Mixed game poker rules

Mixed game poker instructions.

Compare each game’s objective, deal structure, and hand ranking. Open a complete guide for deeper explanations, common mistakes, and quick answers.

New to mixed games? Start with the mixed game poker overview

Family 01

Draw games

Players keep their cards private and exchange unwanted cards. Draw counts and betting provide most of the information.

D01

One draw · five-card lowball

2-7 Single Draw

Deuce-to-seven Single Draw is a five-card lowball game in which the lowest qualifying hand wins. Every card is private, players draw only once, and the number of cards each opponent exchanges becomes an important source of information.

Winning goal

The best possible hand is 7-5-4-3-2 with at least two suits. Aces play high, while pairs, straights, and flushes count against you.

How play works

Players receive five cards face down. A betting round is followed by one opportunity to discard and replace any number of cards. A final betting round leads to showdown if more than one player remains.

Remember

Compare unpaired hands from the highest card downward. For example, 8-6-4-3-2 beats 8-7-4-3-2 because the second-highest card is lower.

Read the complete guide Open 2-7 Single Draw starting hands

D02

Three draws · five-card lowball

2-7 Triple Draw

Deuce-to-seven Triple Draw uses the same lowball ranking as Single Draw but gives each remaining player as many as three exchanges. The extra draws reward hands that begin with several coordinated low cards and create repeated decisions about how many cards to keep.

Winning goal

Make 7-5-4-3-2 without a flush. Aces are high, and pairs, straights, and flushes all damage the hand.

How play works

After the initial deal and betting round, players may discard and draw. Betting follows each of the first and second draws, then a third draw is followed by the final betting round and showdown.

Remember

The number of cards drawn should usually fall as the hand develops. A player drawing one has a more developed hand than a player still drawing two or three.

Read the complete guide Open 2-7 Triple Draw starting hands

D03

Three draws · ace-to-five lowball

A-5 Triple Draw

Ace-to-five Triple Draw is a five-card lowball game in which aces are low and straights and flushes are ignored. That single ranking change makes many combinations that are dangerous in 2-7 excellent here.

Winning goal

A-2-3-4-5, known as the wheel, is the best hand. Pairs are the main structural problem because every rank should be different.

How play works

Players receive five private cards and may exchange cards three times. Betting occurs before the first draw and after each draw, with the lowest five-card hand winning at showdown.

Remember

Compare hands from the highest card downward. A 6-4-3-2-A beats 6-5-3-2-A because its second-highest card is a four rather than a five.

Read the complete guide Open A-5 Triple Draw starting hands

D04

Three draws · four-card lowball

Badugi

Badugi is a four-card lowball draw game. A complete hand needs four different ranks and four different suits; if ranks or suits conflict, only one of those cards can count toward the final hand.

Winning goal

A-2-3-4 in four different suits is the best Badugi. Any four-card Badugi beats every three-card hand, regardless of the ranks involved.

How play works

Each player receives four cards face down and may exchange cards in three separate draws. Betting takes place before the first draw and after each draw.

Remember

First compare the number of playable cards. If both players have the same card count, compare the highest playing card downward, with the lower hand winning.

Read the complete guide Open Badugi starting hands

D05

Three draws · split-pot lowball

Badacy (Badacey)

Badacy, also commonly spelled Badacey, is a five-card split-pot draw game. Half the pot goes to the best ace-to-five low using all five cards, and half goes to the best Badugi that can be formed from the hand.

Winning goal

The ideal five-card side is A-2-3-4-5, while the ideal Badugi side is A-2-3-4 rainbow. A perfectly coordinated five-card hand can compete strongly for both halves.

How play works

Players receive five private cards and draw up to three times, with betting between draws. At showdown each half is evaluated separately; one player may win both and scoop the entire pot.

Remember

A card can improve one half while harming the other. Strong decisions consider whether a replacement creates a real scoop opportunity rather than chasing only half the pot.

Read the complete guide Open Badacy starting hands

D06

Three draws · split-pot lowball

Badeucy

Badeucy is a five-card split-pot draw game. Half the pot is awarded to the best deuce-to-seven low and half to the best Badugi that can be made from the same five cards.

Winning goal

The best five-card half is 7-5-4-3-2 without a flush. In the common Badeucy ranking, aces are high on the Badugi side too, making 5-4-3-2 rainbow the best four-card Badugi.

