Stud Hi-Lo Rules

Overview

Stud Hi-Lo, most commonly played as Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo (also called Seven Card Stud Eight or Better), is a split-pot variant of stud poker. The pot is divided equally between the highest-ranking high hand and the best low hand that qualifies (an eight-low or better). If no low hand qualifies, the entire pot goes to the high hand.

Dealing and Betting Structure

Each player receives seven cards throughout the hand, but only the best five-card hand (for high) and the best five-card low hand (using any five of the seven cards) are used.

• Third Street: Each player is dealt three cards: two face-down (hole cards) and one face-up (door card). The player with the lowest exposed card (by rank; ace is low for bring-in purposes) is forced to make a bring-in bet, typically a small fraction of the small bet. Play proceeds clockwise, with players calling the bring-in, folding, or completing to the small bet.
• Fourth Street: One face-up card is dealt to each remaining player. Betting begins with the player showing the highest hand (by poker hand rankings). A fixed limit applies: a smaller bet on fourth street (small bet) and larger on later streets (big bet).
• Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Streets: Each receives one card per round: fifth and sixth are face-up, seventh is face-down. Betting stakes increase to the big bet on fifth street and remain through seventh. On seventh street, after the final card is dealt, a final round of betting occurs, starting with the player who first acted on sixth street (or the player showing the best hand if checked to).

Low Hand Qualification

A low hand must consist of five unpaired cards ranked 8 or lower (ace is low). The best possible low is A-2-3-4-5 (a wheel), which is both a low and a high straight (though in Hi-Lo it is typically played as a low). Straights and flushes do not disqualify a low hand. If no player has a qualifying low (i.e., all have a card 9 or higher or a pair), the high hand wins the entire pot.

Determining the Winner

At showdown, each player makes two separate five-card hands: the best high hand and the best low hand (if eligible). The high hand is ranked by standard poker hand rankings (royal flush highest, high card lowest). The low hand is ranked by the highest card in the hand; the lower the high card, the better the low (e.g., 8-7-6-5-4 loses to 7-6-5-4-3). A player may win both halves (scoop) if they have the best high and the best low.

Common Rules and Variations

• Eight or Better: The low hand must be an 8-high or lower. Hand with a 9 or any pair does not qualify.
• Bring-in: In some games, the bring-in is paid by the player with the lowest door card; suits may be used to break ties (clubs lowest, then diamonds, hearts, spades).
• Ante: A small ante is posted by each player before each hand to create action.
• Limits: Typically played with a fixed limit (e.g., $2/$4), though spread-limit or pot-limit variations exist.
• Razz Hi-Lo? Not common; Razz is usually lowball only. Stud Hi-Lo is the standard split-game.

Strategy Notes

Players often aim for hands that can win both halves, such as a low draw with a high flush possibility. Starting hands like three small suited cards are strong. Position matters less in stud than in hold'em because cards are visible, but the order of betting is determined by exposed cards.

Source of Rules

These rules are consistent with those published by major poker rooms (e.g., WSOP, PokerStars) and standard references like Robert's Rules of Poker.