Official Poker Rules BoardDocument OPR-523 · Updated 28 September 2026

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Double Trouble Rules

In Double Trouble, each player is dealt six cards and splits them into two hands of three. Each hand is played separately against five community cards, using exactly two of its cards, and a player may fold either hand or both. The pot is split high-low after a declaration. It was contributed to pagat.com by Bryant Woodard.

Players: 3 to 7
Cards per player: 6, split into two hands of 3
Community cards: 5
Wild cards: None
Pot: High-low split, with declaration

Article 1Players, deck and the two hands

1.1

Double Trouble was contributed to pagat.com by Bryant Woodard. Three to seven players may take part, using a standard 52-card deck with no wild cards.

1.2

Each player is dealt six cards face down and divides them into two separate hands of three cards each, a left hand and a right hand.

1.3

Each hand shall use exactly two of its three cards, combined with three community cards, to make a five-card poker hand, in the manner of Omaha.

1.4

The pot is split between the best high hand and the best low hand, as declared by the players (article 4).

Article 2Betting with two hands

2.1

A player may fold one hand, or both, at any time. A player who keeps both hands in play is betting on each of them.

2.2

A player with two live hands shall call or raise on both, and so pays twice what a player with one hand pays. The two hands shall take the same action: a player may not call with one hand and raise with the other.

2.3

The source does not specify forced bets. An ante from each player is the usual practice in home games.

Article 3The deal, discards and insurance

Stage	What happens
Deal	Six cards to each player, who splits them into two hands. First betting round.
Flop	Three community cards turned face up.
Discard or insurance	Each player may discard one card from each hand, or buy insurance. Second betting round.
Fourth card	One community card turned. Third betting round.
Last card	One community card turned. Fourth betting round.
Declaration	Players declare high or low, then the showdown.

3.1

After the first betting round, three community cards are turned face up, as in Texas Hold'em.

3.2

Each player may then either discard one card from each of their hands, or buy insurance for a fixed price agreed before the game (the contributor's example is $1 in a quarter-limit game).

3.3

The source does not state exactly what insurance buys. The pagat editor's reading is that an insured hand may use all three of its cards with two community cards, instead of two cards with three.

3.4

After discards and insurance are settled there is a betting round. The fourth community card is turned, followed by a betting round, then the fifth, followed by a final betting round.

Article 4Declaration and showdown

4.1

The declaration is made in turn, not simultaneously. The last player to raise declares first, then each player to their left in order.

4.2

A player declares high by placing a chip on top of their cards, or low by passing an empty hand over their cards.

4.3

The source does not say how a player with two live hands declares, whether a player may declare both ways, or what low-hand rules apply. The dealer shall announce these before the deal.

4.4

The best high hand among those declaring high takes the high half, and the best low hand among those declaring low takes the low half.

Example

One deal, two very different hands

A player is dealt A♥2♣9♥K♠K♦5♦ and splits them into A♥2♣9♥ and K♠K♦5♦.

The final board is 3♥4♠8♥K♣J♥.

From the first hand, A♥9♥ with 3♥8♥J♥ makes an ace-high flush, and A♥2♣ with 3♥4♠8♥ makes an 8-4-3-2-A low.

From the second hand, K♠K♦ with K♣ makes three kings.

Article 5Strategy notes

Split the six cards so that each hand has a clear purpose, for example one aimed at high and one at low.
Keeping both hands in costs double on every bet, so folding the weaker hand early is often sensible.
A hand reduced to two cards by a discard must use both of them, so discard the card least likely to be needed.

Article 6Frequently asked questions

How many cards do you use in Double Trouble?

Each of your two three-card hands uses exactly two of its cards with three of the five community cards. If insurance is bought, the pagat editor's reading is that the insured hand may use all three of its cards with two community cards.

Do you have to bet on both hands in Double Trouble?

If you keep both hands in play, yes. You must call or raise on both, paying twice as much as a player with one hand, and you cannot call with one and raise with the other. You may fold either hand at any time.

How do you declare in Double Trouble?

In turn, starting with the last player to raise. A chip placed on your cards means high; an empty hand waved over them means low.

Final authority

Where any doubt remains in the application of this document, Rob is right.

Hand rankings, high to low: royal flush · straight flush · four of a kind · full house · flush · straight · three of a kind · two pair · one pair · high card. Suits never break ties.

Double Trouble Rules · OPR-523 · officialpokerrules.com/double-trouble/

OPR-523Uncontrolled when printed