Deuce to 7 Triple Draw is a poker variant that is normally played with between two and six players, due to the fact that the large number of draws can easily exhaust the cards in the deck if more players are involved. If the game is played as part of a mixed game rotation, seven or even eight players may participate, but one or two players sit out each hand, those being the players to the immediate left of the big blind.
Deuce to 7 Triple Draw is almost always played in a limit format, with a specific betting amount for all bets and raises that exists before the draw and after the first draw, which then doubles for the betting rounds after the second and third draws. Occasionally, the game is played spread limit, where players may bet any amount within a set range (e.g. $100-$500) on each round. Just as in Texas Hold’em, there is a small blind and big blind to the left of the dealer position. The big blind puts in an amount equal to the limit bet for the early rounds, and the small blind puts in an amount usually equal to half the limit bet (although the percentage may be somewhat less, depending on the stakes) before the cards are dealt.
After the blinds have been posted, each player is dealt five cards face-down, one at a time. The object of the game is to make the lowest possible five-card poker hand, with straights and flushes counting against the hand, and aces counting as high. Therefore, the best possible hand is 7-5-4-3-2, with at least two cards in the hand being of different suits. Each player can discard and draw up to five cards, up to three times, before the showdown.
After the cards have been dealt, the first round of betting begins with the player to the left of the big blind. This player can fold, call the amount of the big blind or raise the limit for that round. Subsequent players have the same options, with there usually being a maximum of three or four raises before the betting for that round is “capped.” Occasionally, in a heads-up situation, the venue may allow an unlimited number of raises.
Once the first round of betting is complete, the players remaining in the hand can either choose to “stand pat” (keep all their cards) or discard and replace between 1-5 cards. After the replacement cards have been dealt, a second round of betting begins, with the first player with cards starting the action. The betting takes place in exactly the same fashion as the first round.
After this round of betting is finished, a second draw takes place, followed by another cycle of betting, with the betting limits doubling for this round, and staying there for the remainder of the hand. When this round is done, a third draw takes place, followed by a final round of betting. When the action is complete, the hands of the remaining players are compared, and the player with the lowest poker hand wins the pot. The hands are judged based on the highest card present in each hand. If two players have the same highest card, their next highest cards are compared. If no player has a hand without a pair, the player with the smallest pair wins the hand. If two players have the same five card lowest hand, they split the pot.
Introduction to Deuce to Seven Triple Draw Rules
*An Introduction to How to Play Deuce to Seven Triple Draw*
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