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By Gary Steele

Triple Draw is the first game I have ever written the rules for where the highest hand does not win at least a portion of the pot. Triple Draw is a Low Hand game. The most common variation of Triple Draw, and the one I am going over the rules for, is called Deuce to Seven. This refers to the best possible low. Another version called Ace to Five is also played and I have put the differences between the two games at the bottom of this page. This game is not often played online but can be found at UltimateBet.

If you are just learning to play poker you need to review the one thing every poker game has in common: Hand Ranking. Check out the Poker Hand Rankings to see the strengths in order from best to worst. At the end of each poker hand, the player with the five card combination ranked Lowest on the Poker Hand Ranking list wins the pot in Triple Draw.

Basic Description

Triple Draw, as its name suggests, is a drawing game played similar to Five Card Draw. Each Player is dealt Five cards face down to start the hand. After a round of bets by all players, each player has the option of discarding and drawing as many cards as they wish. After another round of betting, players get to draw as many cards as they need once again. Another third round of betting and drawing then occur. Finally, the last round of betting takes place and the players show their hands. The player with the lowest hand wins the pot.

The lowest possible hand in this game is 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 (hence the Deuce to Seven name). Aces only count as high cards. Unlike most Low hand games, Straights and Flushes do count as Straights and Flushes, and are also very bad hands. Pairs do count as pairs.

Betting and the Ante

Betting moves clockwise and always starts with the player to the left of the dealer. Triple Draw has forced bets called Blinds. Before each hand is dealt, the player immediately to the left of the dealer places a bet called the small blind and the player to the left of this player places a larger bet called the big blind. The amount of the blinds is set beforehand and is typically an indicator of the size of the pots at the table. A table with a $5 big blind will produce bigger pots than a table with a $2 big blind. At a $2 table the small blind is usually $1 and the big blind will be $2.

The first round of betting (after all players receive their first five face-down cards) requires a minimum bet equal to at least the amount of the big blind to stay in the hand. The round of betting in the next round also requires a minimum bet equal to the big blind. The last two rounds of betting (after the 2nd and 3rd draw) require a minimum bet equal to twice the big blind. This is the same betting structure as Texas Hold’Em.

If you were involved in a typical hand of Triple Draw poker at a $1 big blind limit table your experience may go something like this:

1. You are dealt 2, 3, 9, King, Ace face down;
2. Betting starts with the player to the left of the Big Blind and he calls $1;
3. You and two other players after you call the $1 bet, everyone else folds;
4. You discard the King and Ace;
5. You draw a 4 and Queen (your hand is now 2, 3, 4, 9, Queen);
6. The player to the left of the dealer bets $1, you call the bet with $1;
7. The other two players fold leaving you and the betting player;
8. You discard the Queen, your opponent discards three cards;
9. You draw a 6 (your hand is now 2, 3, 4, 6, 9);
10. The other player bets $2 (minimum bet now);
11. You raise $2 by putting $4 in the pot, the other player calls $2;
12. You decide not to draw any cards in the final round (stand pat);
13. Your opponent draws one card;
14. The player to the left of the dealer Checks (bets nothing);
15. You bet $2 and the other player calls it by putting $2 in the pot.

Now the two of you show your face down cards. Your opponent shows 2, 3, 5, 7, 9. You have the better Low hand because even though the two of you both have a 9 Low, your next card (a 6) is lower than your opponent’s next card (a 7).

Triple Draw Ace to Five

This variation is more like your typical Low hand games where Flushes and Straights do not count against the Low. Aces are also considered lower than twos in this game. The best hand in this game is Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5.