How play works

Players receive five cards face down and have three drawing rounds. Betting occurs before the first draw and after each draw; both halves are evaluated separately at showdown.

Remember

Low, unpaired cards in different suits can serve both sides, but straight and flush concerns still apply to the five-card deuce-to-seven half.

Read the complete guide Open Badeucy starting hands

D07

One draw · traditional high poker

Five-Card Draw Poker

Five-Card Draw is a traditional high-hand poker game and a useful introduction to the draw format. Each player sees only their own cards, so betting patterns and the number of cards exchanged provide most of the available information.

Winning goal

Make the highest standard five-card poker hand, from one pair through a royal flush. Unlike the lowball games on Mixed Game Pro, ordinary high-hand rankings apply.

How play works

After antes or blinds, each player receives five cards face down. A betting round is followed by one draw, then a final betting round and showdown.

Remember

Standing pat means exchanging no cards. Drawing three often represents one pair, drawing one often represents two pair or a four-card draw, but opponents can vary their choices to disguise a hand.

Read the complete guide Open Five-Card Draw starting hands

D08

Three draws · qualified high-low split

Archie

Archie is a five-card triple-draw split-pot game with qualifiers on both sides. Under common rules, half goes to the best high hand of a pair of nines or better and half to the best ace-to-five low of eight-high or better.

Winning goal

Qualify for high with at least a pair of nines and for low with five unpaired cards ranked eight or lower. The strongest hands can win both halves and scoop.

How play works

Players post blinds, receive five private cards, and may discard and replace cards over three draws. Betting takes place before the first draw and after each draw, usually in a fixed-limit structure.

Remember

If only one side has a qualifying hand, that side normally wins the whole pot. High qualifiers and the procedure when neither side qualifies can vary, so confirm the posted house rules before playing.

Read the complete guide

D09

Three draws · Archie with a high-only community card

Ari

Ari is an Archie-style five-card triple-draw game with one extra community card dealt before the first betting round. That shared card may help form a player’s high hand, but it never counts toward the qualifying ace-to-five low.

Winning goal

Compete for the best qualifying high and the best private five-card eight-or-better low. Under common Archie rules the high threshold is a pair of nines, but Ari lineups may use another posted pair qualifier.

How play works

A community card is exposed before action, then each player receives five private cards. The hand proceeds through three draws and four betting rounds; the community card is available only when constructing the high hand at showdown.

Remember

The shared card can complete or strengthen a high hand but cannot rescue the low. Qualifiers differ across mixed-game lineups, so verify the high threshold and what happens when neither side qualifies.

Read the complete guide

Family 02

Stud games

Players receive a mix of face-down and face-up cards. Live-card awareness and visible board texture drive every decision.

Stud collection 01

Core Stud games

Foundational high, low, split-pot, and Super Stud formats.

S01

Seven-card stud · ace-to-five lowball

Razz

Razz is seven-card stud played for low only. Each player receives a mixture of hidden and exposed cards, then uses the best five-card ace-to-five low from their seven cards. There is no eight-or-better qualifier: the best low at showdown wins the whole pot.

Winning goal

Make the lowest five-card ace-to-five hand. Aces are low, straights and flushes are ignored, and A-2-3-4-5 is the best possible hand.

How play works

After the ante, each player receives two cards down and one up. The highest exposed card posts the bring-in. Fourth, fifth, and sixth streets are dealt face up, seventh street is dealt face down, and betting follows every street.

Remember

An unpaired low is compared from its highest card downward. A 7-5-4-3-A beats 7-6-4-3-A, and there is no requirement that the winning hand be eight-low or better.

Read the complete guide

S02

Seven cards · traditional high poker

Seven-Card Stud

Seven-Card Stud is a traditional high poker game with no shared board. Players receive seven cards over five betting streets—three hidden and four exposed—and use the best five-card poker hand they can make.

Winning goal

Make the highest standard five-card poker hand from your seven cards. Ordinary high-hand rankings apply, from one pair through a royal flush.

How play works

After antes, each player receives two cards down and one door card up. The lowest door card brings in. Players then receive three more upcards and a final downcard, with betting after every street; the big-bet limit normally begins on fifth street.

