[EasilyFound]

In my hi/low home games, we play a simultaneious declare and a post-declare round of betting. In one game, if one player is the only player competing for one-half of the pot, that player is not allowed to bet or raise, only call. For example, if I declare low, and everyone else declares high, I am not allowed to start the betting or raise; I can only call whatever bets, if any, are placed by players playing for high. In another game I play, I would be allowed to raise and re-raise to my heart's content.

Which rule do you follow, and which rule do you think is the better rule to follow?

[the3rd]

Declare games take away some of the dynamics of high-low games, which is why I don't like them. But if that's how you roll, you should be allowed to build the pot the same as any other player regardless if you are going for low only.

[BigWoody]

I don't play in or like declare games.

Some do, but they are usually older and only found in homegames...

(Note: I'm not calling you old. I'm just saying...)
[I hate having to clarify myself...]

[shadesofgrey]

There are only a few hi/lo declare games i play & they are only allowed on a declared "carnival" poker night.

we use three options. 1 chip for low, 2 chips for high, and 3 chips for both. If you go 3 - there is no tie.. you must WIN both high and low. if you tie either high or low, you lose....not my rules, i am just saying what we do at a particular home game.

Since you are allowed to go both ways, you are also allowed to bet even if you are going low and 7 others have gone high.

Yeah, i can get pretty ugly when they are playing NL carnival games.

[Quads]

What are you guys playing? 727 versions / drinking games?

I'm not a fan of "declare" games, unless my object is to get obliterated with John Daniels and Friends- (know him like I do, yes, it's 'John'). In which case, I always go for the high and low (three chips) every single time, door cards up or down, doesn't matter. I always shoot the moon!

Hi/Low games, I love (Omaha, 7CS, etc) I just don't play declare games often. As far as no allowing someone to raise their hand, doesn't make sense to me. Either a) there will be a raising war, in which there will soon be a rebuy, or b) there is a cap on raising (4 raises / 5 bets total, for example)

[shadesofgrey]

Originally Posted by Quads

What are you guys playing? 727 versions / drinking games?

Its actually a great bluffing game, a little on the wild side yes, but like i said its only allowed on "carnival" poker night and that happens about once every 3 months.

The game we declare in is called "kick your forth hi/lo":
- Five cards dealt to each player
- Betting round
- Everyone draws (upto 4 cards, sometimes fewer?)
- Everyone places their cards in the order that they are going to turn them over
- Flip first card - high hand leads each betting round.
- Flip second card, bet
- Flip Third card, bet
- at the fourth card, you must declare if you would like a kicker card or not (1 chip is for card), bet
- then everyone declares how they are playing the hand (1-lo, 2-hi, 3-both)
- another betting round
- best hi / lo hand wins.

Pretty wild.

[Quads]

Originally Posted by shadesofgrey

Its actually a great bluffing game, a little on the wild side yes, but like i said its only allowed on "carnival" poker night and that happens about once every 3 months.

The game we declare in is called "kick your forth hi/lo":
- Five cards dealt to each player
- Betting round
- Everyone draws (upto 4 cards, sometimes fewer?)
- Everyone places their cards in the order that they are going to turn them over
- Flip first card - high hand leads each betting round.
- Flip second card, bet
- Flip Third card, bet
- at the fourth card, you must declare if you would like a kicker card or not (1 chip is for card), bet
- then everyone declares how they are playing the hand (1-lo, 2-hi, 3-both)
- another betting round
- best hi / lo hand wins.

Pretty wild.

We play the same game on drinking nights, but call it something different. (Pitch and Roll) ((not top be confused with 'Tahoe Pitch and Roll', which is a 7CS knock off))

[EasilyFound]

Originally Posted by the3rd

Declare games take away some of the dynamics of high-low games ...

What exactly do you mean?

We also play that you can bluff for low. In other words, you don't need a true low hand to win. You can declare low and win half of the pot with a 9 high if you are unopposed or your opponent has a worse low hand. This makes for many hands with mutliple players seeing the declare. A lot of $$$ floating around on that table if you have a clue how to play correctly.

[the3rd]

Originally Posted by EasilyFound

What exactly do you mean?

We also play that you can bluff for low. In other words, you don't need a true low hand to win. You can declare low and win half of the pot with a 9 high if you are unopposed or your opponent has a worse low hand. This makes for many hands with mutliple players seeing the declare. A lot of $$$ floating around on that table if you have a clue how to play correctly.

I prefer to play straight up. If you declare both and get beat on either end you win nothing. It introduces position play into stud.

[Lottery Larry]

Originally Posted by shadesofgrey

we use three options. 1 chip for low, 2 chips for high, and 3 chips for both. If you go 3 - there is no tie.. you must WIN both high and low. if you tie either high or low, you lose....not my rules, i am just saying what we do at a particular home game.

Ah, the infamous "pig rule."

How do they play the losing pig? Does he get knocked out as if he never was in the hand, or do they add the carnage of knocking out all of the players on either side that were beaten by the pig, one-way? This allows a one-way hand to scoop the pot because no one is left on the high side.