If you have ever been around a casino or played a bit of poker, you’ve probably come across the deuce to seven rule. If you’re new to poker, though, I’m guessing you have little clue to what this actually means!
Well, as a bookie, we sometimes come across those placing bets on poker, so we need to keep up to date with poker trends and understand all the rules associated with the game.
That is why I have made this comprehensive guide on what the seven deuce poker rule is, also known as the deuce to seven rule.
Another name for this game is Kansas City Lowball. The deuce to seven rule is a special rule that is applied when making a low hand in this game.
It is essentially a form of lowball poker, where the objective is to make the lowest possible hand using five cards. In this game, straights and flushes are not considered as part of a hand and aces are always high.
Want to find out more about the seven deuce poker rules? Keep reading, and I’ll have all your questions answered by the end of today’s post.
Seven Deuce Poker Rules Explained
Often referred to as Kansas City Lowball, Deuce to Seven, or Deuce-to-Seven Low, is a type of lowball poker.
In this game, the goal is to make the best (lowest) possible hand, where the rank of hands is reversed. The name refers to this low hand – 7-5-4-3-2. After this, the next best hand is 7-6-4-3-2.
In the deuce to seven rule, the aces are the highest cards, unlike most other variants of lowball. In other types of lowball, you’d expect the Ace to count as one, but here, the two is the smallest card.
Because of this, hands such as 5-4-3-2-A do not result in a straight. If you wanted to make a straight with an ace, you would need A-K-Q-J-T.
The best possible hand of 7-5-4-3-2 is referred to as the “wheel.” Having an ace in a low hand makes it a high hand.
This means that a hand like A-2-3-4-5 would actually be considered a high hand, not a low hand. Therefore, it would not be considered a winning hand.
The deuce to seven rule is important to understand when playing poker, as it can greatly affect strategy and hand rankings.
With this rule, players aim to make the lowest possible hand, and the deuce to seven rule ensures that the best possible hand is the one with the lowest cards.
Understanding this rule is crucial to mastering deuce to seven and increasing your chances of winning.
Different Types Of Deuce To Seven
Altogether, you can play deuce to seven as Limited, Unlimited, and Pot Limit. It is also possible to play it in a Single or Triple Draw.
Both are very similar to one another, but a Triple Draw has three draws in the hand instead of just one, hence the name.
In Triple Jaw, you can “stand pat,” meaning you don’t have to discard any cards, on any or all the draws.
How To Play Deuce To Seven Triple Draw
Remember, the hand rankings in deuce to seven differ from other low games. Straights and flushes count against low hands, and aces are always high.
Below are deuce to seven hands, ranked from most powerful to least powerful. If you have the least powerful, you will rarely win the game, but if you have one of the most powerful hands, you are in for a good game!
Most powerful – 7, 5, 4, 3, 2
7, 6, 4, 3, 2
8, 6, 4, 3, 2
9, 7, 6, 4, 3
T, 6, 5, 4, 2
T, 6, 5, 4, 3
T, 7, 5, 4, 3
K, J, 8, 7, 4
A, 5, 4, 3, 2 (ace to high, not a straight)
A, 8, 7, 4, 2
A, 9, 6, 4, 2
2, 2, 7, 6, 5
5, 5, 5, 6, 3
7, 6, 5, 4, 3 (a lower straight)
8, 7, 6, 5, 4 (a straight)
Least Powerful – J, 7, 4, 3, 2 (a flush, all the same suit)
Blinds
Blinds is the term used for draw games that are played with forced bets when the player to the left of the dealer is posting a small blind. The player to their left then posts a big blind.
Small blinds are typically the same or half the size of the big blind. You may also find that lowball is occasionally played with an ante, too.
This is a bet that is small-forced and posted by all players as well as the blinds.
Dealing
Time to get down to business.
Deuce to seven begins when each player is dealt five cards, all facing down. A round of betting then takes place with the option to call, raise, or fold.
After the first round, players still left in the hand have the chance to draw. This is when each player chooses what cards they wish to get rid of by clicking on them.
After a second click on a card, it will be discarded from the set.
All five cards can be discarded if needed and, if you think you have a strong enough hand, you can decide to “stand pat.” This is when you opt to keep all of your cards.
The discarding of cards continues around the table in a clockwise direction. When it comes to your turn to remove a card, you simply press the button to confirm what cards you wish to keep or discard.
Once the first draw has occurred, a second round of betting takes place. This starts with the first active player to the left of the dealer or button.
A round of betting and two draws follows each one, which results in three draws and four rounds of betting.
At this point, if more than one player remains, a showdown happens. The player with the best hand then takes the pot.
Determining A Winner In Showdowns
To find a winner in a deuce to seven showdown, the player with the best five-card deuce to seven hand is crowned victorious. Once the pot has been awarded to the winner, a new game can begin.
Sometimes, two or more hands may hold equal values. If this occurs, the pot is split equally amongst these players. It is also important to note that for the purpose of distributing the pot, there is no rank of suit.
So, to sum up, here’s an example. The smallest hand has the smallest card, such as “a 2.” Yet, it also contains the highest card, being “a t” or “10.”
In this instance, the first-hand beats the second hand. This is why the highest card in your hand is deemed the most important of all.
In Summary
The seven deuce poker rules certainly take some time to understand, but once you do, you can include them in your bookie services.
I fully recommend playing it with some friends a few times to learn its fundamental rules. It’s good fun!
Find out more about PPH poker here.
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