Online Poker » Dealers Choice Games » High Low

In most traditional poker games, the player with the best high hand wins the entire pot. However, in High-Low Poker games, the pot is divided between the player with the best high hand and best low hand. High-Low Poker games add an extra layer of strategy to traditional poker. You will have to pay attention to the possibility of winning the pot with either a high hand or low hand. Playing High-Low Poker is not difficult. You will find it is more exciting than traditional poker because you have an extra chance of winning the pot.

High-Low Poker Information

There are two different ways to play High-Low Poker. In a declaration game of High-Low Poker, players have to let everyone know whether they will be playing to win the pot with a high hand or a low hand. You have to make this declaration before the hand begins. At the end of the hand, the best hand out of those that declared they were playing for the low hand will win half of the pot. The best high hand out of those that declared they were playing for the high hand will win the other half of the pot. The other variation of High-Low Poker is called cards speak. Players do not have to declare what hand they are playing for in cards speak. Instead, everyone is eligible to win both the high hand and low hand when the cards are revealed at the end of the game. The cards are revealed in what is known as the showdown.

It is possible for one player to win both the low hand and high hand in High-Low Poker. A player with both the best low hand and high hand will be awarded the entire pot. The pot can be split if more than one player ties for the low hand or high hand. For example, if there is one clear low hand winner and two high hand winners, the low hand winner will be awarded half of the pot and the other half will be split.

There is generally some type of qualifier when it comes to evaluating the low hand in High-Low Poker. The most popular qualifier is the eight or better. This means that any cards over an 8 that are a part of a low hand do not qualify. For example, you cannot win the low hand if you have a 10-high hand even if your hand is the lowest. The high hand is awarded the entire pot if no low hands qualify.

High-Low Poker Strategy

Bluffing is very important in High-Low Poker. A player who is able to bluff and get all of the other players to fold will win the entire pot without having to split it. However, it is a lot harder to pull off a successful bluff because players will not want to fold and concede the entire pot to one player. You should always be aware of every move your fellow players are making to succeed in High-Low Poker.