Hey Guys,

I've never posted in this forum, but I browsed it a bit lately. I hope this question isn't too basic or vague.

I'm looking to play in this series event, the 5k rebuy 2-7 single draw NL event, because I think the field will be small and it's a good chance to win a bracelet.

Anyways, I have no idea how to play lowball. Any kind. I read the FAQ and found http://wiki.lowballgurus.com/article/Main_Page and http://www.lowballgurus.com/

It looks like there is less out there on NL single draw than limit triple. I see that I can play nl triple draw on stars, but thats the only place I see it, and it's not even single draw.

Anyone have some suggestions of where I can play/learn? Will learning 7-2 limit triple draw and having a good understanding of big bet poker be good enough, or are the games much different? From the little I know, it seems that in NL, the value of medium strength made hands goes down and the value of strong draws goes up, because of implied and reverse implied odds.

Any info would be appreciated. Feel free to spam me with coaching offers too.

If you want, you can turn this into a thread about the differences between NL and limit 2-7 (or triple and single draw).

Thanks guys.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to remember when single lowball draw was the game played in poker casinos in the Los Angeles area (Gardena). I think they mostly played it with a 53 card deck that included a joker.

I don't recall seeing it played in any casinos I have recently visited. (Maybe I just missed it). But I imagine there are plenty of old sharpies who played it a lot and who remember it well.

Read the section on lowball single draw in Super System 1 as a starter.

Good luck.

Buzz

you would learn more in my opinion, playing PL / NL 5 card draw than limit TD.

Apart from that I think your best shot is to gather a couple of your poker buddies and play it a bit.

1) Does Games Grid still have NL 2-7 tourneys?

2) Also, I would definitely check out the ESPN telecast of the 2-7 event that was never shown on TV. You would probably play against many of those players and might pick something up on their play in addition to picking up a little bit about the game in general.

3) PL/ NL Poker by Ciaffone/Reuben has a section on 2-7 NL Single Draw. Also SSI like another poster mentioned.

I think you need to get a set of starting hand requirements down. Learn some of the math and inticacies. But in the end, its a pure poker game. Most often it simply comes down to, "Does he have it?" You should do very well...your experience in high stakes big bet poker will certainly benefit you greatly. Good luck.

Sweet. Thanks for the suggestions guys.

I definitely have SS1 and PL/NL Poker somewhere. I'll check them out soon

While the field may be very small compared to many other Events, it will still be filled with plenty of the world's best pokerplayers. In fact, I expect the average player strength in this event to even be ABOVE the 50k HORSE, and definitly above any other event played. NL 2-7 Single Draw isn't played very frequently anymore, and many young players don't particularly care much about it.

Of course its going to be a strong field. But there were be alot of overrated TV pros in there as well. Not sure if you know who OP is...but if he really takes some time out to give this game some study and practice he will have just about a good a chance as anyone in this small field.

i would play some NL/PL triple draw and (as seb suggested) some PL 5cd, just to get a feel for NL draw games. i've never played single draw 2-7, but i would think the main difference between it and triple draw is just the average stength of hands. Pat J7654 is probably a good hand in single draw, but it's pretty worthless in triple draw.

i bet NL single draw 2-7 is really a hell of a game. i bet you'll learn it fast and from then on it will just be poker.

yeah...but remember that NL draw games are very much games of position. on the button you might be able to play mediocre pat hands liberally, because as soon as your opponent(s) discard(s), you will know your approximate odds of having the best hand on the end, and will likely be able to check behind or safely fold postdraw. hands become much harder to play out of early position for obvious reasons. C/R will probably be a much less powerful option, since LP players always threaten to check behind, and there are only 2 streets.

You can also look for the 2004 WSOP final table of this event on pokertube. It was never aired on ESPN, but it was on the DVD I think. The final table is Zolotow, Lederer, Barry G, Chau, Lyle Berman, Ferguson and Will Wilkinson (some CA card room owner who has FT'd this event several times) so you should get some insight into how the pros are playing at least towards the end. This is also an event Jen Harman won having never played before after a quick lesson from Lederer so I think a little knowledge of the game and pure poker skill which you obv have will go a long way. GL.

Winning Poker Systems by Norman Zadeh has a lowball chapter.

Hmm, I watched the 2004 final table yesterday. The game didn't see to have that much room for strategy compared to triple draw, at least, though that might be biased due to editing. Kind of like if there was a flop-only form of Hold'em. I'm sure it's no cinch to master but there just doesn't seem to be as much room for intricate decision making that can occur on multi-street games. As it doesn't make interesting TV or have much appeal to amateurs, there won't be much money in it either.

Going after the bracelet pureply for pride or some sort of prop bet?

I remember 2 years ago during the 2006 WSOP, probably the first time I had seen this game being covered by CardPlayer/PokerWire and the other sites covering the WSOP. The play in the tournament even by top players was a little bit confusing to say the least. I didn't know much about the game other than a made J being a favorite against 1 person drawing and a made 9 being a favorite against 2 people drawing. But the Pros, especially Men Nguyen who somehow took 4th place played terrible. Maybe NL 2-7 draw in a tournament plays differently but yeah some of the plays were definitely very questionable.


Men calls a button raise from the BB and draws 2 the tries to bluff Alaei off a pat hand. If Alaei is snowing Men probably has the best hand; I doubt Alaei is folding any made hand after seeing Men draw 2.
http://www.pokerwire.com/results.php...-pot&uid=20894

Matusow pats a smooth K when all the money went in preflop anyways so this play makes no sense.
http://www.pokerwire.com/results.php...usow&uid=20904

And this: http://www.pokerwire.com/results.php...usow&uid=21033

Allen Cunningham breaks a made 8? (at least according to the reporting) http://www.pokerwire.com/results.php...lzer&uid=21042

Another Men Nguyen play: http://www.pokerwire.com/results.php...s-up&uid=21074

I'm not sure why you would check/call with your made J instead of moving all in after the draw. I'm not even sure why David Williams is bluffing at a pot when he cannot beat a J-low.

Not sure whil Phillipe Rouas is but his play here is pretty bad too. Not sure why he didn't reraise to try and get one of them to fold and it's pretty obvious that he doesn't have a great hand when he just flats the SB and stands pat.
http://www.pokerwire.com/results.php...-pot&uid=21126

Here he let's David Williams draw 4 (Williams said he had Quad 9s) when he only drew 1. http://www.pokerwire.com/results.php...-low&uid=21136

Again just flat calling with a made 10 and standing pat. http://www.pokerwire.com/results.php...-pot&uid=21145

Is David Williams value-betting this or bluffing?
http://www.pokerwire.com/results.php...aise&uid=21173

Some of these have to be misreported.