Remember

Most of the table’s cards are visible. Track folded and exposed ranks and suits because a draw may be live, thin, or already impossible before the river arrives.

Read the complete guide

S03

Seven-card stud · high-low split

Seven-Card Stud 8 or Better

Seven-Card Stud 8 or Better—often called Stud 8/b or Stud Hi-Lo—uses the normal stud deal but can award half the pot to the best high and half to the best qualifying ace-to-five low.

Winning goal

Make the best high hand, the best five-card eight-or-better low, or both. A qualifying low has five different ranks no higher than eight; aces are low and straights and flushes are ignored for the low half.

How play works

The deal follows Seven-Card Stud: two cards down and one up, then three more upcards and a final downcard, with betting on every street. At showdown, players may use different five-card combinations for the high and low halves.

Remember

If no player makes a qualifying low, the best high hand wins the entire pot. A-2-3-4-5 is the best low and can also make a five-high straight for the high half.

Read the complete guide

S04

Seven-card stud · unqualified high-low split

Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo Regular

Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo Regular—also called Stud Hi-Lo No Qualifier, Stud NQ, or Stud Q—splits the pot between the best high hand and the best ace-to-five low. Unlike Stud 8 or Better, the low side has no qualifying rank requirement.

Winning goal

Make the best standard high hand, the best ace-to-five low, or both. Because there is no eight-or-better qualifier, the best available low always receives half of the pot when two or more players reach showdown.

How play works

Players receive two cards down and one up, then three more upcards and a final downcard, with betting on every street. Bring-in and first-to-act conventions can vary in this game, so confirm whether the table follows high-card bring-in and low-board action or standard Stud 8 procedures.

Remember

A rough low such as a ten-low can still win half when it is the best available low. High and low are evaluated independently, and different five-card combinations may be used for each side.

Read the complete guide

S05

Seven-card stud · five-card opening and discard

Super Stud

Super Stud is Seven-Card Stud High with a larger opening decision. Each player begins with four downcards and one upcard, bets, then discards two downcards before the deal continues like ordinary stud.

Winning goal

Build the highest standard five-card poker hand from the seven cards held at the end. The expanded opening lets players select a stronger three-card foundation before fourth street.

How play works

After the ante, each player receives four cards down and one up. The lowest door card normally brings in; after third-street betting, every remaining player discards two downcards. Fourth, fifth, and sixth streets are dealt up and seventh street down, with betting after each street.

Remember

The two discarded cards are gone permanently and are normally folded face down. Your choice should account for the exposed boards, live ranks and suits, and the public story created by your door card.

Read the complete guide

S06

Super Stud · qualified high-low split

Super Stud 8 or Better

Super Stud 8 or Better combines the four-down, one-up opening of Super Stud with the high-low split rules of Stud 8. After the first betting round, each player discards two downcards and continues with a normal seven-card stud holding.

Winning goal

Make the best high hand, a qualifying five-card ace-to-five low of eight or better, or both. If no qualifying low exists, the best high hand wins the entire pot.

How play works

Players ante and receive four cards down plus one door card up. After the bring-in and first betting round, remaining players discard two downcards. Three more upcards and a final downcard follow, with betting on every street and separate high and low awards at showdown.

Remember

The opening discard should preserve realistic scoop potential. Different five-card combinations may be used for high and low, but the low must contain five unpaired ranks no higher than eight.

Read the complete guide

Stud collection 02

Advanced Stud variants

Specialty lowball, Badugi, split-pot, and Super Razz combinations.

S07

Seven-card stud · A-5 and 2-7 split

Razzdeucey (Razzduci)

Razzdeucey—also written Razzduci—is a seven-card stud split-pot game. Half the pot goes to the best five-card ace-to-five Razz hand and half goes to the best five-card deuce-to-seven low formed from the same seven cards.

Winning goal

Make the best A-5 Razz low, the best 2-7 low, or both. Aces are low for the Razz half but high and undesirable for 2-7; straights and flushes are ignored in Razz but count against the 2-7 hand.

How play works

The game is dealt like Razz: two cards down and one up, three more upcards, then a final downcard. Antes, a high-card bring-in, and five fixed-limit betting rounds follow the normal low-stud structure.

