How to Play 2 to 7 Triple Draw

Like 2-7 Single Draw, the object of 2-7 Triple Draw is to make the best low poker hand using five cards. Because the objective is to make a low hand, Triple Draw is a form of ‘lowball’.

Unlike some other poker games such as Omaha Hi/Lo, in which straights and flushes are ignored when creating a low hand, you must take these hands into account when playing Triple Draw. Straights and flushes are counted and are not desired (because they are high hands and you’re playing for a low), and aces are always high.

Therefore, if you hold A, 2, 3, 4, 5 (a ‘wheel’) in Triple Draw, you do not have a straight because the ace is never low. The best Triple Draw hand is 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 (not all identical suits), as these are the lowest possible cards to hold without making a straight or a pair.

To understand the order of 2-7 Triple Draw poker hands, see the poker hand rankings.

2-7 Triple Draw Betting Variations

The betting structure of Deuce to Seven Triple Draw can take three forms:

• No Limit 2-7 Triple Draw - In this variation, players are free to bet as much as they like, up to the amount of their chip stack.
• Pot Limit 2-7 Triple Draw - There is no structured betting but players are limited to betting or raising the amount that is in the current pot.
• Limit 2-7 Triple Draw - In limit games, the bets and raises are structured and must be made in specific increments that are predetermined.

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

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2-7 Triple Draw Game Instructions

A full 2-7 Triple Draw table will seat six players. A round puck called the dealer button is placed in front of one player and moved clockwise around the table after the completion of each hand.

Like Flop games such as Omaha, 2-7 Triple Draw is played with blinds (although it can sometimes be played with antes). The two people sitting on the left side of the dealer button will be forced to post these blinds, which are required bets put out before the deal. The small blind is usually about half the size of the big blind.

First Draw

Once the blinds are paid, the game begins with each player being dealt five face-down cards. These are called hole cards and cannot be viewed by other players. The action starts with the player seated on the left of the big blind. They may fold their hand, call an amount equal to the big blind, or raise. The play continues clockwise and the players in the blinds will be the last to act. If they choose to fold, they will surrender their blinds to the pot.

There will now be a draw, where each player has the option to exchange any number of their cards for new ones in an attempt to improve their holding. They may choose to exchange up to all of their cards, or if they were dealt a strong hand, they can ‘stand pat’, and not draw any new cards.

Second and Third Draw

Once the initial draw is complete, there is another betting round. This time the action begins with the first remaining player sitting on the left of the dealer button. After all players have acted on their hands, there is another draw, followed by another round of betting. Then, a third and final draw ensues before one last round of betting. So, as the name suggests, there are three draws in Triple Draw and four betting rounds (one prior to the draw and one after each draw).

Because there are only 52 cards in the deck, there will sometimes not be enough cards to deal the entire hand. When this happens, the cards are reshuffled and the deal continues. The PokerStars server prevents a player from being dealt any of the cards that they have discarded, so it is impossible to receive the same card twice.

Triple Draw Showdown

After the three draws and four betting rounds are complete, there is a Showdown. This means that the remaining players will compare their hole cards to see who has the lowest ranking hand. The pot will be awarded to the winner and in the case of two or more players holding identical ranking winning hands, the pot will be split evenly among them (or ‘chopped’).

During the play of the hand there will often only be one person remaining when all of their opponents opt out by folding. In this case, the pot is immediately pushed to the remaining sole player and there is no Showdown.

The dealer button is moved one position clockwise and the next hand begins.

Play 2-7 Triple Draw Online

Now that you understand how to play 2-7 Triple Draw, you can practice for free at our play-money poker tables. Once you grasp the basics, try playing Triple Draw for real money in PokerStars cash games and tournaments. Download the free PokerStars software and start playing 2-7 Triple Draw.