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ONLINE POKER: 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball

2-7 Triple Draw is among the most exciting, action packed, and at times frustrating games commonly spread in card rooms.  The game takes place at an insanely fast pace with multiple bets and raises often going into the pot on each betting round.  Playing 2-7 Triple Draw can be a real rollercoaster ride, with giant swings common.  It is a fairly easy game to understand, once you get the hang of it.

The first step towards understanding 2-7 Triple Draw is to know the hand ranking and what beats what.  2-7 Triple Draw is played for low “Kansas City” Style.  Straights, as well as flushes count against you, and Aces are always considered high.  Therefore the best hand is the 7,5,4,3,2 that does not include a flush.  The second best hand would be 7,6,4,3,2 and so on.  When deciding which hand is superior at showdown you always start with the worst cards in the hand and work towards the best.  For instance a 9,7,6,5,4 would beat a 9,8,4,3,2 and a 8,7,6,4,3 would beat a 8,7,6,5,3.  This is easy to understand once you get the hang of it, and quickly will become second nature.

The deal begins with the two players to the left of the dealer button putting up a small and big blind respectively.  The big blind is equal to the small bet that will be used for the first two rounds of betting.  Each player is then dealt five cards face down.  A round of betting ensues, starting to the left of the big blind.  At the conclusion of the betting round each player has the option to draw cards, starting on the dealers left, with the player in the small blind.  Each player can draw as many cards as they would like.  After everyone has drawn cards another round of betting takes place, again with bets equal to the big blind.  At the conclusion of this round of betting players are again allowed to draw as many cards as they would like.  At this point there is another betting round, this time in the big bet increments that are equal to twice the size of the big blind.  All subsequent bets will be of this size.  Players are then given one more chance to draw cards, which is followed by a final betting round.  After this final betting round the players turn over their hands and see who wins.  The dealer button moves to the left and we do it all over again.

2-7 Triple Draw is a relatively new game and as such there is little literature, or advice available on how to play it properly.  The only thorough work on the subject is in Super System 2 and was written by Daniel Negreaunu.  Anyone serious about learning this game is advised to read this section in Super Systems 2.  Although Negreaunu covers the game fully I will give a few tips here that will help you to learn the game.

The most important card to have in any Triple Draw hand is a 2.  Few hands are playable that do not contain a 2.  All premium hands contain a 2, and if you are going multiple bets without a 2 in your hand then you are likely making a major error.  Keep this in mind every time you are considering playing a hand without a 2 in it and exercise caution.

Aside from the tip on deuces the best advice I can give you about 2-7 Triple Draw is to always consider your position before making a decision.  I know that people who read my articles will say that I harp on this regardless of the game, but position plays an especially important roll in 2-7 Triple Draw.  The ability to stand pat with rough hands when your opponent(s) draw cards on the third draw is huge.  The ability to manipulate the pot size, and force your opponents to make tough decision when in position is also key to winning in Triple Draw.  You absolutely must not play weak hands from out of position.  Before every decision, you should consider your position.

2-7 Triple Draw is one of the most fun games that are regularly played.  In casinos it is often only found at very high limits, but online it can be found for low and high stakes alike.  Keep a cool head when you are at the Triple Draw table because even the most even keeled players can get a little off kilter when things go poorly.  And rest assured, things will periodically go very bad at the Triple Draw table.  It is very easy to miss huge draws over and over again while your opponents seem to repeatedly draw 3 and make strong hands against you.  Take comfort in the fact that it happens to everyone.  If you can manage better than your opponents when it does happen, then you will frequently find yourself in very profitable situations where your opponents are on tilt.  Whether played in a mixed game format, or by itself Triple Draw games are fast paced and a lot of fun.  If that sounds like what you like in a poker game then you should consider taking a seat at the Triple Draw table.