How it works
Each player gets five cards. After the first betting round, players discard and draw replacements. This happens three times, with a betting round after each draw. The lowest hand wins, ranked by deuce-to-seven rules.
- Aces are high, so they are bad.
- Straights and flushes count as made high hands, so they ruin a low.
- Pairs are bad.
- The best hand is . The second best is 7-6-4-3-2.
Starting hands
The 2 is the most important card in the game, because every strong hand needs one. Good starts contain a 2 and two or three other cards from 3 to 8 with no pairs, such as . A 2 and a 7 together with a 3 or 4 is a strong start; hands without a 2 are weak.
Strategy keys
- "Snowing" means standing pat on a garbage hand to bluff. It works best when an opponent is drawing two or more.
- Count your outs: drawing one card to , any 5, 6 or 8 (twelve outs) makes a strong seven- or eight-low. Always check that your out does not complete a straight.
- Position is vital, because you see how many cards each opponent draws before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best hand in 2-7 lowball?
7-5-4-3-2 of mixed suits, called the number one. The ace counts high, so A-2-3-4-5 is just ace high and not a good hand.
Do straights and flushes count in 2-7?
Yes, and they count against you. 7-6-5-4-3 is a straight, which is a strong high hand and therefore a terrible low.
How many draws are there?
Three, with four betting rounds in total.