Playing High-Low (Split Pot) Seven Card Stud

High-low split pot is a form of seven card stud in which the highest hand and lowest hand split the pot. The eight or better simply means that the low hand needs five unpaired cards, with no card higher than an eight, in order to qualify for the low part of the pot. If there is no qualified low hand, the highest hand takes the entire pot. The object is to scoop or win both the high and the low. In home games there are many variations, such as declaring high or low and some games make the best or nut low a six-four instead of a "wheel". For this discussion, we will not explore the many hybrid variations but stick to the game that is normally spread in casinos and cardrooms which is the eight or better to qualify with an Ace, deuce, three, four and five wheel representing the nut low. Flushes and straights do not negatively impact the low hand. This means that a straight flush wheel is a monster to scoop the entire pot. Yes, there could be a higher straight flush to capture high but that would be very unlikely.

An interesting difference that separates straight seven card stud from its split pot cousin is that most of the chips go into the pot on the later rounds in split pot, while in straight stud the chips go in early with players trying to thin the field. In the early rounds of betting all low hands are betting on the come, as the earliest you can make a qualifying hand is on fifth street. The two best starting hands in high-low are rolled up trips and three cards to a low straight flush. The latter is my pick for best as it has the potential to scoop the entire pot, again that is the object of the game. Here is a caution to working toward a low hand – it may be counterfeited which would cause you to be quartered. What does that mean? It means that at the showdown if one player with the best high hand takes half the pot, and you have the same hand as another low player, the two of you split the other half which is only a quarter of the entire pot. This is not an occurrence in which you wish to participate.

Let’s take a look at some drawing odds to make a qualified low when starting with three low cards.

Odds Against Making a Qualified Low:

* Notice with four low cards and three to come you will be a favourite to make a low.

Strategic Concepts for Split Pot Stud

• High-low split is definitely a game of implied odds as two different hand values begin to appear there is often a lot of ramming and jamming. The pots become very large, very fast.
• An Ace which can be high or low is a very valuable card in split pot. An opponent who has an Ace as his door card cannot be accurately put on a hand. If you have a marginal holding and an opponent with an Ace up raises on third street, consider mucking your hand.
• With the main objective being to scoop the entire pot – one way hands go way down in value. A key point to remember is not to play marginal one way hands. If your hand can only win half the pot, make sure it is the favourite. This means chasing a low which has an eight or a high pair which, by the board, is already second place is folly.
• Here is a tip that might sound obvious but is regularly violated by inexperienced seven card stud high-low players. If you are holding what appears to be a definite one way winning hand, do not attempt to knock out opponents. You should be looking for volume not trying to get heads up.
• While this next concept may sound contrary to the last one, it is not. If you find yourself on fifth street with a strong high hand against two players who seem to be drawing for lows, you need to raise in hopes of having one of them give up and then hope the other does not qualify his low which will give you the entire pot. Always be exploring situations where you can increase you chances of scooping.
• Careful of the sixth street whipsaw. If a raising war erupts on sixth street and you still have not made your hand, take a moment to consider if folding is not your best option. Sixth street multiple raises normally indicate made hands so if you’re still drawing you better have many outs and those outs need to be to the nut hand(s).
• Calling on the end heads up: If your opponent appears to have a low hand you should call with most pairs hoping for a split.
• Never slow play a strong high hand when you do not believe a low hand has been made. Doing this may well allow a low hand or two to back into a qualified low hand necessitating sharing the pot. Play your strong high hands fast.
• The flip side to the above advice is if you believe a low hand has already been made, you do not wish to drive contributing players out. Since you realize you will be splitting the pot you would like it to be as large as possible.
• Just as in straight seven card stud, keeping track of live cards is critical. In split pot games tracking the low cards is very important, not only relative to their impact on your hand, but assessing the low draws of your opponents‘ hands.
• Sometimes an opponent’s board can be confusing as to which way his hand is heading. Try to watch to whom (a high or low hand) he is focusing to indicate which way he is going. Is he concerned about high or low hands held by opponents? With a little practice it can become fairly obvious what kind of hands all of your opponents hold or which way they are drawing.
• While three low starting cards are normally favoured, when playing shorthanded high hands go up in value as the likelihood of making qualified lows go down.

Conclusion

While both straight high seven card stud and the high-low version play the same in many aspects there are considerable differences. The strategic concepts listed above are intended to give the reader an appreciation of those differences while offering some guidance for winning play. Of the many poker playing attributes highlighted throughout this entire course, I believe the one that is key to success in high-low split is discipline. Pots can get very large quickly and the less disciplined players have trouble getting away from hands. They deceive themselves through pots odds and many times fail to understand that if they are only going to split the pot those odds need to be adjusted to reflect only half the pot. Also, through the ramming, jamming style that typifies most split pot games, to chase with marginal hands can become an expensive dalliance. Of course, the best time to exercise your discipline is on third street when deciding whether or not to play. High-Low Split is a game which demands premium starting hands to be played profitably.

Next Lesson: Additional Seven Card Stud Resources