Draw poker gives you private cards and the opportunity to replace selected cards. “Draw” describes replacement; “lowball” describes the ranking objective. They can be combined, but mean different things.
In this guide
Five-card draw
In the edition described here, each player receives five downcards. After a betting round, players replace cards or keep all five by standing pat. A second betting round leads to showdown if required. Standard high hands decide the winner. Establish blinds or antes and any reshuffling procedure in advance.
Further reading: PokerStars: Five Card Draw
Deuce-to-seven: low, avoiding straights and flushes
In 2–7, aces are high, and straights and flushes harm the low. The best unpaired hand is 7–5–4–3–2 without a flush. Triple draw permits three draws and four betting rounds in total; single draw has only one draw. Specify the betting structure separately.
Further reading: PokerStars: Deuce-to-Seven Triple Draw
Ace-to-five is a different low system
Ace-to-five counts aces low and ignores straights and flushes. A–2–3–4–5 is ideal. Deuce-to-seven instead counts aces high. “Lowball” alone therefore does not specify the ranking.
Further reading: PokerStars: Razz
Three original comparison exercises
Puzzle 1: is 7♠ 6♥ 5♦ 4♣ 3♠ a good 2–7 low? Puzzle 2: compare 8–6–4–3–2 and 8–7–5–3–2, neither a flush. Puzzle 3: how does 5♥ 4♥ 3♥ 2♥ A♥ change between ace-to-five and 2–7?
Answer and explanation
1: It is a straight, so in 2–7 it loses to an unpaired, non-straight non-flush hand. 2: The eights tie, then six beats seven. 3: In ace-to-five it is the ideal wheel low; in 2–7 the flush counts against it and the ace is high.
Explain the draw
State the target ranking before drawing. Record the ranks retained, ranks replaced and remaining draw rounds. A hand that looks complete can be a mistake under the wrong ranking system. These are reference rules; reading them does not enable a draw mode in our browser poker.