Poker is one of the most popular card games in the world and there are many variations of it. One important aspect of playing poker is understanding what hand ranks higher than another. In this article, we will focus on one specific question – what is considered a low hand in poker?
In traditional high-hand poker games like Texas Hold’em, a low hand does not exist. The player with the highest-ranking hand wins the pot. However, in some other variations of poker like Omaha Hi-Lo and Stud Hi-Lo, there is a split pot where half goes to the player with the highest ranking hand and half goes to the player with the lowest ranking hand.
So, what makes a hand low in these games? In short, a low hand must meet certain criteria.
The most common rule for determining a low hand is that it must consist of five cards with no card higher than an eight. This means that any card with a value of nine or higher cannot be used in a low hand.
Let’s take an example to understand this better. Suppose you are playing Omaha Hi-Lo and you have been dealt 2♣️ 4♦️ 6♥️ 8♠️ A♦️. To make a low hand, you need to use any four cards out of these five that do not contain any card higher than an eight.
In this case, your best possible low hand would be 6-4-2-A-8 (the Ace counts as one in this case). Note that even though you have an Ace which is usually considered high value in traditional poker games, it can be used as a low card when making a qualifying low hand.
It’s important to note that there are different ways to qualify for a low hand depending on the game you are playing. Some games require players to have at least three different ranked cards below eight (e.g., A-2-3-4-8 is the best possible low hand in this case), while others allow for straights and flushes to be used in a low hand.
Now that we understand what makes a low hand, let’s take a look at how it is ranked. In games where there is a split pot, the lowest qualifying hand wins half of the pot. If there are multiple players with qualifying low hands, the player with the lowest ranking hand wins.
The ranking of low hands follows a specific hierarchy. The best possible low hand is A-2-3-4-5 (also known as a wheel or bicycle) and it beats any other qualifying low hand. If no player has a qualifying low hand, then the entire pot goes to the player with the highest ranking high hand.
In conclusion, understanding what makes a low hand in poker is crucial if you plan on playing variations like Omaha Hi-Lo or Stud Hi-Lo. A low hand must consist of five cards with no card higher than an eight and there are different ways to qualify depending on the game you are playing. Remember that the best possible low hand is A-2-3-4-5 and it beats any other qualifying low hand.
