Lowball poker flips the script on traditional poker games, making the lowest hand the winner. Players aim to create the worst possible hand in this draw poker variant according to standard poker rankings. Imagine a game where a 7-5-4-3-2 beats a royal flush!
There are two main types of lowball: Ace-to-Five and Deuce-to-Seven, each with its own unique hand rankings.
In Ace-to-Five, the best hand is A-2-3-4-5, while in Deuce-to-Seven, it’s 7-5-4-3-2. Lowball games often feature a drawing phase, where players can swap out cards to improve their hands.
This twist on poker has gained popularity in mixed game formats and high-stakes tournaments, offering a fresh challenge for seasoned players.
Whether you’re playing California Lowball or Kansas City Lowball, the goal remains the same: make the lowest hand and take home the pot.
Types of Lowball Poker
Lowball poker comes in a few different flavors, each with its own twist on hand rankings. Let’s dive into the three main types:
Ace-to-Five Lowball (California Lowball)
This is the most common type of lowball you’ll find in U.S. casinos. In Ace-to-Five, the best hand is A-2-3-4-5, also called a wheel. Here’s the kicker: straights and flushes don’t count against you. It’s all about getting the lowest five cards possible.
For example, 8-5-4-3-2 beats 9-7-6-4-3 because eight-high is lower than nine-high. Aces are always low, so 8-5-4-3-A beats 8-5-4-3-2. If you’re playing in a tournament or cash game, remember that pairs are bad news. A hand with no pair always beats a hand with a pair.
Deuce-to-Seven Lowball (Kansas City Lowball)
This game flips the script on traditional poker hand rankings. In Deuce-to-Seven, the best hand is 7-5-4-3-2, not of the same suit. Aces are high in this game, which means A-5-4-3-2 isn’t a straight and is actually a pretty decent hand.
Here’s where it gets tricky: straights and flushes count against you. So, 7-6-5-4-3 is a terrible hand because it’s a straight. The goal is to make the worst possible high poker hand. In a showdown, you’d compare hands like this:
8-7-5-4-2 beats 9-8-6-5-3
7-6-5-4-2 beats 7-6-5-4-3 (remember, straights are bad!)
Ace-to-Six Lowball
This is the black sheep of the lowball family. You’ll mostly find it in home games in the eastern U.S. or across the pond in the UK.
In Ace-to-Six, aces are low, but straights and flushes count against you. The best hand in Ace-to-Six is A-2-3-4-6. A hand like 7-6-5-4-3 would be a bummer because it’s a straight. Here’s a quick comparison:
8-5-4-3-2 beats 9-7-6-4-3
7-6-5-4-2 beats both of those
But 7-6-5-4-3 loses to all of them (it’s a straight, remember?)
No matter which lowball game you’re playing, the key is to think backward. In regular poker, you’re gunning for the highest hand. In lowball, you want the lowest hand that doesn’t break the rules of that specific game.
If you’re new to lowball, start with Ace-to-Five. It’s the easiest to wrap your head around. Once you’ve got that down, give Deuce-to-Seven a shot. It’s trickier, but many poker pros consider it the purest form of lowball.
Remember, in all these games, bluffing is still a big part of the action. Just because you’re aiming low doesn’t mean you can’t play mind games with your opponents. So get out there, aim low, and may the worst hand win!
Hand Rankings in Lowball
In lowball poker, the goal is to make the lowest hand possible. Let’s break down the three main ranking systems:
Ace-to-Five Rankings
This is the most common system used in U.S. casinos. Here’s the scoop:
Straights and flushes don’t count
Aces are always low
Best hand: A-2-3-4-5 (called the wheel)
For example, 8-5-4-3-2 beats 9-7-6-4-3 because eight-high is lower than nine-high. A-8-5-4-3 beats both because the ace counts as the lowest card.
Deuce-to-Seven Rankings
Also known as Kansas City Lowball, this system flips the script:
Straights and flushes count (they’re bad)
Aces are always high
Best hand: 7-5-4-3-2
Here, 7-6-5-4-2 beats 7-6-5-4-3 because lower is better. A hand like A-5-4-3-2 is actually pretty bad because the ace is high.
