For methods of splitting a pot, see split (poker)
In traditional poker games, the player
with the best traditional hand wins 0️⃣ the whole pot. Lowball variations award the pot to
the lowest hand, by any of several methods (see Low hand 0️⃣ (poker)). High-low split games
are those in which the pot is divided between the player with the best traditional hand
0️⃣ (called the high hand) and the player with the low hand.[1]
There are two common
methods for playing high-low split games, 0️⃣ called declaration and cards speak. In a
declaration game, each player declares (either verbally or using markers such as chips)
0️⃣ whether he wishes to contest for the high hand or the low hand. The lowest hand among
those who declared 0️⃣ low wins that half of the pot, and the highest hand among those who
declared high wins that half (for 0️⃣ further details, see declaration). In a cards speak
game, all players simply reveal their cards at showdown and the hands 0️⃣ are evaluated by
all players; high hand wins half of the pot and low hand wins the other
half.
Especially when 0️⃣ using the ace-to-five low method, it is possible for one player
to have both the low hand and the high 0️⃣ hand, and therefore win all of the pot (called
"scooping," "hogging" the pot, or "going pig"). In the event more 0️⃣ than one player ties
for either high or low, the pot can be further split into quarters or smaller
fractions. 0️⃣ For example, if one player has the high hand on showdown, and two other
players tie for the best low 0️⃣ hand, the high hand wins half of the pot and each low hand
wins only a quarter of the pot.
It 0️⃣ is common, especially in cards speak games, to
require a certain hand value or better to win the low half 0️⃣ of the pot, called a
qualifier. For example, in an "eight or better to qualify low" game, a player with 0️⃣ a
hand of eight-high or lower is entitled to win the low half of the pot (assuming his
hand defeats 0️⃣ all other low hands), but a player with a 10-high or 9-high hand cannot
win, even if his hand is 0️⃣ the lowest. In this case, the high hand wins the entire pot.
There is generally no qualifier to win high, 0️⃣ although one common variant is any pair/no
pair, where a hand of at least a pair is required to win 0️⃣ high and any hand with no pair
is required to win low.
In high-low split games where each player is dealt 0️⃣ more than
five cards, each player chooses five of his cards to play as his high hand, and/or five
of 0️⃣ his cards to play as his low hand. The sets may overlap: for example, in seven-card
stud played high-low split, 0️⃣ a player dealt 7-7-6-4-4-3-2 can play a high hand of
7-7-4-4-6 (two pair, sevens and fours) and a low hand 0️⃣ of 7-6-4-3-2 (seven-high).
See
also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
