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Poker Dictionary – California Lowball

Poker Dictionary lovers, here’s an article that will help you familiarize yourself with the extraordinary world of poker. This time, it is ‘California Lowball.’ Now you may wonder, why are we so obsessed with California? Mind you, these are just two terms associated with California, California Games and California Lowball. 

California Lowball is also known as Ace-To-Five Single Draw Lowball Poker, a draw game where the player with the lowest hand wins. Low Hand is described as a poker hand that is made as part of a low hand ranking system.  In Lowball, aces are low, and straights and flushes are not to be considered. There are various Lowball forms, including Deuce to Seven or Kansas Lowball and Ace to Five or California Lowball. In this format, the rules are very similar to standard poker. Let’s take a look at what’s different from the standard game.

ALSO READ: Poker Dictionary-Call

Players must know that Lowball is a fixed limit game. However, you could also double the minimum bet after the draw. In Lowball, the game can be played using the joker card. The joker card represents the lowest ranking card, not in hand.

Antes and Blinds

California Lowball is played with blinds. The dealer pays the small blind and the two players directly to the dealer’s left put out the big blinds. The big blind is equal to the minimum bet. 

What are the best possible hands?

The best possible hand in California Lowball is 5-4-3-2-A, while in Kansas Lowball, the best hand is 7-5-4-3-2. 

Gameplay

The game starts with five cards being dealt to the players upside down. After a round of betting, an ante betting begins with the player directly to the dealer’s left. The dealer pays the small blind and the two players directly to the dealer’s left put out the big blinds. The big blind is equal to the minimum bet. While playing with blinds, they are counted as initial bets. So, the player who is on the left of the player who puts the last big blinds begins the betting. The players who are the big blind can also raise the bet.

After the first round of betting, players may discard as many cards, and the dealer gives replacement cards to them. The second round of betting begins, with the first active player left to the dealer. 

Poker players, this is just one term in the ocean of terms and phrases used in poker globally. For more such quirky terms, keep reading Gutshot Magazine. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Telegram.

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