Lowball Games
The poker games that most people are familiar with are the rather conventional forms of poker. These forms follow the traditional rules and conventions more or less, and one particular rule stands out from this particular group: the one with the highest hand wins. Even in the hi-lo games, where it seems to divert a bit from the status quo of highest hand wins (the diversion being that the pot is shared by the one with the highest hand – which is traditional – and the one with the lowest hand – which is the diversion), the element of tradition still remains. But like most things, this game has an unconventional version to it.
Lowball, or low poker, is the unconventional member of the poker family in that instead of having the highest hand rewarded, the dealer rewards the lowest hand instead. That makes the name quite self-explanatory. Given this mechanic, the objective of the players change a little: they still aim to get the best hand that they can make out of the cards that they have, but the definition of best changes in that instead of considering the high hand to be the best, the lowest hand one can come up with is considered the best for a particular gameplay.
Lowball games have four methods to them, and under these methods are many examples of different versions of lowball. The variations are as follows: First, the ace-to-five-low, wherein the lowest possible hand is the wheel, or a 5-4-3-2-A combination. This method is the most commonly used method of lowball, and in this method the flushes and the straights are not considered in the game. The ace also is a low card in this method. The second method is the ace-to-six low method. In this method, and in the previous one as well, pairs and trips are considered a negative to have in one’s hand, and the lowest possible combination is the 6-4-3-2-A combination. In both the first two methods the ace plays a low card. The third combination is the deuce-to-seven-low, and as the name suggests, the lowest combination required is 7-5-4-3-2. In this game, the aces are considered high cards, and so the lowest rank is 2. It is also known as seven-five, and this name is obviously derived from the first two numbers of the lowest possible combination. It is also known as the Kansas City lowball. The final method is not used very often – in fact, it is rarely used. This is the deuce-to-six-low, wherein the lowest combination possible is 6-5-4-3-2. As with the previous method, aces are considered high cards. In all the methods the flushes and the straights are not regarded.
If you want a twist to your traditional poker game, then you should definitely try playing lowball games. However, do take note that some of the rules change with this game, and so it is important to check the specific rules of that particular lowball game you are playing and not to confuse that with the rules of traditional poker games.