Ace-to-Five Lowball

Ace-to-5 lowball poker derives its name from the fact that the best possible hand is 5-4-3-2-Ace. General Rules:

1. Each poker player receives five cards facedown. This is followed by a round of betting. Poker players must open this round either by folding or by betting.

2. Those players, who have decided not to fold, can replace cards in their hand to improve their hand. This action is termed the draw. Some of these poker games are played using an ante and one or more blinds. Usually, the limit doubles after the draw except in Northern California Lowball Poker.

3. In multi-hand poker pots, if the rounds are limited only one bet and four raises are allowed.

4. A new player? You can choose from the following two options:
a. Double the big hand and kill the pot
b. Wait for the big blind

5. If playing single-blind poker, you can be dealt cards even if you possess only half a blind. But then the following poker player must take the blind. Likewise, if the all-in poker player wins this poker hand or if he buys, then this player must either wait for the big blind to be due or take the bind on the next deal.

6. Half or more of a full blind can be used in single-blind games.

7. Note that if you decide not to take the blind, you will have to wait for the blind to be dealt in again.

8. Before the draw, you must take any face-up cards from seven and below. After the deal has been completed, you have to exchange any cad higher than a seven.

9. You cannot take an exposed card on the draw. Only after each and every poker player completes his draw, then and only then is the exposed card replaced.

10. You can draw up to four cards. If you wish to draw a fifth, you will have to wait until all the poker players finish drawing. If you are the last player, then you burn a card and take the one after it.

11. The best winning poker hand is 5-4-3-2-Ace and flushes and straights don't defeat your hand.

12. If it has been decided upon and the joker has been put in the deck, it is considered the lowest card which you don't have.

13. If you are playing a limited game, you aren't allowed to check or raise the wager.

14.7's Rule: If playing a limited game, the 'sevens rule' comes into play unless clearly stated to the contrary.
a. If you check a seven or higher and it turns out to be the winning hand, you cannot win any money on any bets after this has been disclosed and all action after the draw is void. But you can still win whatever was in the poker pot before the draw.
b. If your seven or above card loses, you lose not only the poker pot but also any other calls you had made.
c. But on the other hand, if after the draw it happens that there is an all-in-bet that amounts to half or less than a bet, the poker player holding a seven or better may call and win. But if some other poker player challenges your bet and loses, you don't get his money. He receives his poker wager back.
d. Note that all the requirements have been kept if the seven or better card completes to a full bet.