Seven Card Stud High-Low (8 or better) is played similarly to its namesake except that the best poker hands for both high and low share the pot at showdown. The game is played with an eight (8) or better low hand qualifier, meaning that in order for a hand to qualify as low it must contain five (5) cards with ranks equal to or less than that value. Aces however can be counted as both the lowest and highest card.

The player with the best five-card hand for high wins half the pot, and the player with the best hand for low wins the other half. In the event that no hand qualifies for low, the best hand(s) for high wins the entire pot. Determination of winners follows standard Hand Rankings. In the event of identical hands, the pot is equally divided between the players with the best hands. When comparing low hands, the lowest possible hand is [5, 4, 3, 2, A] (also known as a ‘Wheel’). The second lowest hand would be [6, 4, 3, 2, A]. The low hand with the lowest ‘high’ card is considered the winner. For example, [7, 6, 5, 4, 3] beats [8, 4, 3, 2, A]. Flushes and Straights do not affect the value of the low hand and can be used for both high and low hands.

Betting Structure for Stud Ring Games