How to Play 2-7 Triple Draw
Now that Poker Stars is spreading 2-7 Triple Draw, I might never go wandering from the site again. After all they are the largest poker room on earth, they rake less than the other rooms overall, and their VIP thingy is the equivalent of a decent rakeback program. The only other place to play this game that I am aware of is Ultimate Bet. UB does have some higher-stakes donkeys (who are actually good poker players) that like to jam this game with 3 and 4 card draws. But you can always find a game at Stars, something UB cannot boast.
To play this game correctly you need to play a tight-aggressive game and be willing to do some gambling. Your starting cards need to be three or more cards between 2 and 7 with at least one being a 2 or a 3. The exception being in the blind; if you only have to call one raise then you can call with two cards between 2 and 7 as long as one is not a 6. If you are going to play either raise or reraise - never just call unless it’s already been raised twice or you are in the blind with a three-card draw.
The 6 is a tricky starting card and you should usually lean towards not playing it in pots with two or more opponents. Heads-up against an aggressive player it is always worth playing. It is not a premium card though, and you will end up in tricky poker situations when playing it - even heads up. If you just want to play super-solid poker then just never start with it. That means tossing it from one-card draws and drawing two instead.
You must watch your opponent’s draws! This is the entire game. UB stickies their last draw next to their name, which is great. Stars doesn’t, which sucks - so you cannot multi-table there. Anytime you are before the last draw when your opponent draws more cards than you, always bet into them - no exceptions.
After the first draw, abandon any non-premium two-card draws. Call one bet only with premium two-card draws (2-7 with no 6). You generally want to be drawing only one card after the first draw.
Stop when you make an 8 or better and bet or raise until the last draw. If you get raised, slow down and call if all you have is an 8. If you have a 7 keep raising them. On the river check and call all 8-6 or 8-7 hands, and bet or raise 8-5 or better depending on the hand, action, and the last draw. You’ll get the hang of it. Most players bet 8-6 or better on the end.
Before the last draw if your lone opponent is drawing, stop with a jack or better. With two or more opponents stop with a 9 or better. Sometimes do tricky things to get your opponent to draw such as check-raising (or whatever you can think of) if you have a stopping hand. Also check or call good hands behind your opponent before the last draw to get them to think that you are still drawing, so they will stop with a jack or ten when you have a 9 or better.
Fun game!
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