T
TheMighty0z
Rising Star
Bronze Level
Hi, I'm a new member to the forum, and wanted to ask the opinion of everyone here. There is a group that I play poker with that gets together once or twice a year for a dealers choice poker night. They've been playing for years before I was invited (about 4 years ago). One of the games commonly called is Low Spade in the Hole (Low Chicago). Usually when this game is played the 2 of spades would be the lowest card in the hole, which would split the pot with the best hand. They have always played that the ace of spades could be played as a low card in the hole to split the pot, but that the ace could not be played both high and low in the same hand. If you played the ace of spades as a low card in the hole it could only be used as a low card in the hand. I've seen the ace of spades played as both low spade in the hole, and the low part of a straight (5-4-3-2-A) in the same hand in the past as they have chosen to play the variant of the game.
Now, I didn't invent this variation and am not asking for approval for their house game.
The problem that came up is as follows:
During our last poker night some one else called Low Spade in the Hole as the game. My hand was 9-9-A-A-x, with the ace of spades in the hole. According to the way that they have chosen to play the game I saw my hand as two pairs (nines over aces) with low spade in the hole. Since I was calling the ace as a low card in the hole they were essentially ones.
Two players were adamant that the pair of aces could not count because, and I quote: Aces are NEVER a low pair in poker. I disagreed, arguing that the ace had paired and that was not nullified by playing the ace of spades low. I had played the ace low only in the hand, just as they had specified in their house rules. The arguing players responded that their position was not a house rule, but a universal rule that aces are never low in poker. Now, they are clearly wrong to state that aces are NEVER low cards in poker (A-A is the low pair in Razz and Ace to Five Lowball, as well as playable low in Seven Card Stud Hi-Low and Omaha Hi-Low). But if there are any Low Chicago players on the forum I'd like to know what their thoughts are on this matter.
Now, I didn't invent this variation and am not asking for approval for their house game.
The problem that came up is as follows:
During our last poker night some one else called Low Spade in the Hole as the game. My hand was 9-9-A-A-x, with the ace of spades in the hole. According to the way that they have chosen to play the game I saw my hand as two pairs (nines over aces) with low spade in the hole. Since I was calling the ace as a low card in the hole they were essentially ones.
Two players were adamant that the pair of aces could not count because, and I quote: Aces are NEVER a low pair in poker. I disagreed, arguing that the ace had paired and that was not nullified by playing the ace of spades low. I had played the ace low only in the hand, just as they had specified in their house rules. The arguing players responded that their position was not a house rule, but a universal rule that aces are never low in poker. Now, they are clearly wrong to state that aces are NEVER low cards in poker (A-A is the low pair in Razz and Ace to Five Lowball, as well as playable low in Seven Card Stud Hi-Low and Omaha Hi-Low). But if there are any Low Chicago players on the forum I'd like to know what their thoughts are on this matter.