7 card hi-lo poker - Declaration: Additional strategy


1. Play hands that have the potential to scoop the pot.

The best starting hands are rolled up trips, two aces with a low card, three small cards to a straight or flush, and three small cards that include an ace. All of these hands have a good chance to win the pot both ways, which means that they usually should be played aggressively.

2. The best high hand on third street is also a good starting hand

A hand like a pair of kings also has a good chance to scoop, since the low must make at least an eight to be eligible for half the pot. However, if several players with low cards showing have already entered the pot, many high hands lose much of their value. Playing for half the pot against an opponent with a made low, who also may have a draw at a high hand that will beat you, can be a costly error.

3. The second best high hand on third-street should be abandoned.

Even though the best high hand is usually a good starting hand, the second best high should be thrown away. You don’t want to play a pair of queens when you are against a likely pair of kings.

4. When an ace raises, you should play very few hands.

Suppose you have a big pair. If an ace raises, you can’t take the chance that you might be against a pair of aces. And even if your opponent has only three low cards, he can still catch an ace to beat you. To play in this situation, you need three very good low cards

5. One way low-hands, especially heads up, have little value.

Suppose you are against a high hand, and you are going for low with no chance to make a high. You will win either half the pot or nothing. If your opponent is likely to make you put a lot of bets into the pot on the remaining streets, you should throw away most one-way low hands, unless the pot is already quite large.

6. If it is early in the hand and someone is favoured over you, no matter what the direction, you should usually fold.

When you are not a favourite to win at least one way, and the pot is still small, abandon your hand. There is one exception to this rule: if your hand has even a small chance to win both ways, you should continue to play.