2-7 SINGLE DRAW

Overview

2-7 Single Draw (also called Kansas City Lowball) is a draw poker game where the lowest hand wins. Unlike A-5 lowball, Aces are always high (making them the worst card), and straights and flushes count against your hand. The best possible hand is 7-5-4-3-2 in mixed suits.

Number of Players

2–8 players. A standard 52-card deck is used — no Joker.

The Object

Make the lowest possible 5-card hand. Aces are always high (bad). The best hand is 7-5-4-3-2 in mixed suits — no straight, no flush, no pairs.

Blinds

2-7 Single Draw uses a small blind and big blind, posted before the deal — just like Texas Hold'em.

Raise to Open

The Deal

Each player receives 5 cards face-down. Players look at their own cards only.

Betting Rounds

1. Pre-draw: After receiving 5 cards, a betting round begins left of the big blind
2. Post-draw: After the draw phase, a final betting round takes place
3. Showdown: Remaining players reveal hands; the lowest hand wins the pot

The Draw

Starting left of the dealer, each player may discard any number of cards (0–5) and receive the same number of replacements from the deck. Keeping all 5 cards is called standing pat and signals a very strong hand.

Comparing Low Hands

To compare hands, start from the highest card — lower is always better. Straights and flushes rank above unpaired hands (worse):

• 7-5-4-3-2 (no flush) beats 7-6-4-3-2 (both 7-high, but 5 beats 6 as second card)
• Any unpaired, non-straight, non-flush hand beats any hand with a straight, flush, or pair
• Among paired hands, lower pairs are better (2-2 beats K-K in lowball)
• Ace is treated as high in all comparisons — A-2-3-4-5 is a straight, and a losing hand

How It Differs from A-5 Lowball

• Ace is high — the worst card you can hold; avoid it at all costs
• Straights count — 2-3-4-5-6 is a straight and ranks poorly; avoid drawing to a wheel
• Flushes count — five cards of the same suit rank poorly; watch your suit distribution
• No Bug — standard 52-card deck with no wild cards
• Best hand is 7-5-4-3-2, not A-2-3-4-5

Strategy Tips

• The 2, 3, 4 are the best cards — 7 and 5 complete the nuts
• Beware of 6 — it can complete a straight (2-3-4-5-6)
• Never draw to A-2-3-4-5 — that's a straight and the Ace is high; you'd make a terrible hand
• Watch suit distribution when drawing; adding a fifth card of the same suit makes a flush
• 8-7-low or better is a strong hand worth standing pat with before the draw
• Drawing 3 or more cards signals a rough starting hand — opponents will bet into you

Example Hand

You hold . The Ace is high — worthless in 2-7! You discard it and draw — 7-5-4-3-2, the best possible hand! Your opponent drew 2 cards and made a J-high. 7-5-4-3-2 beats J-high easily. You win the pot.