Game rules for Seven Card Hi/Lo

Overview

Seven Card Hi/Lo is a split pot stud version of poker also known as Seven Card Studs Eights or Better. The game is played between two and eight players and is very popular in online and offline poker circles.

The Objective of Seven Card Hi/Lo

Players are dealt seven cards – three face down and four face up – and need to make their best five card high hand and best five card low hand, using any of the seven dealt cards. The pot is split between the player with the best high hand and the one with the best low hand.

Betting Rules in Seven Card Hi/Lo

The ante in Seven Card Hi/Lo is around one fifth of the low limit bet size and all players need to up the ante before a betting round commences. After all players have one card showing, the player with the lowest card needs to place the low limit bet into the pot: This is known as ‘bringing in’.

How to Play Seven Card Hi/Lo Poker

There are five betting rounds in total in Seven Card Hi/Lo. Players should pay special attention to the bets and raises, which change according to the round being played.

3rd Street Round: The dealer deals two cards face down to each player and another face up, and the player with the lowest hand ‘brings in’. Bets and raises are equal to the low limit bet size.

4th Street Round: The dealer deals another card to the players face up. If pairs are showing at this point in the game, bets and raises can equal either the low limit bet size or the high limit bet size. Otherwise, bets and raises continue to be the low limit bet size.

5th Street Round: Another card is dealt face up to all players. All bets and raises are equal to the high limit bet size.

6th Street Round: Another card is dealt face up to all players. All bets and raises are equal to the high limit bet size.

7th Street Round: A final card is dealt face down to all players. All bets and raises are equal to the high limit bet size.

The Showdown Stage

The final stage of the Seven Card Hi/Lo game is known as the showdown. Anybody still left in the game enters into the showdown stage, with the player who wagered last showing his or her cards first. At this point in the game, a player may choose not to show the cards and this is called ‘mucking it’. The pot is split between the player with the best high hand and the one with the best low hand.

Conclusion

Seven Card Hi/Lo is a popular stud version of poker, made even more interesting with its split pot features.