Low Hands

This page is dedicated to discussing low hands.  It should provide you with plenty of information to get started.  The topic of low hands is often confusing, and many times resorts to "Just play, you'll figure it out".  Though that is certainly an option, having a basic understanding of how low hands work will save you money at the tables. 

Common Low Hand Information

A low hand is typically made up of 5 unmatched cards.  Unmatched basically means that none of the cards form a pair.  Furthermore, lower ranked cards are better.

In calculating your low hand, take the 5 lowest cards in your hand.  Out of those 5, look at the two cards with the highest numerical value.  By combining the numbers of those two cards, you get your low hand value.

For example, you hold K-J-8-6-4-3-2 in your 7 Card hand.  The 5 lowest cards are 8-6-4-3-2.  The two highest cards of those five are 8 and 6.  Your low is calculated as 86.

Most cardrooms require that a low hand meet certain criteria. The most common offering is what is called "8 or better", which means your low hand must be 87 or lower in order to qualify.  for example, a low hand of 9-7-4-3-2 is calculated as 97, and therefore would not be eligible for low in most public cardrooms. 

Finally, one common question is whether you can win both the high hand and the low hand, in the same round.  If you are playing a game that does have a high and low winner, then yes you can.  Most rules allow you to use any 5 of your cards to make the high hand, and any other grouping of 5 as your low.  For example, you hold 9-8-7-6-5-2-A.   You would have a high hand of 9-8-7-6-5 (straight), and a low hand of 7-6-5-2-A (76). 

Variations of Low Hands

There are three variations of low hands you will encounter.  The specific game you are playing will determine which type will be used.  The three different types are:

Ace-to-Five
Ace-to-Six
Deuce-to-Seven

Ace to Five Low Hands

Ace to Five low is the most common variation.  Aces are the lowest value card.  Straights and flushes are ignored (they don't count against the low).

The lowest possible low hand in Ace to Five is, as the name indicates, 5-4-3-2-A. (named a "wheel")

Ace to Six Low Hands

Ace to Six is similar in that the Ace is the lowest card, however straights and flushes count against the low. 

The lowest possible hand in Ace to Six is 6-4-3-2-A where at least two cards are different suits.  If they are all of the same suit, the resulting flush makes the hand ineligible for low.

Deuce to Seven Low Hands

In Deuce to Seven low, the Ace is considered high, so the Two is the lowest card.  Straights and flushes count against the low also. 

The lowest hand possible in Deuce to Seven lowball is 7-5-4-3-2, where at least two cards are of different suits.