[razor]

Sorry for the basic question, but I was playing with some friends this past weekend and a question came up about the use of the ace in a low straight.

One of my friends swears that the standard (or official) rules of LaS Vegas poker (whatever the hell that means) clearly state that the ace can only be used for a high straight, not a low straight. According to him, the players can say otherwise at the beginning of the game.

My understanding is that the ace can be used for both high and low straights, and this does not have to be declared at the beginning of the game.

Can someone direct my to an "official" website where this is clarified? I have found that most websites support my view, but almost all of the rules were from "video poker" websites that I don't consider to be too authoratative.

Thanks

[pritz]

There is no problem with your question.

A2345 is the lowest straight. TJQKA is the highest straight.

There might be some variations where an ace is only high, but for the games I play, it's either or.

[johnf]

I suggest your friend look up the rules again, because he quoted them wrong. Aces can be used in a low straight. A2345. This is the case in Vegas, at other casinos and should be in your home game, unless you are playing some type of poker and name it only high or low. Only if it is named that way is it not able to be used as both.

[norshvind]

The only game I know of where an ace cannot be used for low is the old version of lowball, known as 2-7 (or Kansas City) Lowball (in that version straights invalidate a low, so 2-3-4-5-7 is the lowest hand). In all other poker games including A-5 (or California) Lowball use the ace as a low card. Certainly all major poker games played in Las Vegas or any other casino do.

[chris]

I'm guessing from this post that you had A2345 and they said it didn't count....lol

If thats the case, you call them friends

[lork]

"If thats the case, you call them friends"

I have the same question also!
Isn't that ironic?