Mixed game poker rules

Draw poker game instructions.

Learn the objective, drawing structure, and hand ranking for each game. Then jump directly into its visual starting hand guide.

One draw · five-card lowball

2–7 Lowball (Single Draw)

Make the lowest five-card hand. Aces are high, and straights and flushes count against you.

Winning goal

The best possible hand is 7-5-4-3-2 with at least two suits. Compare unpaired hands from the highest card downward; the lower high card wins.

How the draw works

Each player receives five cards. After the first betting round, players may discard any number of cards and draw replacements once. A final betting round leads to showdown.

Remember

Pairs, straights, and flushes weaken a hand. A hand such as 8-6-4-3-2 beats 8-7-4-3-2 because the second-highest card is lower.

Open 2–7 Lowball (Single Draw) starting hands

Three draws · five-card lowball

2–7 Lowball (Triple Draw)

Use the same deuce-to-seven ranking as Single Draw, but players have three opportunities to improve.

Winning goal

The best hand is 7-5-4-3-2 with no flush. Aces are high, while pairs, straights, and flushes count against you.

How the draw works

Players receive five cards and complete a betting round before each draw. They may discard and replace cards in three separate draw rounds, followed by a final betting round.

Remember

Strong starting hands usually keep three or four useful low cards. The extra draws make smooth low combinations more valuable than disconnected high cards.

Open 2–7 Lowball (Triple Draw) starting hands

Three draws · ace-to-five lowball

A–5 Lowball (Triple Draw)

Make the lowest five-card hand with aces playing low. Straights and flushes are ignored.

Winning goal

A-2-3-4-5, often called the wheel, is the best hand. Compare hands from their highest card downward, and avoid pairs.

How the draw works

Players receive five cards and may discard and draw replacements three times, with betting between each drawing round.

Remember

Unlike 2–7 lowball, an ace is excellent and a five-high straight does not hurt the hand.

Open A–5 Lowball (Triple Draw) starting hands

Three draws · four-card hand

Badugi

Build the lowest hand containing four different ranks and four different suits.

Winning goal

A-2-3-4 in four suits is the best Badugi. A four-card Badugi always beats a three-card hand, which always beats a two-card hand.

How the draw works

Players receive four cards and may draw three times. When ranks or suits repeat, only one of the conflicting cards can play in the final Badugi hand.

Remember

First compare how many cards play, then compare the highest playing card downward. A four-card king-high Badugi still beats every three-card hand.

Open Badugi starting hands

Three draws · split pot

Badacy

The pot is split between the best ace-to-five low and the best Badugi hand.

Winning goal

Use all five cards for the ace-to-five half and the best eligible cards for the Badugi half. A-2-3-4-5 is best for the five-card side; A-2-3-4 rainbow is best for Badugi.

How the draw works

Players receive five cards and may draw three times. At showdown, half the pot goes to each side; one player can win both halves and scoop.

Remember

Cards shown inside parentheses in the starting-hand guide form the Badugi group. Cards outside the group share a rank or suit conflict with that group.

Open Badacy starting hands

Three draws · split pot

Badeucy

The pot is split between the best deuce-to-seven low and the best Badugi hand.

Winning goal

Use all five cards for the 2–7 half and the best eligible cards for the Badugi half. Aces are high for the 2–7 side, where straights and flushes count against you.

How the draw works

Players receive five cards and may draw three times. At showdown, the 2–7 winner and Badugi winner divide the pot unless one hand wins both sides.

Remember

A starting hand must balance two different goals: a smooth five-card low and four useful cards of different ranks and suits.

Open Badeucy starting hands