Draw – Basic Tips and Rules

The game of 2-7 Single Draw, also known as ‘Deuce to Seven Lowball’, ‘Kansas City Lowball’ or just ‘Lowball’, is a classic poker variant that has been played for decades around the world. In recent years, the popularity of the game has soared and you can now play it online at PokerStars.

As the name ‘Lowball’ suggests, your goal is to make the lowest five card poker hand. If you don’t know how poker hands are ranked, you should read the poker hand rankings page before you begin playing.

There are two very important aspects of Lowball to understand: 1) unlike some other low games like Razz, straights and flushes are counted against your hand, and 2) aces are always high. Therefore, the best possible Lowball holding is 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 (not all the same suit, because then you would have a flush). If you held A, 2, 3, 4, 5 you would not have a straight - instead you would just have ace high.

Hands that are considered strong in Texas Hold’em and other high-hand games (e.g. sets, straights or flushes) are weak holdings in Lowball and will likely not win you the pot.

2-7 Lowball Betting Variations

2-7 Single Draw can be played in the following ways:

• Fixed Limit Lowball - The betting is structured in this variation, meaning that players are only allowed to bet or raise in specified increments.
• No Limit Lowball - Betting is not structured, and players may bet up to the amount that they have in front of them, which is called ‘going all-in’.
• Pot Limit Lowball - Like No Limit, the betting is not structured. However, players can only bet an amount equal to or less than the size of the current pot.

See the Texas Hold’em page for more details on poker betting formats.

---

How to Play 2-7 Single Draw

A full table will usually consist of six players. A circular marker called the dealer button sits in front of one player and will be moved one seat clockwise after each hand is completed.

Blinds and First Bets

Similar to Flop games like Omaha, the two players seated to the immediate left of the button are forced to post small predetermined bets called ‘blinds’ before the hand is dealt. The blinds help to seed the pot and establish the minimum amount required to enter the pot after the cards are dealt. The person seated to the left of the button posts the small blind and the person to their left posts the big blind (usually about twice the size of the small blind).

After the blinds are posted, each player receives five face-down cards, called hole cards. Your hole cards are not visible to any other player at the table. Starting with the player seated to the left of the big blind, everyone has a chance to act on their hand. The first player may either call the amount of the big blind, raise to a larger amount, or fold. Checking is not an option here because the amount equal to the big blind is the minimum required to enter the pot.

Play continues clockwise around the table and each player has a chance to act. The players seated in the blinds are the last to act before the draw and will forfeit their blinds if they choose to fold.

Draw and Final Bets

Once the first betting round is complete, there is a draw. Beginning with the first active player to the left of the dealer button, each player has the option to exchange any or all of their hole cards for new ones in an attempt to improve their hand. If a player is dealt a strong hand and does not wish to draw, this is called ‘standing pat’.

After the draw, there is another round of betting. Again the action begins with the first active player seated to the left of the dealer button and continues clockwise around the table. In 2-7 Single Draw, this will be the last action before the hand is complete.

Single Draw Lowball Showdown

After the last round of betting is over, the remaining players will compare their hole cards to see who has the strongest low hand. This is referred to as a Showdown. The pot is awarded to the player with the best low hand, or is split between two or more players if they hold winning hands of equal strength. The dealer button is moved one spot clockwise and the next hand is dealt.

If one player is left alone in the hand at any point before the last round of betting is complete (meaning all other players have opted out of the action by folding), that player will immediately be awarded the pot and there will be no Showdown.

In draw poker games, there are rare occasions when there won’t be enough cards in the 52-card deck to deal the entire hand. In these instances, the cards are reshuffled and play continues using the same deck. At PokerStars, the cards that have been discarded by the remaining active players are not included in the reshuffle. This prevents players from receiving the same cards that they discarded.

Play Low Ball Poker Games Online at PokerStars

Now that you understand the basics of 2-7 Single Draw, you can practice the game in the PokerStars free poker games before testing your skills at the real money poker tables. Download the free PokerStars software to start playing 2-7 Single Draw.