No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Single Draw is one of poker’s most misunderstood but purest forms of draw poker. Here’s a clear breakdown of how to play:
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🎯 The Goal
Make the lowest possible five-card hand.
• The best possible hand is 7-5-4-3-2 (not all the same suit).
• Straights and flushes count against you (so 5-4-3-2-A is a straight, not a good hand).
• Aces are always high, never low.
So, in short: 2-3-4-5-7 unsuited beats 2-3-4-6-7, and any flush or straight loses to a higher-ranking “bad” hand that isn’t a straight or flush.
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🃏 The Setup
• Typically played 2-6 players.
• Blinds just like in No-Limit Hold’em (small blind, big blind).
• Each player gets five cards face down.
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💰 The Action
1. Pre-Draw Betting Round:
• Begins with the player to the left of the big blind.
• Betting proceeds just like No-Limit Hold’em — you can fold, call, or raise any amount (no-limit structure).
2. The Draw:
• Each remaining player may discard any number of cards (0–5) and draw new ones from the deck.
• If you like your hand as-is, you “stand pat.”
3. Post-Draw Betting Round:
• After everyone has drawn, another betting round begins, starting with the player closest to the dealer still in the hand.
• Again, since it’s No-Limit, any bet size is allowed.
4. Showdown:
• If more than one player remains, hands are revealed.
• The lowest hand wins.
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🧠 Strategy Tips
• Position is huge. You act last on the draw and final bet if you’re on the button — that’s gold in this game.
• Pat hands (like 9-7-5-4-3) are often good enough to stand pat and put pressure on others.
• If your opponent stands pat and you draw one, you’ll often need an 8-low or better to call a big bet profitably.
• Watch for “snowing” — bluffing by standing pat with a bad hand to represent a strong one.
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Blinds & Setup
• Small Blind: $1
• Big Blind: $2
• Each player gets five cards face-down.
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🔹 Pre-Draw (Before the Draw)
Player A (Button / Small Blind) looks at:
♠7 ♣6 ♥5 ♦4 ♣2 → a pat 7-6 low, one of the best possible hands (7-6-5-4-2).
Player A decides to raise to $6.
Player B (Big Blind) looks at:
♠9 ♥8 ♦6 ♣3 ♣2 → a 9-8-6-3-2, not terrible but could improve.
Player B calls $4 more.
💰 Pot: $12
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🔸 The Draw
• Player A “stands pat” — doesn’t draw any cards, signaling strength.
• Player B “draws one” card, discarding the ♠9 and hoping to hit a 7 or 5 for a better low.
Player B draws the ♦5, giving: ♥8 ♦6 ♣3 ♣2 ♦5 → an 8-6-5-3-2, a solid hand!
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💵 Post-Draw Betting
Player B (first to act):
Checks, possibly trapping or unsure where they stand.
Player A:
Bets $8.
Player B:
Thinks — an 8-6-low is strong, but Player A stood pat (which screams 7-low or 8-low).
Player B calls $8.
💰 Pot: $28
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🏁 Showdown
• Player A shows: 7-6-5-4-2
• Player B shows: 8-6-5-3-2
Player A wins with the lower hand — the 7-low beats the 8-low.
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💡 Key Takeaways
• Standing pat is a powerful signal. Most players don’t do it without at least a strong 9-low or better.
• Drawing one is common, but hitting a perfect card is tough.
• Betting after the draw is often polarized — either a monster (7-low, 8-low) or a bluff (“snow”).
• Bluffing by patting (standing pat on a mediocre hand like a queen-low) can work if your opponent draws.
Awesome — here’s your quick-start cheat sheet for playing No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw like a pro.
Think of this as your “pre-draw decision guide” and “hand-strength reference.”
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♠️ 2-7 Single Draw Cheat Sheet
🎯 The Goal
Make the lowest 5-card hand possible where:
• Straights & flushes are bad (they lose).
• Aces are high (so A-2-3-4-5 is actually a straight — not good).
• Best possible hand: 7-5-4-3-2 (rainbow).
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💪 When to “Stand Pat” (Don’t Draw)
These are hands you keep as-is, especially in position:
Monster (7-low)
7-5-4-3-2, 7-6-4-3-2
Usually the nuts. Bet for value.
Strong (8-low)
8-6-5-4-2, 8-7-5-3-2
Great hands, especially if heads-up.
Solid (9-low)
9-6-5-3-2, 9-7-5-4-2
Often a pat in position; can bet or check depending on reads.
🧠 If your opponent draws and you have any 9-low or better, you’re way ahead — bet or call confidently.
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✏️ When to “Draw One”
Hands that are close but can improve with a single card:
10-low Draws
10-7-4-3-2
Hoping to hit 8, 9 (not straight!)
Jack-low Draws
J-7-5-3-2
Sometimes playable late or vs. tight blinds
Paired Hands
7-7-4-3-2
Break the pair and draw one
Flushy Hands
9-6-4-3-2 (all clubs)
Break the flush and draw one off-suit
🧠 Drawing one means you’ll often be behind after the draw — but if your opponent stands pat, you can bluff when you hit or miss (“snowing”).
🚫 When to Fold Pre-Draw
High or medium pairs
K-K-9-6-3
Too far behind even after draw
Straights / Flushes
7-6-5-4-3 suited
Automatically lose to almost anything
High-card garbage
Q-J-8-4-2
Not worth the effort or chips
🧠 In No-Limit, patience is key — start with premium or strong one-card draws.
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💥 Pro Tips
• Position is king. Being last to act post-draw lets you bluff, value-bet, or check safely.
• Pat vs. Draw: If you stand pat and your opponent draws one, you’re heavily favored — punish them.
• Bluffing (Snowing): Stand pat with a weak hand (like Q-J-8-4-2) to represent a monster. Risky but powerful.
• Observation: Count how many cards each opponent draws — it tells you everything.
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