Learn 2-7 Triple Draw Poker Rules

2-7 Triple Draw has gained popularity among mixed game enthusiasts since its introduction at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in the early 2000s. If you're interested in learning to play 2-7 Triple Draw poker, this beginner’s guide will provide everything needed to get started.

What is 2-7 Triple Draw Poker?

2-7 Triple Draw is a lowball variant of draw poker where the goal is to make the lowest possible hand. Aces are high, and both straights and flushes count against you, meaning the best "low" hand you can make is 7-5-4-3-2.

First introduced at the WSOP in 2004, at least one 2-7 Triple Draw tournament has been held at every WSOP from 2007 to the present. In 2014, the WSOP added a $10,000 2-7 Triple Draw Championship event, featuring a $10,000 buy-in.

Phil Ivey - Winner of the $10,000 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw Championship (2024 WSOP)

2-7 Triple Draw can also be played online, with PokerStars offering real-money and play-money cash games and tournaments daily.

How to Play 2-7 Triple Draw

To play 2-7 Triple Draw, you’ll need a 52-card deck and some poker chips. 2-7 Triple Draw is typically played between two to seven people.

2-7 Triple Draw Rules

Blinds –Before any cards are dealt, two players must place bets known as the Small Blind and Big Blind. The Big Blind is twice the size of the Small Blind. Action begins with the player directly left of the Big Blind during the first betting round, and with the Small Blind during later betting rounds.
Drawing - Players are dealt five cards each to start. There are no community cards. After each of the first three rounds of betting, players can choose to discard any number of cards from their hand and draw the same number from the deck.
Fixed Limit Betting - 2-7 Triple Draw is typically played as a fixed-limit game, with small bets and big bets. The big bet is twice the size of the small bet. Small bets are used during the first two betting rounds, while big bets are used during the last two.
Winning the Pot – Players can win the pot either at showdown or by making all opponents fold beforehand. If all other players fold and one player remains, that player wins the pot uncontested. If two or more players remain after the final betting round, the hands go to showdown, and the player with the best five-card hand wins the pot.
Hand Rankings – 2-7 Triple Draw is a lowball poker variant, featuring hand rankings that are the inverse of those in No-limit Hold’em. The worst hand you can make is a Royal Flush. Aces are always high, and both straights and flushes count against you. The best possible hand is 7-5-4-3-2.

How to Play Poker for Beginners

Check out the rules and basic strategy to all the popular poker formats

Click Here

2-7 Triple Draw Gameplay

A hand of 2-7 Triple Draw begins with each player receiving five cards. Each hand consists of four betting rounds and three draws.

Before the First Draw: Two players must post the blinds, after which each player receives five cards. Starting with the player to the left of the big blind, each player must decide whether to call, fold, or raise.
First Draw and Second Betting Round: Players still in the hand can discard any number of cards and draw an equal number from the deck. After the draw, a second round of betting takes place.
Second Draw and Third Betting Round: Players still in the hand may once again discard any number of cards and draw an equal number from the deck. A third round of betting follows the draw.
Final Draw and Betting Round: Players still in the hand have one last opportunity to discard any number of cards and draw an equal number from the deck. A fourth and final round of betting takes place after the draw.
Showdown: After the last round of betting, the remaining players reveal their cards.

Blinds, Betting and Drawing in 2-7 Triple Draw

In 2-7 Triple Draw, two players must first place compulsory bets (known as the "Blinds") before each player is dealt five cards. There are up to four rounds of fixed-limit betting in each hand.

Unlike Texas Hold’em, 2-7 Triple Draw has no community cards. Instead, after each of the first three betting rounds, players discard any number of cards from their hand and draw an equal number from the deck.

Blinds
The first blind is called the Small Blind, and directly to the Small Blind’s left is the Big Blind. The size of the blinds depends on the stakes of the game, with the Big Blind typically being twice the size of the Small Blind.

Betting

2-7 Triple Draw is almost always played as a fixed-limit game, with predetermined bet sizes. A small bet is used for the first two betting rounds, and a big bet is used for the last two.

