2-7 TD question - How do I play this hand?

[spex x]

I was recently dealt 3456A in the BB in an unraised pot. I tossed the A and the 6, was this correct or should I have kept the 6? I figured that if I kept the 6, the best hand I could make is an 86543, which I figured wouldn't have been good enough in a family pot. Maybe this assumption is wrong? Too tight? Maybe the 86 would have been good since there were no raises? Maybe I should have raised? Any thoughts would be helpful.

[MarkGritter]

I would definitely dump the 6 here. The only way this becomes a playable hand the 2nd round is by catching an 8, 7, or 2. You want to maximize your chance of that happening on the first draw.

Further, if you catch a 7 or a two on the first draw you will have to dump the 6 anwyay. The only time the 6 helps you is if you catch an 8 or maybe a 9. You might be in OK shape without the 6 if you catch these cards, though.

On the last draw it's not as clear, against a one-card draw your 6 does help a bit (although twodimes doesn't correctly handle A2345 so the numbers may be a bit off). This example is killing off two of your disaster cards, too.

<font class="small">Code:</font><hr /><pre>
5-card Draw 2-7 Lowball: 1892 enumerated outcomes
cards win %win lose %lose tie %tie EV
2s 7c 3d 4h 1154 60.99 738 39.01 0 0.00 0.610
6c 4c 3c 5d 738 39.01 1154 60.99 0 0.00 0.390

5-card Draw 2-7 Lowball: 79464 enumerated outcomes
cards win %win lose %lose tie %tie EV
2s 7c 3d 4h 54114 68.10 25296 31.83 54 0.07 0.681
4c 3c 5d 25296 31.83 54114 68.10 54 0.07 0.319
</pre><hr />

Simulations results for drawing to an 8 (i.e., not keeping a 9 on the 2nd or 3rd draw, you are OOP after all).

Without the 6: 8% chance of making a wheel, 31% chance of an 875 or better, 37% of a 9 or better, 71% of ace-high or better.

With the 6: 4% chance of making a wheel, 28% of an 875 or better, 35% chance of a 9 or better, 67% of ace-high or better.

[This is actually comparing 345KA w/ 6 dead vs. 3456A w/ K dead, since my simulator's not set up to look at all possible 345 and 3456 draws or toggle the handling of 6s.]

[Chris Daddy Cool]

your thinking was good here. one of the most often misplayed hands i think in 2-7 is 3456. people think of it as a one card draw but its a one card draw to a 34568 and going to cause you a lot of trouble. the main problem is that if you catch a 2 or a 7 you have to ditch the 6 anyways so might as well get rid of it while you can to improve your chances at the 2 or 7 right away.

[spex x]

sweet, thanks guys.

[dibbs]

I play the same.