The best possible starting hand in 08B is A-A-2-3, with the A-2 and the A-3 pairs each of the same suit. So 0-[2~[9~[9 is as good as it gets in 08B for a starting hand. Any A-A-2-3 with just one suited pair is the next-best possible hand, followed by A-A-2-3 with no suits. Why is this hand so strong? First, you're starting with the best possible pair (A-A); second, you have the nut-flush possibility when you're suited to the ace; and, third, you already have three wheel cards that offer the best possible low combination (A-2), the second-best possible low combination (A-3), and the third-best possible low combination (2-3). So this is an incredibly powerful hand, because you have so many great low possibilities and high possibilities at the same time. This is a hand that's easy to scoop the pot with, and hands that have strong scooping potential are highly prized in high-low-split games.

The next-best possible starting hand in my book is A-A-2-4, followed by A-A-2-5, and so on, all the way down to A-A-2-K. The reason why A-A-2-x is such a big hand is that you will often make the best possible low hand with it, and the A-A can hold up for high as well, especially when there is another pair on the board, like 10-4-5-7-7. After A-A-2-x, I prefer A-A-3-x, but some other pros like A-2-3-4. The argument for A-A-3-x is that you have the best possible pair, the second-best possible low card combination, and, if you're suited, the best possible flush draw. The argument for the A-2-3-4 is that you have all the low draws covered. In most cases where the board qualifies for low, you will have the nut low. What you think is more important—having all the lows covered or having high features—will determine which of these hands you like better. But there are good arguments either way. In any case, they are both very powerful starting hands in 08B.

• When Only A High Poker Hand Is Available (0)
• When Only A High Poker Hand Is Available Part2 (0)
• Using The Same Two Down Poker Cards For Both High And Low (0)

With a board showing (3~043~[9~0> the best possible high hand is A-10, which makes 10-J-Q-K-A (an ace high straight). There are no pairs on board; thus there are no fours of a kind or full houses. There isn't three to a suit on the board; thus there are no flushes. So a straight is the best possible high hand, with A-10 being best and 9-10 being second-best. The third-best possible high hand is three kings, followed by all the three-of-a-kind hands. Next we have top two pair, made with K-Q out of the hand. Anyway, you get the idea.

The Importance of A-2 in Your Starting Hand
Now that we've covered how to qualify a low, from combinations of board and hand, and what the best possible low hands are, given certain boards, let's move on to a more complete picture of 08B. We'll turn now to the problem of assessing starting hands.
A few poker professionals believe there is only one two-card combination you could have in your hand that is so promising you would not have to look at your other two hole cards before deciding to play. This combination is A-2. In other words, a lot of top players believe that any hand containing A-2 is playable, regardless of what the other two cards in the hand are. Of course, I would never recommend not looking at the other two cards (although I sometimes don't look). In poker, it's always a good idea to know what your whole hand is!

The importance of starting with an A-2 among the four cards in your hand cannot be underestimated. Some professionals consider it more important than starting with A-A! Often the board will come down with a combination of three low cards of three through eight (like 3-4-5, 4-6-8, 4-5-7, or 3-7-8). When any of these combinations of three through eight hit the board, the best possible low hand is made with the A-2 in your hand. The majority of low boards require that you have an A-2 in your hand to make the nut (best possible) low. That is, most of the time when there is a low-qualified board, A-2 from someone's hand will make the best possible low. This is why most premium 08B hands contain A-2. Of course, with a board of 2-4-7-J-J, A-3 is the best possible low.

• The Rank Of Starting Poker Hands In 08b (0)
• When Only A High Poker Hand Is Available Part2 (0)
• Using The Same Two Down Poker Cards For Both High And Low (0)