So you want to add even more action to the classic poker game? Try 7-card stud 8/b! It plays the same as 7-card stud until the end of the hand, when the pot may be split between the high hand and the low hand, if any.

WHAT DOES '8/b' MEAN?

8/B refers to the low hand, and means that, if a low hand exists, it must consist of cards valued at 8 or lower. If a low hand doesn't exist, the high hand wins the entire pot. There is ALWAYS a qualifying high hand.

Qualifying low hands consist of five cards with different numerical values from Ace to 8. If multiple players meet this standard, the player with the lowest high card will win the low hand and split the pot with the high hand (e.g. Ah, 2d, 5c, 6c 7d BEATS Ac, 2c, 6d, 7h, 8d). The best low hand is A, 2, 3, 4, 5 - straights and flushes do not count against a low hand, but a pair will disqualify it. An easy way to figure out a low hand score is to look at the two highest cards in that hand. For example, an A, 2, 3, 4, 6 scores a 64, and would therefore beat an A, 2, 3, 5, 6 because it's score would be 65.

One final point - players do not need to decide if they are playing for a high hand or a low hand, as all hands in the showdown will be evaluated for both and ranked as appropriate.

BUT I WANT IT ALL!!!

The value of potentially sharing the pot between a high hand and a low hand is that there is more action in the game. Some will play for the high, and some for the low. But sometimes you can play for both! As mentioned above, straights and flushes do not count against a low hand. Your high hand consists of five cards from the total of seven available at the showdown. The same is true for the low hand. And guess what? They don't have to be the same cards! If your cards are Ad, 2d, 3c, 4d, 5d, 6c, 7d - you have a low hand of A-5, and a high hand of Ace high flush.

THE ONLY SHARING MIGHT BE THE WINNINGS!

Because there are no community cards to share, 7-card stud 8/b requires you to keep track of your own unique hand as well as the hands of the other players, too. And you must also be mindful of whether others are playing for the high hand, low hand, or both!

Well, you wanted more action...