2-7 Triple Draw: Complete Rules & Strategy Guide 2026

October 2026 · 8 min read

2-7 Triple Draw Lowball is one of the deepest draw games in poker. Each player is dealt five cards and has three opportunities to draw, with the goal of making the lowest possible five-card hand. Crucially, aces are high (bad for you), straights and flushes count against you — so the absolute nuts is 2-3-4-5-7 of mixed suits (often called "the stone cold nuts" or "the nuts"). 2-7 Triple Draw is part of every major mixed-game series including 8-Game and the PSOP on Phenom Poker.

2-7 Lowball Hand Rankings

Hands are ranked with the worst high card determining the winner, no pairs/straights/flushes allowed. From best to worst:

• 2-3-4-5-7 (best possible hand — the "nuts")
• 2-3-4-6-7 (second nuts)
• 2-3-5-6-7
• 2-4-5-6-7
• 3-4-5-6-7 (ten-high smooth)
• 2-3-4-5-8 (number wheel, broken straight doesn't count because no straight in 2-7)

Remember: A-2-3-4-5 is actually a BAD hand in 2-7 because (a) ace is high and (b) it's a straight! A-2-3-4-6 is terrible. Don't confuse 2-7 with A-5 lowball.

Betting Structure

2-7 Triple Draw is played Fixed-Limit in the HORSE/8-Game rotation and in most tournaments. There are blinds, then betting, then Draw 1 (with betting), then Draw 2 (with betting), then Draw 3 (with a final betting round before showdown). In fixed-limit, the big bet size doubles after Draw 2.

Starting Hand Strategy

Premium Starting Hands

The best starting hands in 2-7 are pat hands (don't need to draw) or strong one-draw hands:

• Pat hands: 2-3-4-5-7 or better — strong one-way snaps, stand pat and jam
• One-card draws to 7-low: 2-3-4-5-x (need to draw 1) — smooth draws
• One-card draws to 8-low: 2-3-4-6-x, 2-3-4-7-x — still strong, but look for the better

Starting Hand Minimums

Generally speaking, you need at least three low cards (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7) to start drawing in 2-7. Hands with two high cards (J-Q, for example) or an ace typically aren't worth entering pots with from early position. From late position or in the big blind, you can loosen up slightly on two-card draws.

Two-Card Draws

Two-card draws (holding only three low cards) are speculative. They can be profitable in position with the right pot odds, especially on the first draw where you have two more shots. But a two-card draw that misses the first draw should often be abandoned if facing aggression, since you're now a significant underdog against players on one-card draws or pat hands.

Pat vs. Draw Reads

Tracking how many cards opponents draw is the core information game in 2-7 Triple Draw. A player who stands pat (draws zero) likely has a strong made low. A player drawing two cards is weak. Adjust your bluffing and value-betting accordingly. Standing pat on a bluff (representing a pat hand when you have a broken draw) is a powerful play in 2-7 Triple Draw, especially on the final draw.

Playing 2-7 at Phenom Poker

2-7 Triple Draw is part of the PSOP schedule and available in the Phenom Poker cash game lobby. Whether you're playing it standalone or as part of 8-Game, Phenom is the best platform for draw game action online. Use code ALEC for your welcome bonus.

Frequently Asked Questions

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