The small bet is the maximum bet and raise size for the first two betting rounds. The big bet is double the small bet and is reserved for the last two betting rounds.

There can be up to four rounds of betting in a hand of 2-7 Triple Draw:

Before the first draw (small bet)
Between the first and second draw (small bet)
Between the second and final draw (big bet)
After the final draw (big bet)

Action begins with the player directly to the left of the big blind after the cards are dealt, proceeding clockwise. After the first draw, action resumes with the player in the small blind, continuing clockwise around the table.

Drawing

After each of the first three betting rounds, all players still in the hand are given the option to draw. Players may discard any number of cards from their hand and draw an equal number from the deck. Players may also choose to draw zero cards, which is called "Standing Pat."

The player in the small blind is the first to draw. The draws proceed clockwise, one player at a time, until all players still in the hand have had a chance to draw.

Showdown in 2-7 Triple Draw
After the fourth betting round, any remaining players reveal their hands. Unlike in Texas Hold’em, there are no community cards in 2-7 Triple Draw, so players must use all five cards in their hand.

2-7 Triple Draw Poker Hand Rankings

The objective at showdown is to make the lowest possible hand. Hand rankings in 2-7 Triple Draw are the opposite of those in games like Omaha or Texas Hold’em. Non-paired hands that do not form a straight or flush typically win at showdown.

Aces are always considered high in 2-7 triple draw. For example, A-6-5-4-3 would be ace-low, not six-low, and would lose to a hand like K-7-4-3-2. A-2-3-4-5 is also considered ace-low rather than a wheel straight.

The best hand you can make in 2-7 triple draw is 7-5-4-3-2 with no flush. This hand is also referred to as a “wheel.”

Rank Hand	Nickname
1 7-5-4-3-2	Wheel, Number One
2 7-6-4-3-2	Number Two
3 7-6-5-3-2	Number Three
4 7-6-5-4-2	-
5 8-5-4-3-2	Eight-Perfect, Nut-Eight
6 8-6-4-3-2	Eighty-Six Smooth
7 8-6-5-3-2	-
8 8-6-5-4-2	-
9 8-6-5-4-3	Rough Eighty-Six
10 8-7-4-3-2	Eighty-Seven Smooth

Best 2-7 Triple Draw Poker Tips and Strategies

Like all poker variants, 2-7 Triple Draw is a complex game involving skill and chance. The more you improve your strategy through practice and studying, the more likely you are to see long-term success.

The following 2-7 Triple Draw tips and strategies will get you started.

Top 5 Winning Tips for 2-7 Triple Draw Poker

Here are five winning tips to help you improve at 2-7 Triple Draw Poker:

Starting Hands – Choose strong 2-7 Triple Draw starting hands to continue betting with. You usually want to start with a deuce and have at least two other low cards.
Be Careful with Straight Draws – A hand like K-6-5-4-3 may initially seem like a strong one-card draw since it contains four small cards. However, since catching a two or seven would complete a straight, this hand is much weaker than it appears and should usually be avoided.
Use the Draws to Get Information – When your opponent draws two cards while you only draw one, you’re often ahead and should bet. This is especially true when you’re in position and your opponent must draw first.
Small Pairs – Small pairs, such as twos, threes, or sevens, can be played more aggressively. Since your opponent is less likely to hold these cards, you’re more likely to win the pot outright.
Know When to Break – Consider the odds when deciding whether to “break” (draw cards when you might already have the winner) your hand on the last draw. With one draw remaining, jack-low is a slight favorite against a one-card draw and should be kept when your opponent draws one card out of position.