Remember

A-2-3-4-5 is the best Razz hand and 7-5-4-3-2 non-flush is the best 2-7 hand. Seven cards such as A-2-3-4-5-7 can support both nuts when the 2-7 combination is not a flush.

Read the complete guide

S08

Seven-card stud · Razz and Badugi split

Razzdugi

Razzdugi combines the seven-card stud structure of Razz with Badugi hand ranking. Half the pot goes to the best five-card ace-to-five low and half to the best four-card Badugi that can be selected from the seven cards.

Winning goal

Make the best A-5 Razz low and the best four-card Badugi. Aces are low on both sides; A-2-3-4-5 is the nut Razz hand and A-2-3-4 in four different suits is the nut Badugi.

How play works

Players ante and receive two cards down and one up, followed by three additional upcards and a final downcard. The highest door card brings in, the lowest visible low acts first later, and betting normally uses fixed limits.

Remember

There is normally no qualifier for either half. Card count comes first for Badugi, so any four-card Badugi beats every three-card Badugi even if the three-card ranks are lower.

Read the complete guide

S09

Seven-card stud · deuce-to-seven lowball

2-7 Razz

2-7 Razz is seven-card stud played for the best deuce-to-seven low. It follows the familiar Razz street structure, but aces are high and straights and flushes count against the final five-card hand.

Winning goal

Make 7-5-4-3-2 without a flush, the best possible 2-7 low. The lowest valid five-card hand selected from the seven cards wins the entire pot.

How play works

Players ante, receive two cards down and one up, then collect three more upcards and a final downcard with betting after every street. The high door card brings in and the lowest visible hand acts first on later streets.

Remember

Low-looking cards do not always form a strong hand. A non-flush A-2-3-4-5 is an ace-high hand, not a straight, because aces never play low in 2-7. By contrast, 3-4-5-6-7 is a straight and loses to every unpaired non-flush hand.

Read the complete guide

S10

Seven-card stud · 2-7 and Badugi split

2-7 Razzdugi

2-7 Razzdugi is a seven-card stud split-pot game. Half the pot goes to the best five-card deuce-to-seven low and half to the best four-card ace-high Badugi selected from the same seven cards.

Winning goal

Make the best 2-7 low, the best ace-high Badugi, or both. The ideal halves are 7-5-4-3-2 non-flush for 2-7 and 5-4-3-2 rainbow for Badugi.

How play works

The game follows a Razz-style seven-card stud deal: two cards down and one up, three more upcards, then a final downcard, with betting after every street. The high door card normally brings in and the lowest visible board acts first later.

Remember

Aces play high on both sides. Straights and flushes hurt the 2-7 half, while a Badugi requires unique ranks and suits; each half may use a different selection from the seven cards.

Read the complete guide

S11

Super Stud · Razz and Badugi split

Super Razzdugi

Super Razzdugi uses ordinary Razzdugi hand rankings with a Super Stud opening. Players receive four downcards and one upcard, bet, discard two downcards, and then continue toward separate A-5 Razz and Badugi awards.

Winning goal

Make the best five-card ace-to-five low and the best four-card Badugi. A-2-3-4 rainbow is a powerful shared core because it forms the nut Badugi and contributes to the wheel on the Razz side.

How play works

After antes, each player receives four cards down and one up. The high door card normally brings in; after the first betting round, players discard two downcards. Three additional upcards and a final downcard complete the seven-card holding.

Remember

Only downcards are discarded. The opening five cards let you select a coordinated three-card foundation, but visible dead cards and the suit of the fixed door card should guide that choice.

Read the complete guide

S12

Super Stud · ace-to-five lowball

Super Razz

Super Razz is ace-to-five Razz with the Super Stud opening. Players start with four downcards and one upcard, bet, discard two downcards, and continue through the remaining stud streets for the best five-card low.

Winning goal

Make the lowest five-card ace-to-five hand. Aces are low, straights and flushes are ignored, and A-2-3-4-5 is the best possible hand with no qualifying requirement.

How play works

Players ante and receive four cards down plus one up. The highest door card normally brings in; after third-street betting, every remaining player discards two downcards. Fourth through sixth streets are dealt up and seventh street down.

Remember

The expanded opening improves average starting quality, so relative hand strength rises. Keep the smoothest three-card low core while accounting for the ranks already exposed around the table.

Read the complete guide