Hi-Lo (8) Hand Rankings

Omaha Hi-Lo (8) and Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo (8) are played just like the traditional “High-Only” games, all the way down to the showdown.

Then the pot is split equally between the best high hand, and the best qualifying low hand. The best hands are ones which give you a chance to “scoop” the pot or win both the high and the low hands.

would be such a hand, giving you a straight flush for the high hand and the best possible low hand.

Winning The High Hand
The best high hand is determined by the traditional high hand rankings which are :

High Hand Rankings

Royal Flush

The cadillac of poker hands a Royal Flush is simply an A-high Straight Flush.

Straight Flush

Any straight with all five cards of the same suit. Where two players both have a straight flush, the higher straight flush wins.

Four Of A Kind

Any four cards of the same rank. If two players share the same Four of a Kind, the fifth card (kicker) will decide who wins the pot, the bigger card the better. Four of a Kind is also known as “quads”.

Full House

Any three cards of the same rank together with any two cards of the same rank. This example shows Aces full Kings which is the highest full house. Where two playesr both have full houses, the higher 3-of-a-kind wins. If two players have the same 3-of-a-kind, then the highest pair wins. The Full House is also known as a “boat”.

Flush

Any five cards of the same suit which are not consecutive. The highest card of the five makes out the rank of the flush. If two flushes have the same top card, then the flush with the higher 2nd-to-top card wins, and so on.

Straight

Any five consecutive cards of different suits. The ace count as either a high or a low card. AKQJT is the highest straight, 5432A is the lowest straight (5432A is also called a “wheel”).

Three Of A Kind

Any three cards of the same rank. The higher Three of a Kind wins. If two hands have the same Three of a Kind, then the two kickers (unpaired cards) are used to break the tie. Three of a Kind is also known as “trips” and if you have a pocket pair in Texas Hold’em, and you form trips by the third card coming onto the board, this is known as a “set”.

Two Pair

Any two cards of the same rank together with another two cards of the same rank. The hand with the higher top pair wins. If the top pairs are equal, then the bottom pairs are used to break the tie. If those are also equal, then the kicker (unpaired card) is used to break the tie.

One Pair

Any two cards of the same rank. The hand with the higher pair wins. If the pairs are equal, then the kickers are used to break the tie, first by comparing the highest kicker, then the secnd highest kicker, and finally the lowest kicker.

High Card

Any hand that does not make up any of the above mentioned hands. If a hand does not fit in any other category, it is judged by high cards. Two hands are compared by taking the highest cards and comparing them. If those are equal, then the second highest are compared, and so on.

Winning The Low Hand
For a hand to qualify as a low hand, it must not contain any card higher than an 8. The low hand does not have to ‘make a hand,’ as it were, it just has to contain the lowest five cards made by all the players at the table. If no hands ‘qualify’ as a low hand (i.e. all hands contain a card higher than an 8), the highest hand will take the whole pot.

Remember straights and flushes do not count against your low hands but pairs do.

Here are the low hand rankings from lowest (best) to highest, remember the suits are irrelevant :

– known as a “wheel”

You should be getting the idea now, the hand rankings will continue through the deck but no low hand may have a card higher than an 8.

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