Is the Ace Ever Low in Poker?

If you are a poker player, or even if you’ve only watched a few games on television, you have probably heard the phrase “ace high” or “ace low.” But what does this really mean Is the ace ever low in poker The answer is both yes and no, depending on the type of game being played.

Standard Poker

In standard poker games such as Texas Hold’em and Omaha, the ace is typically considered high. This means that it has a higher rank than any other card in the deck except for other aces.

If two players both have a pair of aces, for example, then the player with the highest kicker (the next highest card) wins. In this case, an ace would be considered high.

PRO TIP:When playing poker, the Ace is always high and never low. This means that it is the highest card in a straight, flush, or any combination of cards. An Ace-high hand beats any other hand with a lower ranking card.

However, there is one exception to this rule. In some lowball games such as Razz or 2-7 Triple Draw, the ace is actually considered low. This means that it has a lower rank than any other card in the deck and can be used to make straights and flushes with cards 2 through 5.

Other Variations

In addition to lowball games, there are several other variations of poker where the rules regarding aces may be different. For example:

  • In some community card games such as Omaha Hi-Lo or Stud Hi-Lo, there may be both high and low hands that can win at showdown. In these cases, an ace can be used as either high or low depending on which hand it is part of.
  • In some wild card games such as Deuces Wild or Joker Poker, certain cards may be designated as wild cards that can represent any other card in the deck. In these cases, an ace may be considered low if a wild card is being used to represent it.

Conclusion

So, is the ace ever low in poker The answer is yes, but only in certain variations of the game.

In standard poker, the ace is almost always considered high and has a higher rank than any other card in the deck except for other aces. However, in some lowball games such as Razz or 2-7 Triple Draw, the ace is actually considered low and can be used to make straights and flushes with cards 2 through 5. It’s important to understand these rules before playing any variation of poker so that you can make informed decisions about which hands to play and how to bet.