HOME

How to Play Stud 8 or Better Poker

Stud 8 or Better is also known as 7 Card Stud High/Low, and it is a split pot variation of 7 card stud. In most ways it is similar in structure to 7 card stud . However, in Stud 8 or Better, the high hand winner must split the pot with the player with the best qualifying low hand. There is always a high hand, but not always a low hand. For a hand to qualify as low, it needs to be comprised of five denominations no higher than an eight. Any five of your seven cards may be played for the high hand, and any five can be played for the low.

More rules on the qualifying low hand: Aces are played both high and low. Straights and flushes do not disqualify a hand for low, which means a player ending with 5 4 3 2 A would have an unbeatable low hand, as well as a 5 high straight to play for the high hand. This hand stands a good chance of taking the whole pot. In this example, the player could also have another hand that is higher than the 5 high straight to play for high. A strategy to keep in minds when playing Hi/Lo poker games : in split pot games there is a big difference between winning half the pot and "scooping" it all. Scooping the pot is a healthy boost to your stack of chips. But getting half of the pot will you barely ahead of where you were before you started playing the hand. The goal should always be to scoop the pot, so don't chase hands that won't accomplish this.

 

HOME