7 Card Stud Hi-Lo Starting Hand Guide

7 Card Stud Hi-Lo is one of the most entertaining poker games around. A classic in most home games, it figures to become more popular online as well. As with all split-pot games, the prospect of two winners leads to a lot of action and a lot of bad and crazy play. If you are new to Hi-Lo games, please read this in-depth explanation of how they work.

The key to success in Stud Hi-Lo is giving yourself a chance to win the whole pot. This means playing predominantly low cards. The reason is that low cards can always turn into a decent hi (two pairs, trips, straight, flush) but high cards can never turn into a good lo. A player needs to make a lo of 8 or better to qualify for the lo half of the pot, and sometimes that doesn’t happen. In that case the hi wins the whole pot, which means that there are some hi-only hands that are worth playing. Any time you have rolled up trips (3 of a kind on your first three cards) it’s definitely worth staying in the hand. A pair of aces with another high card is also worth playing (of course, aces with a low card is way better). You may also want to play some other hi hands when only one or two of your opponents has a low card showing. With no low cards showing you can play many hi-only hands. These would include three high flush (only if one or zero of your flush cards are out), and high pairs (assuming none of the cards that would make you trips are out).

For the most part though, it’s going to be good low starting hands that you play on third street. The rule is, the lower the cards and the more connected they are, the better the hand. A23, 234, and 345 are the very best, and even better when they’re suited. With a hand like that, feel free to cap on third street; you’re certainly a favorite. Other very strong hands include a pair and a low card, especially if that pair is aces. All these hands demonstrate excellent two-way potential, meaning that you could easily make a good hi, lo or even both. And hand with three cards under 7 is very strong as well. Of course, starting with the best hand is no guarantee that you’re going to end up with the best hand.

You should be careful with hands that include an 8. Even though it will qualify you for lo, a 7-lo or 6-lo is a much stronger hand. Hands like 842 or 863 are hardly playable. If there are no other lo hands still in the pot, it’s definitely worth playing, but once a low card has made a raise, you should definitely ditch it.

Always keep in mind the golden rule of playing two-way hands and you’ll be well on your way to large profits in this exciting game.