Ace-to-Six Rankings
This is the black sheep of lowball:
Straights and flushes count (they’re bad)
Aces are low
Best hand: A-2-3-4-6
In this system, 8-5-4-3-2 beats 9-7-6-4-3, but 7-6-5-4-3 loses to both because it’s a straight.
Comparing the Systems
Here’s how the same hand ranks in each system:
-7-6-5-4-3
- Ace-to-Five: Great (seven-low)
- Deuce-to-Seven: Terrible (straight)
- Ace-to-Six: Terrible (straight)
The key is to think backward. In regular poker, you want the highest hand. In lowball, you’re aiming for the lowest hand that doesn’t break the rules of your specific game.
Remember, no matter which system you’re using, pairs are always bad news. A hand with no pair always beats a hand with a pair, even if it has high cards.
Basic Rules and Gameplay
Now let’s take a closer look at the basic rules and gameplay of Lowball Poker.
Dealing and Betting Rounds
The game kicks off with each player getting five cards face down. Just like in Texas Hold’em, there’s a dealer button, small blind, and big blind. The action starts with the player to the left of the big blind. Here’s how it goes:
- Players can fold, call, or raise.
- The betting goes around the table until everyone’s either folded or called the last bet.
Drawing Phase
Now comes the fun part – the draw. Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, each person can:
- Swap out any number of cards (from zero to all five)
- Try to make the best low hand possible
For example, if you’ve got 7-5-4-3-2, you might want to stand pat (keep all your cards). But if you’ve got A-K-Q-J-10, you’ll probably want to ditch all five!
In some games, you get multiple draws. Triple Draw Lowball gives you three chances to improve your hand. That’s three times the excitement!
Showdown and Determining the Winner
After the final betting round, it’s showdown time. Here’s where things get really interesting:
The lowest hand wins the pot
In Ace-to-Five Lowball, the best hand is A-2-3-4-5 (called the wheel)
In Deuce-to-Seven Lowball, the best hand is 7-5-4-3-2
Remember, straights and flushes usually don’t count against you in Ace-to-Five, but they do in Deuce-to-Seven. Tricky, right? Here’s a quick example:
- Player A: 8-6-4-3-2
- Player B: 7-5-4-3-A
- Player C: 9-7-6-5-3
In Ace-to-Five, Player B wins. But in Deuce-to-Seven, Player A takes the pot! One last thing: if two players have the same low hand, they split the pot. It’s all about sharing the love in Lowball! So there you have it, folks.
Lowball Poker might seem a bit backward at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s a blast. Just remember: in this game, the worst hand is actually the best. Now go out there and aim low!
Specific Lowball Variants
Now let’s move on to specific lowball variants.
Single Draw Lowball
Single Draw Lowball is the quick and dirty version of lowball. Here’s the scoop:
- You get five cards to start
- One chance to swap out cards
- Most common type is 2-7 Single Draw (also called Kansas City Lowball)
In 2-7 Single Draw, the best hand is 7-5-4-3-2. Aces are high, and straights and flushes count against you. It’s like playing regular poker, but backward!
For example, if you’re dealt A-K-Q-J-10, you’d probably want to ditch all five cards. But if you got 7-6-4-3-2, you might just keep that hand and cross your fingers.
Triple Draw Lowball
Triple Draw Lowball is like Single Draw’s big brother. It gives you more chances to make your hand awesome (or should I say, terrible?). Here’s how it rolls:
- Start with five cards
- Get three chances to swap out cards
- Most popular version is 2-7 Triple Draw
In 2-7 Triple Draw, you’re aiming for that sweet 7-5-4-3-2 hand, just like in Single Draw. But with three draws, you’ve got more shots at making your hand as low as possible.
Let’s say you start with A-K-8-6-2. You might ditch the A-K on the first draw, then maybe the 8 on the second, and hope to hit that perfect low card on the third draw.
Razz (Seven-Card Stud Lowball)
Now, Razz is a whole different ball game. It’s like Seven-Card Stud, but flipped on its head. Check it out:
- You get seven cards total
- Three cards face down, four cards face up
- Best hand is A-2-3-4-5 (called the wheel)
In Razz, aces are always low, and straights and flushes don’t count against you. It’s all about making the lowest five-card hand out of your seven cards.
For instance, if your final hand is A♠ 3♥ 4♦ 6♣ 7♠ 9♥ K♦, your five-card Razz hand would be A-3-4-6-7. Razz is a blast because everyone can see some of your cards. It’s like playing poker with your hand half-showing.
