ARCHIE

Overview

Archie is a triple draw split-pot game where players compete for two halves of the pot simultaneously. The best high hand (pair of nines or better) takes one half, and the best low hand (8-low or better) takes the other. With three draws and four betting rounds, hands develop slowly — and either side can go unclaimed, changing everything.

Number of Players

2–6 players. A standard 52-card deck is used. The 6-player cap exists because three draws with a full table can exhaust the deck.

The Object

Compete for two halves of the pot: the best qualifying high hand and the best qualifying low hand. Win both halves (called scooping) by being the only qualifying hand in each direction — or the best in both.

High Hand Qualifier

A hand must be a pair of nines or better to qualify for the high half. Any hand that beats a pair of nines (two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush) also qualifies.

Low Hand Qualifier

A hand must be an eight-low or better to qualify for the low half. This uses A-5 lowball rules:

• All five cards must have unique ranks, each 8 or below
• Aces count as low (the best low card)
• Straights and flushes do not count against your low hand
• Best possible low: A-2-3-4-5 (the Wheel)
• Worst qualifying low: 4-5-6-7-8 (8-high)

Split Pot Rules

Blinds

Archie uses a small blind and big blind, posted before the deal — just like Texas Hold'em.

The Deal

Each player receives 5 cards face-down. Players look at their own cards only.

Betting & Draw Structure

The hand proceeds in alternating betting and draw rounds:

1. Bet #1: After receiving your 5 cards
2. Draw #1: Discard any cards and draw replacements
3. Bet #2: After the first draw
4. Draw #2: Discard and draw again
5. Bet #3: After the second draw
6. Draw #3: Final discard and draw
7. Bet #4: Final betting round
8. Showdown: Best qualifying high and best qualifying low split the pot

The Draws

On each draw, players may discard 0–5 cards and draw the same number of replacements. Standing pat (drawing zero) signals a strong hand in either direction — opponents will interpret this as a likely qualifier.

Comparing Low Hands

Low hands are compared from the highest card down — lower is always better:

• A-2-3-4-5 (5-high) beats A-2-3-4-6 (6-high) beats A-2-3-5-8 (8-high)
• Straights and flushes do not count against the low hand
• A-2-3-4-5 is both the best low (5-low) and a straight for the high side — eligible to scoop!

Scooping the Pot

A player can win both halves of the pot by holding the best qualifying hand in both directions simultaneously. Strong low hands like A-2-3-4-5 (a straight) and A-2-3-4-6 (Ace-high) can qualify for both. Playing toward a scoop is the most profitable strategy in Archie.

Strategy Tips

• Hands that can develop in both directions (e.g., A-2-3-4) are the most valuable starting points
• High-only hands (e.g., K-K-x-x-x) take only half the pot; low-only hands may get scooped
• If you can't qualify for either side by Draw #2, consider folding — you may be drawing dead
• If no one qualifies for low by the final betting round, the entire pot goes to the best high hand (even if it doesn't qualify)
• Watch draw counts carefully: a player drawing 0 on Draw #2 likely has a qualifying hand already
• The Wheel (A-2-3-4-5) scoops the pot — it's the best low AND a qualifying straight for high

Example Hand

You hold . Draw 1: discard 9♦ K♣ → get . Draw 2: discard J♥ → get . You now hold A-2-3-4-6 — a qualifying 6-low! Stand pat for Draw 3 and take the low half of the pot.