Ace to 5 Lowball

The most common form of lowball poker is A-5 triple draw.

Play works similar to 5 card draw, the difference being that players try to make the best possible low hand, and there are three draws  instead of one. Since straights and flushes do not count, the best possible hand is A-2-3-4-5 regardless of suit.

Before the cards are dealt, the two players to the left of the dealer button (identified by a small d) must make forced bets(or ‘blinds’). The person to the left of the dealer pays the small blind and then the next person pays the big blind, which is double the small blind. These amounts are the table limits. The minimum bet in a hand is the amount of the big blind.

Once all the players are dealt their cards, the first of 4 rounds of betting starts and players have 3 options: fold their hand, call the big blind (bet equal to the big blind) or raise (bet a higher amount).

After all players have chosen their option, the players who stay in the hand can change or improve their hand by discarding up to 5 of their cards and getting the same number of new cards back. Alternatively, they can also choose to keep all their cards in their hand.

Next there is a second betting round (where players can check, raise or fold) followed by another chance to draw, followed by a third round of betting and the third and final draw.

There is then a final betting round followed by the showdown.  The pot is won by the player with the lowest hand at the showdown.