Home game · Stud
Low Hole, also called Late Show, is seven-card stud in which each player's lowest face-down card is wild for that player only, along with every other card of the same rank in their hand. Because the seventh card is dealt face down, it can change which rank is wild right at the end. It is usually played for high, but can be played low or high-low.
Also known as Late Show, Low in the Hole
Low Hole is played with a standard 52-card deck with no jokers, by two to eight players.
The deal and betting are the same as in seven-card stud. Each player receives three hole cards face down (the first, second and seventh cards) and four cards face up.
The object of the game is to win the pot with the best five-card hand at showdown, or by making a bet that no other player calls.
Each player's lowest-ranking hole card is wild for that player only. Every card of the same rank in that player's hand, whether face up or face down, is also wild for that player.
The wild rank can change. Until the seventh card is dealt, the wild rank is the lower of the player's first two hole cards. If the seventh card is lower still, its rank becomes the wild rank instead, and the previous wild rank becomes natural.
In a high game, aces rank high. A hole ace is therefore the lowest hole card only when all three hole cards are aces.
If two or more hole cards share the lowest rank, that rank is wild and all cards of it count as wild.
Wild cards may stand for any card, so five of a kind is possible. The source does not rank it; by the usual convention it ranks above a straight flush. See hand rankings.
The last card changes the wild rank
A player's first two hole cards are 10♠5♦. Face up they receive 4♣5♥K♠9♦. Fives are wild, so the 5♦ and the 5♥ are both wild.
If the seventh card is 7♣, fives stay wild. With the ten, nine, king and two wild fives, the player makes a king-high straight, 9-10-J-Q-K.
If instead the seventh card is 3♥, threes become wild and the fives are natural again. The player now has one wild three and a pair of fives: three fives.
| Street | Cards held after the deal | Wild rank known? |
|---|---|---|
| Third street | 2 down, 1 up | Provisionally: the lower hole card |
| Fourth street | 2 down, 2 up | Provisionally |
| Fifth street | 2 down, 3 up | Provisionally |
| Sixth street | 2 down, 4 up | Provisionally |
| Seventh street | 3 down, 4 up | Yes: fixed by all three hole cards |
Antes, the order of betting and the betting limits follow the table's usual seven-card stud rules. There is a betting round after each street.
Opponents cannot see anyone's hole cards, so no player knows another's wild rank. The usual practice is to decide the betting order from the face-up cards at their natural values.
At showdown, each player shows all seven cards and makes their best five-card hand, using their own wild cards as they choose.
In the high game, the best high hand wins. Identical hands split the pot equally.
Low Hole may also be played for low only, or high-low with the pot split between the best high and best low hands. The dealer shall announce the low ranking and any declaration method before the deal. See Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo.
Aces in high-low. When low hands are ranked ace-to-five or ace-to-six, the ace counts as a low card. A player with an ace in the hole therefore has aces wild for their low hand, but not for their high hand, where the ace ranks high.
Your lowest face-down card, and every card of the same rank in your hand. The wild rank is different for each player.
Yes. The seventh card is dealt face down, so if it is lower than your other hole cards, its rank becomes wild and your previous wild rank becomes natural.
Yes. Late Show is another name for the same game.
Not in the high game, where aces rank high. In high-low with ace-to-five or ace-to-six low, an ace in the hole makes aces wild for the low hand only.
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.
Low Hole Rules · OPR-687 · officialpokerrules.com/low-hole/