Playing 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo

7-card Stud Hi/Lo uses the same general rules as does 7-card stud, except that hands are valued in two ways, in terms of the high hand, and in terms of the low hand, each being worth half the pot. If you understand the rules of 7-card stud, then you should continue on to read the Hi/Lo rules below. If you are not familiar with 7-card stud, please view the 7 Card Stud Rules Guide.

Hand Rankings in 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo

7-Card Stud Hi/Lo poker is a 'split pot' game, where players' hands are ranked in two ways. The 'high hand' is the usual ranking of hands also used in Texas Hold'em, Omaha, 7-card stud and 5-card draw. For more on general poker hand rankings please view our poker hand rankings examples. 

The 'low hand' in Hi/Lo is significantly different from the 'high' hand strength, in that you do not want 'pairs' or 'full houses' or other 'high' poker hands; you want to make a hand containing five cards that are as low as possible and where none of the cards are of the same rank (meaning no pairs).

In deciding which low hand wins, the rule of '8 or better' applies. A low hand cannot have in it a card above 8, or else it does not qualify for the low hand. For instance, A2458 is a low hand, whereas A2569 is not. Note that 'straights' and 'flushes' do not count against low hands (of course, they still count for the high hand). Aces can be low for the low hand, and at the same time, high for the high hand. The ranking of the low hand is based on the highest card used in that low hand. For instance, 34567 is a better low hand than A3458. It is not permissible to use the same rank of card more than once in a low hand (meaning that a low hand cannot have pairs in it).

As 7-card stud hi/lo is a split pot game, the best high hand and the best low hand split the pot evenly. If two or more players have an equal low or high hand, the ½ share of the pot due to that type of hand will be further split amongst them. If there is no qualifying low hand (that is, no possible five card poker hand where all their cards are lower than 8), the entire pot is to be awarded to the winning high hand.

7 Card Stud Hi/Lo Variants

7 Card Stud Hi/Lo Stud is more or less always played using a limit structure (even though sometimes low-limit cash games will be played using a pot-limit structure). In limit, players must bet in pre-determined increments that are dictated by the structure of the game. For example, in a 15/30 stud game, players cannot bet except in increments of $15 on 'third street' and 'fourth street' (except when there is an open pair on fourth street, permitting a double-bet) and $30 on 'fifth street', 'sixth street', and 'seventh street'. In limit 7 card stud, betting is usually capped at a bet and 3 raises (4 bets in total).