Lowball Rules

Lowball is a form of draw poker in which the player with the lowest hand wins. Five cards are dealt face down to each player and there is a round of betting. If a player does not make a bet at this stage he must fold his hand. Players remaining in the hand are then given the opportunity to draw replacement cards in order to make a better hand. There are several variations of lowball and the best hand depends on the variation being played. Subsequent sections of this rule book provide details of two of the most popular variations - A-5 Lowball and 2-7 Lowball. Generic rules pertaining to most games are presented below.

19.1 The misdeal rules described in previous sections (for Texas Hold'em and other button games) also apply to Lowball.

19.2 One bet and four raises are allowed inn a limit game with multi handed pots.

19.3 New players joining a Lowball game can opt to wait for the big blind or kill the pot for a sum equal to twice the amount of the big blind.

19.4 If a player has less than half a blind in a single-blind game, they may receive a hand but the next player must pay the blind.

19.5 Further to the previous rule, should the all-in player win or rebuy then they must pay the blind for the following hand or sit out of the game until the big blind reaches them.

19.6 In a game with a single blind, an all-in of a sum equal to half a blind or more is treated as a full blind.

19.7 In a game with a single blind, if a player fails to pay the blind they must sit out of the game until the next blind.

19.8 In a game with multiple blinds, if a player fails to pay the blind they must sit out of the game until the big blind or kill the pot to be dealt in immediately.

19.9 In a game with multiple blinds where a player has made the blinds and moves to another seat, that player may be dealt into the game as soon as he is in the same relative position he was in before the move. Such a player may allow the blind to pass his seat once without suffering any penalty.

19.10 Players are allowed to draw up to four cards. Any player who wants to draw five new cards will be dealt four of them at once and the fifth card will be dealt after the other players have drawn all of their cards.

19.11 Further to the previous rule, if the last player wants to draw five new cards then four will be dealt, one card will be burned and then a fifth card dealt.

19.12 Should less than five cards be dealt to any player before the draw, that player will be dealt additional cards unless action has already been taken. If action has been taken then additional cards will be dealt on the draw to rectify the error.

19.13 After the draw, any hand consisting of more or less than five cards is a foul hand.

19.14 If a player wants to change the number of cards he has elected to draw, he may do so unless he has already been dealt cards from the deck or another player has already acted in light of his earlier declaration.

19.15 If a player asks an opponent how many cards he has drawn and no action has been taken by any player after the draw, he must respond. The dealer is also obligated to respond.

19.16 Further to the previous rule, if action has been taken by any player after the draw, no response from the player or dealer is necessary.

19.17 A player who raps on the table is signifying that he passes or does not want to draw any cards.

19.18 Players should allow their cards to speak for themselves. If a player deliberately or inadvertently miscalls their hand and causes an opponent to foul their hand, their hand will be declared dead.

19.19 Players should retain their cards until they have seen the cards of their opponents so they can avoid fouling a winning hand.

19.20 A player who has decided to spread a hand containing a pair must declare "pair". If he does not do this and another player fouls his hand as a result, his hand may me declared dead.

19.21 No-limit and pot-limit Lowball games are governed by the no-limit and pot-limit rules presented in a later section of this rulebook, with the following exceptions:

19.22 Check-raising is permitted.

19.23 In A-5 Lowball, a player who has a A, 2, 3, 4 or 5 card which is exposed must retain it. A player with any other exposed card must have that card replaced.

19.24 In 2-7 Lowball, a player who has a 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 card which is exposed must retain it. A player with any other exposed card (including a 6) must have that card replaced.

19.25 Any exposed card after the draw will be replaced.

19.26 A player may check any hand after the draw without being penalised.