A-5 Triple Draw Lowball: Complete Strategy Guide 2026

October 2026 · 7 min read

A-5 Triple Draw (also called California Lowball or Ace-to-Five Triple Draw) is a lowball draw game where aces are the lowest card and straights and flushes don't count against you. The best possible hand is A-2-3-4-5 (a "wheel"). Unlike 2-7 lowball, there's no penalty for straights or flushes — only pairs and high cards hurt you. A-5 Triple Draw is featured in the PSOP on Phenom Poker and appears in extended mixed-game formats like Badacey.

A-5 vs 2-7: Key Differences

A-5: Aces are LOW (good), straights/flushes DON'T count — A-2-3-4-5 is the nuts even though it's a straight
2-7: Aces are HIGH (bad), straights/flushes DO count against you — 2-3-4-5-7 is the nuts
In A-5, a hand like A-2-3-4-5 is a wheel and the best possible hand; in 2-7, A-2-3-4-5 is a terrible hand (it's both a straight AND has an ace)

A-5 Hand Rankings

Hands ranked from best to worst (the wheel is the nuts):

A-2-3-4-5 (wheel — the best possible hand)
A-2-3-4-6
A-2-3-5-6
A-2-3-4-7
A-2-4-5-6 (6-high smooth)

The highest unpaired card is the key metric. A-2-3-4-6 is a "6-high" hand. A 6-high hand beats any 7-high hand. Ties are broken by the second-highest card, then third, and so on.

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A-5 Triple Draw Strategy

Starting Hand Selection

Strong A-5 starting hands include three or more low cards (A, 2, 3, 4, 5 are ideal). The best starting hands have already have four very low cards — anything A-2-3-4 through A-2-3-5 gives you a one-card draw to a wheel or near-wheel. Pat hands (no draw needed, already a great five-card low) are premium and should be played aggressively from any position.

The Ace's Double Role

Aces are extremely powerful in A-5 — both for making strong low hands (A-low beats everything) and for making flushes (which don't count against you). An ace in your hand is never a negative in A-5, unlike in 2-7 where aces are liabilities. Keep aces whenever possible.

Two-Card Draws

Two-card draws (holding only three low cards) are playable but marginal from early position. In late position or in the big blind with favorable pot odds, two-card draws to A-2-3 or A-2-4 have enough potential equity to justify entering pots. But after missing on the first draw, reassess — chasing a two-card draw to the river is rarely profitable.

Pat Hand Bluffing

Standing pat (drawing zero) in A-5 Triple Draw is the most powerful representation of a strong hand. Opponents who are still drawing are forced to improve against what appears to be a made wheel or near-wheel. Bluff-patting on the final draw with a broken hand against a single opponent on a one-card draw is a high-skill play in A-5.

A-5 Triple Draw at Phenom Poker

A-5 Triple Draw runs in the PSOP and as part of Badacey (the Badugi + A-5 split-pot game) on Phenom Poker. It's one of the cleanest draw games to learn — simpler than 2-7 in some ways — and a great gateway into the mixed-game world.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best hand in A-5 Triple Draw?

A-2-3-4-5 (the wheel) is the best possible hand. Aces play low and straights and flushes don't count against you — making A-5 the opposite of 2-7 lowball.

How is A-5 Triple Draw different from 2-7 Triple Draw?

In A-5 Lowball, aces play low and straights/flushes don't count against you. In 2-7, aces are high and straights/flushes do count against you. The best hand in A-5 (A-2-3-4-5) is a straight in 2-7.

Is A-5 Triple Draw in the PSOP?

Yes. Phenom Poker runs A-5 Triple Draw as a standalone event in the PSOP. Use code ALEC for a 200% welcome bonus.

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