Top Three Winning Strategies for 2-7 Triple Draw Poker

Here are three winning strategies that will help you succeed at 2-7 Triple Draw Poker:

Hand Selection in 2-7 Triple Draw – Starting hand selection is crucial in 2-7 Triple Draw because of the fixed-limit betting structure, which often prices players into the pot until showdown. From early and middle positions, try to only play two-card draws, one-card draws and pat hands. Some three-card draws can be worth playing from the button or big blind.
Position in 2-7 Triple Draw – Having position on your opponents is a significant advantage. The player in position always draws last, which allows you to know how many cards your opponents have drawn before it’s your turn, giving you important information.
Aggression in 2-7 Triple Draw – When in position and facing a raise before the first draw, you should usually raise instead of call. This helps to avoid a multiway pot by making it less profitable for the blinds to call, while also ensuring you play larger pots with a positional advantage over your opponent.

Best Online Poker Sites for 2-7 Triple Draw Poker

While it’s possible to find live stud games at some major casinos or the World Series of Poker, it is much easier for most players to find 2-7 Triple Draw games online.

Play 2-7 Triple Draw on PokerStars

PokerStars is the best choice to play 2-7 Triple Draw as it offers real-money tournaments and cash games daily. PokerStars also offers a 100% first deposit bonus of up to $600, making it a great choice for new players.

How to play 2-7 Triple Draw on PokerStars

PokerStars has a user-friendly interface, making it easy to play 2-7 Triple Draw. Here’s what to do:

Download the PokerStars software and create an account
Make your first deposit while taking advantage of the 100% first deposit bonus
Select the “Cash Game” or “Tourney” tab, depending on what type of game you want to play
Use the game filter and select “2-7 Triple Draw”

What 2-7 Triple Draw Games are on PokerStars?

Pokerstars offers 2-7 Triple Draw cash games and tournaments. Microstakes tournaments with buy-ins ranging from $3.30 to $5.50 run every day while some tournament series such as WCOOP feature 2-7 Triple Draw tournaments with buy-ins as high as $2,100. Cash games run every day, with stakes ranging from 0.10/0.20 to $100/$200.

2-7 Triple Draw Poker FAQs

What are the rules of 2-7 Triple Draw?

In 2-7 Triple Draw, each player is dealt five cards face down. There are four rounds of betting and three draws before showdown. The player with the lowest five-card hand remaining at the showdown wins the pot.

What is the Difference Between 2-7 Triple Draw and Texas Hold’em?

The biggest difference is that 2-7 Triple Draw has no community cards. Instead, each player is dealt five cards and has three opportunities to improve their hand by drawing.

Can you play 2-7 Triple Draw Online?

Yes! There are real-money 2-7 Triple Draw cash games and tournaments running every day on PokerStars.

Can you play 2-7 Triple Draw at Casinos?

On rare occasions, some major casinos do run 2-7 Triple Draw games. You can also play 2-7 Triple Draw tournaments at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas every summer.

How do you play basic 2-7 Triple Draw Poker?

Like all forms of poker, position and hand selection are the baseline for any winning strategy. Play more hands when you have position on your opponents and stick to good one-card draws, two-card draws, and pat hands.

What is the Best Hand in 2-7 Triple Draw Poker?

The best hand in 2-7 Triple Draw poker is 7-5-4-3-2, known as a wheel or “number one.”

How to Win at 2-7 Triple Draw Poker?

In 2-7 Triple Draw, you win by having the best hand at showdown or making all opponents fold before then. Using inversed hand-rankings from no-limit hold’em, the lowest hand wins at showdown.

Do Suits Matter in 2-7 Triple Draw?

Although it rarely comes up, suits do matter in 2-7 triple draw because flushes count against you. For example, 7-5-4-3-2 is normally the nuts, but if all five cards are the same suit, you have a flush instead of a seven-low and are very unlikely to win at showdown.

Do you Burn Cards in 2-7 Triple Draw?

Yes, dealers burn a card before the first player draws in the first, second and third draw. In the rare instance where the deck runs out of cards before the hand is over, the dealer will reshuffle the mucked cards to form a new deck, and the hand will continue. Any previously burned cards will not be reshuffled.

Must Have Rooms

Home to the biggest tournaments online, these rooms also have the largest player base, great bonuses, tons of action and the best software. If you don't have accounts here, you are missing out on the best that online poker has to offer.