Community Card Game - Split Pot (High / 8 or Better Low)
Hold'em 8 is Texas Hold'em with a split-pot twist. Each player receives 2 hole cards and shares 5 community cards — exactly like Texas Hold'em. At showdown, the pot is divided between the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand. To qualify for the low half, a player must be able to form 5 cards all ranked 8 or lower with no duplicate ranks, using any combination of their hole cards and the board. Aces count as low, and straights and flushes do not count against the low hand.
Step through a hand where the hero holds A♥ 3♠ — a classic low-drawing hand that catches the perfect board to make the Wheel (A-2-3-4-5), scooping both the high pot with a straight and the low pot with the best possible low.
2–10 players. A standard 52-card deck is used.
Win one or both halves of the pot. The best high hand wins the high half using standard poker rankings. The best qualifying low hand wins the low half. Win both halves — called scooping — to take the entire pot.
To qualify for the low half of the pot, a player must be able to form a 5-card hand where:
Best qualifying low hand: A-2-3-4-5 (the Wheel — also a straight for the high side).
No Low Qualifier? If no player can form a qualifying low hand (e.g., the board runs out with too many 9s, 10s, Jacks, etc.), the entire pot goes to the best high hand — no split.
Key Difference — Hole Card Usage: In Hold'em 8, you may use any combination of your 2 hole cards and the 5 community cards to form your best hand (including using 0, 1, or both hole cards). In Omaha Hi-Lo 8, you are required to use exactly 2 of your 4 hole cards. Hold'em 8 gives you more flexibility — and the board alone can sometimes complete a low hand without needing both hole cards.
Hold'em 8 uses a small blind and big blind posted before the deal — identical to Texas Hold'em.
Each player receives 2 hole cards face-down.
When evaluating a low hand, use the five lowest unique cards 8 or below available from your 2 hole cards and the 5 board cards (7 cards total). Compare low hands from the highest card down — lower is always better:
Four possible outcomes:
1. Low qualifies and a separate player holds the best high → pot splits 50/50
2. One player holds both the best high and best low → that player scoops the entire pot
3. No player qualifies for low → best high hand takes the entire pot
4. Ties on one side → that half is split between the tied players
You hold 
. Board: 
— then the turn brings 
. You now hold A♥ 2♦ 3♠ 4♠ 5♣ — The Wheel! Best possible low (A-2-3-4-5) and a straight for the high side. Your opponent with K-K only has a pair of Kings — a straight beats a pair. You scoop the whole pot!