Hi/Lo Poker and Lowball Rules

Some of the biggest action poker games are hi/lo games, games where the best hand splits the pot with the “worst” or best low hand. Since most hands have the potential to make either some kind of high or some kind of low hand, there are often multiple players invested in each pot.
If you’ve learned the Texas holdem rules and advanced to Omaha or Stud, then it might be time to look into lowball or split games.

Stud Hi/Lo

In stud high/low the objective is to make your best five-card high and low hands with the seven card you are dealt. In Stud 8, your low hand must be 8 low or better to qualify for the low half. Sometimes you can scoop both halves of the pot. This most commonly occurs with low straights and flushes, since these types of hands do not count against your low, but you can also use different combinations of your seven cards to make a high and a low. For example, a hand of Ad As 4d 4h 2c 6h 3h might win with an 6 4 3 2 A low and aces and fours for high.

Omaha Hi/Lo

In Omaha hi/lo, an 8 low or better is always required to win the low half of the pot. Since you must use exactly two hole cards and three board cards, players know that if there are not three cards on the board that are 8 or lower, no low is possible. A2 is a very powerful holding in Omaha hi/lo, since any three low cards give this player the nut low as long as no ace or deuce appears on the board. However, almost every typical Omaha hi/lo player will play any hand containing an A2, so you run the danger of splitting the low and being quartered.

All Low Games

Games that are played entirely for low include California lowball, which is five card draw played with typical low rules, so that A 2 3 4 5 is the best low, and Kansas City lowball, which uses accurate poker rankings, so aces are high, as are straights and flushes. In Kansas City lowball, 7 5 4 3 2 is the best hand. Another all low game is Razz, which is played just like seven card stud hi/lo except low only, and an eight or better low is not required to win.
Many sites online offer these games. Search for the best promotions, like players only bonus, and test you hi-lo skills.