What is a low card in poker?
Low cards in poker 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2, though there isn’t a concrete definition of “low”.
Poker cards go from low cards to high cards, but just like in Blackjack, the Ace acts as the lowest card and the highest card – depending on the situation. Technically, individual cards in poker are ranked from highest to lowest: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
Keep reading to find out more about low cards in poker.
The Low Cards in Poker
If you rank individual cards in poker from highest to lowest, the order is Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
Cards like 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2 are considered low cards in poker games.
When is the Ace a low card?
Great question, reader. The ace becomes the low card if it is used to make a low straight. For example, if the hand combination is 5♥ 4♣ 3♦ 2♠ A♥, the Ace is the low card. In every other situation, the Ace is considered a high card. A pair of Aces is the highest pair, an Ace-high flush is the highest flush, and so on.
What is a “Low Hand” in Hi/Lo Poker?
In some poker formats, players try to make high hands and low hands. The high hands have the same ranking system as Texas Holdem games, where a royal flush is the best possible hand, then a straight flush.
The low hand can take half of the pot in these Hi/Lo formats, but only if they qualify. A low hand can’t have any pair and must use cards that are ranked 8 or lower (8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace).
The Ace can be the lowest card or highest card in Hi/Lo games, which you can find on sites like PokerStars.
How Can You Play Low Cards in Poker?
Low cards will always be dominated by high cards if both players have one-pair hands. For that reason, low hands need to be chosen differently.
Low cards don’t hold as much value as high cards preflop.
You can use our Odds Calculator to test this for yourself. Low cards will always be “behind” high cards, so how can you make the odds more favorable?
Choose suited low cards over unsuited cards.
Having suited low cards gives you the chance to make a flush and give your low cards more equity in the hand. If you’re going to play low cards, lean towards the suited combinations.
Choose connectors over cards with a one-gap or two-gap.
If you have 5♥ 4♥, you give yourself a slight equity boost over gap connector hands like 5♥ 3♥ or 5♥ 2♥. The reason is that you can create more combinations of straights with 5♥ 4♥. One-gap or two-gap connectors always need that “filler card”, and can make fewer combos of straights.
Don’t invest too much in low cards preflop (unless it’s a pocket pair).
When you hold low cards, you can be almost certain that you are the underdog. The best possible situation is having two matching low cards, like 6♣ 6♦, 5♣ 5♦, 4♣ 4♦, 3♣ 3♦, or 2♣ 2♦. With a pocket pair, you can set mine and hit a set around 1 in every 8 flops.
Even when you make a pair, you could still be behind.
Let’s say you make a pair of fives, which is arguably one of the strongest hands you will make on the flop. Your opponents could still easily have an overpair or overcards that threaten your low pair, so tread carefully. When opponents start piling the chips in, you won’t feel very secure with a pair of 5s and no draw. It’s nice to have ways to improve your hand, like straight or flush draws.
Do You Play Online Poker Freerolls? [You Should]
Partypoker is a top site for poker freerolls since they hold a tournament every hour of every day, know as the Round the Clock Series. Prizes range from $50-$200, or you can check out freeroll lobby and other homes.
Since these tournaments are hourly, you can play beside your other games and enjoy a totally fish-free action
If you want to check out a daily freeroll schedule, we’re constantly updating the roster. Not just for partypoker either – since several poker sites offer free tournaments.
