Low Hands in Poker
There are several poker games that use different card rankings than those described above. These games include "low" games, where the object is to create the lowest ranking hand. Not all games involving "Low" hands are played the same, so players must clarify how the rankings work before playing. Often, Flushes and Straights do not count as a hand and Aces are usually able to be counted as a "low" card. However, this is not always the case.
The hand rankings are usually as follows (straights or flushes are not counted).
No Pair
The best possible hand is a Five high straight (since straights and flushes do not count). Tie breaking is the reverse of the normal poker game. The highest cards in each hand are compared with the lower value of the two winning. Should those cards be equal, the next highest cards in the hands are compared with the lower value of the two winning. This process continues until one hand is determined the winner or the hands are shown to be equivalent.
Examples:
7-5-3-2-A beats 7-6-3-2-A (the 5 is a lower value than the 6).
8-7-3-2-A beats 8-7-4-2-A (the 3 is a lower value than the 4).
9-8-7-6-4 beats 9-8-7-6-5 (the 4 is a lower value than the 5).
K-Q-3-2-A beats K-Q-7-6-A (the 3 is a lower value than the 7).
One Pair
The lower value pair wins. If the pairs are the same in each hand, the highest remaining card in each hand is compared the lower value card wins. This continues until one hand is determined to be the winner, or the hands are shown to be equivalent.
In "Low Hand" games, the tie breakers for the high hand versions of poker are used, except that they are reversed with lower ranking cards winning.
In some "Low Hand" games, like Deuce to Seven Triple Draw, Straights and Flushes Do count. And Aces are counted as high only. In this game, the best possible hand is 2-3-4-5-7, hence the name of the game.
Eight (8) or Better Rankings - Low Hands
In some "Split-Pot" games, there can be two winners for each hand. The high hand wins as well as the best "qualifying" low hand. A qualifying hand for the "low" portion of the pot must contain five cards ranked 8 or lower. Non-qualifying hands do not win the low portion of the pot, even if the hand is the lowest at the table.
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