Starting
Standards
Since it's typical in split-pot games for a motley bunch
of opponents to chase the pot, starting standards are more
important than in games yielding only one winner. It's a
good rule of thumb to have the best draw if you're trying
for a low hand. If you don't have a draw to the best low
hand, you'll have to rely on getting lucky twice: first
by catching great cards, and second by opponents catching
poor ones - "bananas," as they're called in poker
parlance.
Your first three cards need to work together to make playing
the hand worthwhile. If they pull together harmoniously
in both directions, so much the better. Remember: Scooping
the entire pot is the objective in all split-pot games.
Since an ace is both the lowest and highest card, holding
one is almost like playing eight cards against your opponent's
seven. Having an ace as your door card (the face-up card
of your first three) is highly advantageous: It's the best
low card, but it's also intimidating - hey, you just might
have a pair of aces! Plus, if you hold an ace, it's one
less for opponents to catch
Moreover, your hand is confusing to read: Until a few more
cards are exposed, opponents have no idea whether you're
"going high," "going low," or - much
worse for them - both.
For example, A?4?3? is an incredibly good starting hand.
You have a draw to a great low hand plus the possibility
of making a nut flush for high. If another ace comes your
way, you'll have highest pair, with a chance of improving
to two pair or three-of-a-kind. Other possibilities include
winding up with a straight, two pair with a low, or even
a "flushy-low," if you're lucky enough to make
both a flush and a low hand. Starting hands don't come much
better than this!
But as strong as an ace is, not every hand containing an
ace is playable! A hand like A-9/8 probably won't win whether
you're trying to build a high hand or a low one. So do yourself
a favor: Even when your doorcard ace is smiling out confidently
at the world, toss it away if your hole cards are dogs.
