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Uncle Bob's Left Nut, or UBLN, is played exactly like Five Card Draw, except that at the showdown the lowest card in each player's hand is wild for that player only. Aces count high, except when an ace is used as the low card of a five-high straight. Contributed by Grey Doffin, as published on pagat.com.
Also known as UBLN
Uncle Bob's Left Nut was contributed by Grey Doffin and published on pagat.com. It follows the rules of Five Card Draw in every respect except the wild-card rule in article 3.
The game uses a standard 52-card deck. The player limit is that of Five Card Draw.
The object is to win the pot with the best five-card high hand at showdown, or by making a bet that no other player calls.
Each player antes or the blinds are posted, and each player is dealt five cards face down.
There is a round of betting, a single draw in which each active player may exchange cards, and a second round of betting, all as in Five Card Draw.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Deal | Five cards face down to each player |
| First betting round | Before the draw |
| Draw | Players exchange cards as in Five Card Draw |
| Second betting round | After the draw |
| Showdown | Each player's lowest card is wild for that player |
At the showdown, the lowest card in each player's hand is wild for that player only. It may stand for any card the player chooses. A card that is wild in one hand has no effect on any other hand.
The wild card is fixed only at the showdown. Until then, drawing may change which card in a hand is lowest.
Aces rank high. An ace may count as low only when it is used as the bottom card of a five-high straight (5-4-3-2-A).
The source does not say whether, when a player holds two or more cards of the lowest rank, all of them are wild or only one. The dealer shall announce this before the deal.
With a wild card, five of a kind is possible. The source does not rank it; the usual practice is that five of a kind ranks above a straight flush. Otherwise hands are ranked by the standard poker hand rankings.
A wild deuce completes a straight flush
Player A: K♠K♦K♥7♣4♦. The lowest card is the 4♦, which becomes a fourth king: four kings.
Player B: 9♥8♥7♥6♥2♠. The lowest card is the 2♠, which Player B uses as the ten of hearts: a ten-high straight flush.
The straight flush beats four of a kind, so Player B wins.
The ace in a five-high straight
Player C holds A♠A♣3♦4♥5♠. One ace is counted low and used as a wild two, and the other ace completes the straight: 5-4-3-2-A, a five-high straight.
If more than one player remains after the second betting round, each player shows their hand, and each wild card is read in the way that gives that hand its best value. The best five-card hand wins the pot. Hands of equal value split the pot.
If all but one player folds at any point, the remaining player wins the pot without showing.
Every hand at the showdown contains a wild card, so every hand is at least one pair: the wild card can always pair the highest card.
Three of a kind with two low cards is especially strong. For example, Q♣Q♦Q♥5♠3♣ becomes four queens, because the three is wild.
When drawing, a player should consider which card will be lowest after the draw. A player who keeps a deuce knows that a deuce will be the wild card, whatever is drawn.
The lowest card in each player's hand, decided at the showdown. It is wild only for the player who holds it.
Only when it is used as the low end of a five-high straight (5-4-3-2-A). Otherwise aces are high and are not the lowest card.
UBLN is short for Uncle Bob's Left Nut, a Five Card Draw variation in which each player's lowest card is wild.
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.
Uncle Bob's Left Nut Rules · OPR-616 · officialpokerrules.com/uncle-bobs-left-nut/