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The Rules for Eight or Better Stud Poker.

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High Low Stud Eight-or-Better

Eight or Better stud poker, also known as seven eight or stud eight poker, is the most common form of high-low split stud poker. It is played as seven-card stud poker, but the pot is split between the poker player with the highest poker hand and the player with the lowest poker hand (using the ace-to-five low values).

An 8-high poker hand or lower is required to win low. Betting takes place as if playing standard high-hand stud poker; that is, low card pays the bring-in, if any, on the first round, and subsequent rounds start the betting with the highest showing poker hand.

The showdown is cards speak, that is, there is no declaration for high and low hand. Each poker player may choose a different subset of five cards to play for high and low hand.

For example, a poker player with A-A-8-6-6-4-3 can play a high hand of A-A-6-6-8, and a low hand of 8-6-4-3-A. A player with K-9-8-7-6-5-4 can play a 9-high straight for his high hand, and 8-7-6-5-4 for low (which is the worst possible qualifying low, but it does qualify). A player with K-9-8-7-7-6-5 can play the 9-high straight for high, but cannot play any low hand, because he cannot make an 8-high or lower. If there is no qualifying low poker hand, the high poker hand takes the entire pot.

This poker game plays well with a bug or two in the deck.

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