Draw Lowball Poker Rules

All the rules for no-limit and pot-limit poker (see Section 14 - No-limit and Pot-limit) apply to no-limit and pot-limit lowball. All other lowball rules apply, except as noted. A player is not entitled to know that an opponent does not hold the best possible hand, so these rules for exposed cards before the draw apply: (a) In ace-to-five. There are many fun and interesting varieties of poker, but one of the most fascinating games is called Lowball. The rules are fairly simple: the objective of the game is the same as traditional poker in that you are striving to win a pot — but unlike other poker games in which players are striving to get the highest hand, Lowball players are trying to score the lowest hand possible.

Lowball – A draw game where the lowest five unpaired cards win. Unless special rules apply, the holding of 5-4-3-2-A is the best possible hand.
California Lowball is a Lowball draw game that was common in California before Hold’em was popularized. It is also commonly called “Ace to Five Lowball.” As is the case in most draw games, California Lowball uses a nominal dealer button to indicate who has last action after the draw. Depending upon where you play, you may see some slight variations to the rules. There are generally either two or three blinds used. On rare occasions, antes may be added in addition to the blinds. California Lowball may or may not be played as a “raised blind” game. If it is, players are not allowed to limp in for the amount of the big blind, but are required to raise to double the amount of the big blind in order to enter the pot.
In Single Draw California Lowball, a Joker, or “bug” is often added to the deck as a wild card, which means it plays as the lowest (most beneficial) card you do not already hold. A “must bet sevens” rule is often enforced in Single Draw. This means that if you make a seven low or better, you must bet it. If you check, you will not be allowed to receive any further action on your hand, and your opponents may be refunded their bets after the point of your illegal check. Although your opponents are entitled to a refund if you check a seven low or better, you will not be refunded anything if you check a seven low and lose the hand. This means that it is never a good idea to check a seven low or better if the “must bet sevens” rule is in effect. Generally, check-raise is not allowed in the Single Draw variation.
In the Triple Draw variation of California Lowball, the Joker is generally not used. There are three drawing rounds, which create an additional two betting rounds. The “must bet sevens” rule is generally not in effect in the Triple Draw variation, and most commonly, check-raise is allowed. Occasionally, the dealer will run out of cards on the third draw. When this happens, the discards are shuffled back into the deck to complete the deal. In both games the nut hand is a wheel.
In Deuce to Seven Lowball, also known as Kansas City Lowball, the best hand is 7-5-4-3-2 because aces, straights and flushes count for high.
Also spelled Low Ball, Loball, Lo Ball
Previous Poker Term: Loose
Next Poker Term: Main Pot

OBJECTIVE OF LOWBALL POKER: Collect more points than other players by winning more rows (hands) and collect royalties.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2-8 players

NUMBER OF CARDS: 52-card deck

Draw Lowball Poker Rules Poker

RANK OF CARDS: Depends on hand ranking

TYPE OF GAME: Casino

AUDIENCE: Adult

Draw Lowball Poker Rules Card Game

INTRODUCTION TO LOWBALL POKER

Lowball or Low Poker are variations of poker in which the lowest hand wins. Any poker game can be reversed and played low, but Lowball poker, in particular, refers to Five Card Draw poker played low. Different Lowball variations use different systems of hand ranking, which can be referenced here. Hands of five different ranks, depending on if Ace is low or high, are better than hands with combinations.

CALIFORNIA LOWBALL

This variant also is known as Ace-to-Five Single Draw Poker. It is a Five Card Draw Lowball variant using ace-to-five hand rankings. This means aces are considered low and straights and flushes don’t count. The highest card in the hand is used for comparison, so, the lowest hand possible is A-2-3-4-5.

Typically California Lowball is played with blinds, but it may also be played with an ante. The dealer pays the small blind and the two players directly to the dealer’s left put out the big blinds. The big blind is equal to the minimum bet.

Each player receives five cards, followed by a round of betting. If there is an ante, betting starts with the player directly to the left of the dealer. When playing with blinds, those count as initial bets, so the player to the left of the player to put out the last big blinds begins the betting. Big blind players may raise.

After the first round of betting is complete, players can discard as many cards as they please and the dealers passes them replacement cards. A second round of betting ensues. The betting begins with the first active player directly to the left of the dealer.

Draw Lowball Poker Rules How To Play

Lowball is a fixed limit game. However, some double the minimum bet after the draw.

Draw Lowball Poker Rules Against

The game can be played with Jokers. The joker is a fitter, and can be used to represent the lowest ranking card not in hand. For example, a hand with 10-7-3-A-Joker is 10-7-3-2-A.

KANSAS CITY LOWBALL

Kansas City Lowball also goes by the name Deuce to Seven Single Draw and Billy Baxter Lowball since he won this game several times at the World Championships. In this variant, aces are high and both flushes and straights count. Flushes and straights, remember, are bad hands in Lowball. Also, A-2-3-4-5 is not a straight, because aces are considered high. The best hand possible in Kansas City Lowball is 2-3-4-5-7.

This variant is much like California Lowball, the deal, draw, and betting are similar. This game, however, is not played with Jokers.

ACE-TO-SIX LOWBALL

Once again, this variant uses Five Card Draw rules but employs ace-to-six ranking. This ranking considers aces low and straights and flushes are legal.

TRIPLE DRAW & DOUBLE DRAW

Triple Draw and Double Draw Poker are played exactly in the same manner as traditional Five Card Draw, with additional chances to draw (and improve your hand) as well as bet. This variant is played with blinds- a small put out by the dealer and two big blinds put out by the active players to the left of the dealer.

After the initial draw there are two or three other opportunities players have to discard, draw, and bet. In Triple Draw there is a total of 4 betting rounds.

If the dealer runs out of cards, the discarded cards are shuffled and act as the new deck.

At showdown there are two possibilities for evaluating hands:

• Deuce to Seven
• Ace to Five

REFERENCES:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowball_(poker)

https://www.pagat.com/poker/variants/lowball.html

http://www.wsop.com/poker-games/lowball/rules/