Strategy and Tactics
Let’s explore the strategy and tactics of Lowball Poker. In this game, you need to make the lowest hand possible, and you need to think backward to do it!
Starting Hand Selection
In Lowball, your starting hand is super important. Here’s what to look for:
- Low cards are your best friends
- Avoid pairs like the plague
- In 2-7 Lowball, aim for hands like 7-5-4-3-2
- In Ace-to-Five, shoot for A-2-3-4-5 (the wheel)
Remember, position matters too. If you’re in a late position, you can play more hands because you’ll see what others do first.
Drawing Strategy
When it comes to drawing, you’ve gotta be smart:
- If you’ve got a strong low hand, consider standing pat (keeping all your cards)
- With a mediocre hand, try swapping out one or two cards
- If your hand’s a total dud, don’t be afraid to draw three or more
For example, in 2-7 Triple Draw, if you’ve got 8-7-5-4-2, you might just draw one to try and improve that 8.
Bluffing and Semi-Bluffing in Lowball
Bluffing in Lowball can be tricky, but it’s still a key part of the game:
Semi-bluffing is when you bet with a so-so hand that could improve
If you stand pat, other players might think you’ve got a monster low-hand
Bluff more when you’re in a late position
For instance, if you’ve got 9-8-6-5-3 in Ace-to-Five, you might bet big and pretend you’ve got the wheel. Remember, in Lowball, the worst hand is actually the best.
So when you’re bluffing, you’re trying to make others think your hand is worse than it really is. It’s like reverse psychology but with cards
Lowball in Tournament Play
Lowball poker has made a big splash in the tournament scene, especially at the World Series of Poker (WSOP). The WSOP hosts several popular lowball events each year, including:
$10,000 2-7 No-Limit Single Draw Championship
$1,500 2-7 No-Limit Single Draw
$10,000 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship
These tourneys draw big crowds and big names. In 2019, the $10,000 2-7 Single Draw event had 91 players and a prize pool of $855,400. That’s some serious dough!
Mixed game formats are where lowball shines. The $50,000 Poker Players Championship at the WSOP is a prime example. This high-roller event features nine games, including:
- 2-7 No-Limit Single Draw
- 2-7 Limit Triple Draw
- Razz (Seven-Card Stud Lowball)
Other mixed game tourneys like H.O.R.S.E. and 8-Game often include lowball variants. These events test a player’s all-around poker skills, making them a favorite among pros.
So, if you’re looking to mix things up and show off your lowball chops, these tourneys are where it’s at. Just remember, in lowball, the worst hand is actually the best
Online Lowball Poker
Online Lowball Poker isn’t as common as other poker variants, but you can still find it on some major sites. PokerStars and WSOP.com offer Lowball games, usually in the form of 2-7 Triple Draw.
These games are often part of mixed game formats like H.O.R.S.E. or 8-Game.The main difference between online and live Lowball is the speed of play.
Online, you might see 60-75 hands per hour, while live games crawl at about 30 hands per hour. This means online players get more practice and can play more hands in less time.
Another big difference is the player pool. Online, you’re more likely to face skilled opponents who’ve studied the game. Live games often have more recreational players who might not fully grasp the Lowball strategy.
Bet sizing can also differ. Online games usually have preset bet amounts, while live games can see some wild bet sizes from inexperienced players.
Lastly, online play lacks the physical tells you’d get in a live game. Instead, you’ll need to focus on betting patterns and timing tells to get reads on your opponents
Conclusion
Lowball poker flips the script on traditional poker, offering a fresh challenge for players looking to shake things up. Its unique appeal lies in the mind-bending twist of aiming for the worst hand, which can really mess with your poker instincts.
In the broader poker ecosystem, Lowball holds a special place as a skill-testing variant that’s gained traction in high-stakes tournaments like the World Series of Poker.
Whether you’re playing Ace-to-Five, Deuce-to-Seven, or Triple Draw, Lowball forces you to think differently and adapt your strategy. It’s not just a game; it’s a brain teaser that keeps even seasoned pros on their toes.
So next time you’re at the poker table, why not give Lowball a shot? You might just find that the worst hand is the best fun you’ve had in ages!
