Limit Seven Card Stud high low split is much like Limit Seven Card Stud except the players are looking to win a high hand as well as a low hand. The high hand wins 50% of the pot and the qualifying low hand wins 50% of the pot. If there isn't a qualifying low hand, then the high hand wins the entire pot.

How to determine a low hand

• A player must have 5 of his 7 unique cards have what is referred to as "8 or better." This terminology is a little confusing because in high/low poker, "better" means "less." This means that all 5 cards have to rank 8 or less. An Ace can count as a high card or a low card (below a 2.)

   

• The best low hand is called a wheel. It's comprised of the A 2 3 4 5. Yes, this is a straight, however, when determining the lowest hand possible, the numbers are all that matter. The A 2 3 4 5 could be a straight flush and it would still be the lowest hand that could be made.

The Ante

In Limit Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo, the ante (a token bet) is required before the start of the hand. This is mandatory. The ante amount is determined by the betting limits of the game. All players are required to ante prior to the cards being dealt.

In our example, the game is $10-$20 Limit Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo. This game has a structured limit. The ante is $1. Antes are usually 10% of the small bet (not always the case).

The Deal

Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, the cards will be dealt in a clockwise fashion one at a time until each player has two pocket cards. These cards are also sometimes referred to as hole cards or down cards. These cards are dealt face down. A third card is dealt to each player face up (up card or open card).

In poker lingo, each card is called a street as it is dealt. This up card is referred to as the door card or 3rd street.

Once these 3 cards have been dealt to each player, the game will begin. The dealer will indicate which player must open for a bet by identifying the lowest door card. There could be a tie for the lowest door card. This issue is resolved by the first lowest card in the clockwise rotation.

Betting on Third Street (3rd card of 7)

The player holding the lowest door card will be required to "bring it in" by opening the betting with a bet twice the size of the ante, which in this example would be $2. The player that begins each round of betting is sometimes called 'the opener'.

The player to the left of the "bring in" player (clockwise) will be the next to act.

When involved in a hand, there are several actions a player can take. The player may CALL the bet by matching the amount of the first bet. In the example, that would be $2.

The player may RAISE the bet by matching the amount of the first bet and adding the amount of the lower bet, which would be $10 in this $10 - $20 game.

The player may FOLD. When a player folds, the action taken is one of passing and the player does not wish to enter the hand by placing any money in the pot.

The first round of betting is complete after every player at the table has acted and placed the same amount in the pot or folded. As stated before, this is a limit, structured game of seven card stud hi/lo. The first round will require each player to call the $2 "bring in", bet $10, raise $10 or fold.

In the example, seat 3 has the lowest card, the 3s. This player is REQUIRED to "bring in" the bet of $2. Seat 4 folds. Seat 5 calls $2. Seat 6 and 7 fold. Seat 8 calls $2. Seat 1 calls $2. Seat 2 folds. There is now $16 in the pot and all players who are left have placed an equal amount into that pot. There are 4 players left. Round one is complete.

Betting On Fourth Street (4th card of 7)

After the first round has been completed, each player is dealt another up card. The dealer will not burn a card as he does in "flop" games. This card is referred to as 4th street. The opener on 4th street and the subsequent streets is different than the opener on 3rd street.

The opener now becomes the highest hand determined by the up cards or open cards. The person holding the highest hand may CHECK, (pass the bet to the next player) or bet.

The bet will be at the low limit. In our example, it will be $10. The second round of betting is complete after every player at the table has acted and placed the same amount in the pot or folded.

In our example, the highest hand at this time is seat 5 with a high card of Qs and the Tc kicker card. Seat 1 has a Qd but has a smaller kicker card. Seat 5 bets $10, seat 8 calls $10, seat calls $10 and seat 3 folds. There are now 3 players left and $46 in the pot.

Betting On Fifth Street (5th card of 7)

After the second round is complete, each player is dealt another up card and the high hand opens the betting. The third round of betting, fifth street, is now at the higher limit of $20. The third round of betting is complete after every player at the table has acted and placed the same amount in the pot or folded.

In our example, seat 5 still has the highest hand showing with a pair of Queens and elects to bet $20, seat 8 calls $20 and seat 1 calls $20. There are still 3 players and the pot now has $106 in it.

Betting on Sixth Street (6th card of 7)

After the third round is complete, each player is dealt another up card and the high hand opens the betting. The betting is at the higher limit of $20. The fourth round of betting is complete after every player at the table has acted and placed the same amount in the pot or folded.

In our example, seat 5 still holds the best hand with a pair of queens and will have the opportunity to bet first. Seat 5 bets $20. Seat 8 calls the $20 and raises $20. Seat 1 thinks for a minute, and decides to call the $40. Seat 5 just calls the $20 raise from seat 8. There are still 3 players in the game with one card yet to be dealt. The pot holds $226.

Betting on Seventh Street (7th card of 7)

In our example, seat 5 decides to check to the raiser in seat 8. Seat 8 bets $20. Seat 1 reluctantly folds. Seat 5 calls the $20 bet from seat 8. Two players are left and there is now $266 in the pot.

Showdown

After all bets and raises are complete, and all players have acted and placed the same amount in the pot or folded, the remaining players enter the Showdown.

The opener first shows his pocket cards. If a player thinks he has the openers hand beaten, the player must reveal his or her pocket cards or fold by mucking them in the discards.

The player with the best low hand wins 50% of the pot and the player with the best high hand wins 50% of the pot. There are times when more than one person will have the same hand, and the pot will then have to be quartered, or split again.

In our example, seat 5 has the opener and turns over his cards to show a pair of Queens only.

Seat 5 does not have a qualifying low hand. This means he does not have 5 cards less than a rank of 8.

Seat 8 shows 3 fives for the best hi hand. Seat 8 also has a qualifying low hand. He is holding a 5d, 5h, and 7h in the hole. Combined with his up cards of the 4c, Ac and 8s, he can show his best low hand to be Ac, 4c, 5h, 7h, and 8s.

This hand of Limit Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo is won by seat 8. He wins both the high hand and the low hand. The dealer shoves the entire pot of $266 to him.