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Five Card Double Draw High-Low is Five Card Draw with two draws instead of one, and a split pot. After three betting rounds, the highest hand and the lowest hand share the pot. Players do not declare which way they are going: the cards decide.
Also known as Double Draw High-Low
This variant of Five Card Draw for three to five players was contributed to pagat.com by Chris Hood.
It uses a standard 52-card deck with no wild cards.
High hands are ranked by the standard poker hand rankings. Low hands are ranked ace-to-five: aces count low, and straights and flushes are ignored. The best low hand is A-2-3-4-5. See Ace-to-Five Lowball for how low hands compare.
| Stage | Action |
|---|---|
| Deal | Five cards face down to each player; first betting round |
| First draw | Players discard and draw; second betting round |
| Second draw | Players discard and draw again; third betting round |
| Showdown | Highest and lowest hands split the pot |
Each player antes and is dealt five cards face down. A betting round follows.
Each remaining player may discard cards and receive replacements, as in Five Card Draw. A betting round follows.
There is then a second draw on the same terms, followed by a third betting round.
The source does not limit the number of cards that may be drawn. Any limit shall be announced by the dealer before the deal.
If the deck runs out during the second draw, the discards are shuffled and used to complete the draw.
After the final betting round, all remaining players show their hands. The best high hand and the best low hand split the pot equally.
There is no declaration. Every hand competes for both halves, so a player may win the low half without trying, or vice versa.
One hand may win both halves. A-2-3-4-5 is the best low, and it is also a five-high straight for high, which may be the best high hand as well.
The source does not say who receives an odd chip. The usual practice in split-pot games is that it goes to the high hand.
A split between two players
Three players reach the showdown. A holds 9♠9♥9♦4♣2♣, three nines. B holds 7♥5♦4♠3♣2♥, seven-high with no pair. C holds K♠K♦8♥8♣3♦, two pair.
A's three nines are the best high hand. B's 7-5-4-3-2 is the best low hand, since both other hands contain pairs. A and B each take half the pot; C wins nothing.
No. All hands are shown and the cards decide. The highest hand and the lowest hand each take half the pot.
No. For low, straights and flushes are ignored and aces are low, so A-2-3-4-5 is the best low hand.
Yes. A-2-3-4-5 is the best low and also a straight for high, so it can take the whole pot.
Where any doubt remains in the application of this document, Rob is right.
Hand rankings, high to low: royal flush · straight flush · four of a kind · full house · flush · straight · three of a kind · two pair · one pair · high card. Suits never break ties.
Five Card Double Draw High-Low Rules · OPR-600 · officialpokerrules.com/double-draw-high-low/