In 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo 8 or simply called 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo, is played the same as 7-Card Stud except the pot is split equally between the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand.
8 or Better to qualify for low hand
A low hand must be five un-paired cards (with the highest card no greater than an 8).
A, 2, 3, 4, 5 is the best low hand (as straights and flushes do not apply to low hands).
The winning Low Hand (8 or better) is first decided by the player with the lowest High card. Upon a tie with the High card, the hand goes to the player with the next lowest High card. If the two highest cards are tied, then you move on to the third highest card etc. Any hand of 5 cards that contains card values of 9 or higher can NOT qualify as a low hand.
Omaha Hi/Lo is a very exciting game as players try to get a lock (sure-winner) on one side of the pot and gamble on drawing to the other side of the pot.
If there is no qualifying low hand, then the high hand wins the entire pot (100%). A single player can win (scoop) both the high and low hand.
Rules and Order of Betting Action for Texas Hold'em
- Ante-All players must post a small bet before the cards are dealt. This is commonly called the ante.
- Each player is dealt two cards face-down (private cards) and one card face-up (door card).
- First betting round - The lowest face-up card by rank and suit is forced to bet (bring-in) a minimal bet which starts the action on the first betting round only. The first raise only increases the money bet up to the lower limit level.
- Each player is dealt one card face-up. This is commonly called 4th street
- Second betting round - High hand acts first from this point (on each round) until the last card is dealt. If there is an open pair (two cards of same rank) showing, then player has the option of betting the lower or the higher amount of the limits.
- Each player is dealt another card face-up (5th street)---At this point the limit is raised to the higher limit amount.
- Third betting round - High hand acts first.
- Each player is dealt another card face-up. This is commonly called 6th street
- Fourth betting round - High hand acts first.
- Each player is dealt a last card face-down. This is commonly called the river card.
- Final betting round - High hand acts first.
- Players show or muck their hands. This is commonly called "the showdown".
All players must first ante before they receive their initial cards. There are five betting rounds in a complete game of 7 Card Stud, not including the ante.
The action is started by forcing the lowest up card by rank and suit to bet the amount that corresponds to the bring-in for each limit. The action then rotates clockwise and players must either call the minimum bet forced by the low card, or make the first raise, which only completes the bet to the lower value of the limit structure. Raises thereafter are of the exact amounts of the fixed limits for each betting round.
On the first round of betting, the low card by suit is required to initiate action with a minimum small bring-in bet. Suits are ranked: spades (highest), hearts, diamonds, clubs. On subsequent rounds, the high hand on board initiates betting action. If hands are tied, the player to the left of the dealer acts first. In all cases, the action prompts will inform the players as to who acts first.
ANTE AND BRING-IN STRUCTURE
| $20-$40 |
$5 |
$10 |
| $10-$20 |
$2 |
$5 |
| $5-$10 |
$1 |
$2 |
| $4-$8 |
$1 |
$2 |
| $3-$6 |
$0.75 |
$1.50 |
| $2-$4 |
$0.50 |
$1 |
| $1-$2 |
$0.25 |
$0.05 |
| $0.50- $1.00 |
$0.10 |
$0.25 |
Each bet and raise during the first two rounds of betting is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure, except the first raise simply completes the bet up to the lower limit. Bring-in in the $5-$10 limit is $2 and the first raise completes the bet to $5, then all bets and raises are $5 for the first two rounds.
The exception to this rule is if any player displays a pair with their 2 face-up cards on 4th Street. In this circumstance, all players have the option to bet either the lower limit or the higher limit. If a player bets the higher limit, then all subsequent raises must be made at the higher limit.
Each bet and raise during the last three rounds of betting is now increased to the value of the higher limit of the stakes structure. For example in a $5/$10 game, all bets and raises are $10 for the last three rounds (5th street, 6th street and the river).
One bet plus three raises (four total bets) is the maximum allowable number of bets per player during any particular betting round. This would consist of (1) a bet, (2) a raise, (3) a re-raise, and (4) a cap. The term cap is commonly used to describe the 3rd raise in a round since betting is then capped and cannot be raised anymore. Once the pot is capped (all raises being exhausted for this round of betting), then players will have only the option of calling or folding until the next betting round starts.
When players show their hands (the showdown), they may use any 5 of their 7 cards to make their best possible high hand and any 5 of their 7 cards to make their best possible low hand.
If no low hand qualifies then the highest hand wins the entire pot.
It is possible to run out of cards in 7-card Stud if all eight players stay until the last card is dealt. If this situation does occur (as rare as it may be), the dealer will turn one board card face-up and it will be used as a community card.