High Hand
The high hand is the best hand in a round of poker. In hi-lo games, the high hand wins one half of the pot, and in some casinos a high hand jackpot pays the best hand of the hour.
The simple explanation
At a showdown, the player with the highest-ranking hand wins the pot, whether it is a pair, a straight or a flush. In a hi-lo game, the highest hand takes half and the lowest hand takes half. Some casinos run 'high hand' promotions that give a prize to the player who makes the best hand within a set time.
A closer look
A high hand promotion typically requires a minimum such as a full house or better, using both hole cards. The best hand of the hour or day wins the prize, so the competition adds a small extra reason to play hands that make big hands. When you see the promotion, remember that the money is usually funded by the rake or by a fee from the players, so it is not free. In hi-lo games, the term simply means the half of the pot for the highest hand.
A practical example
A poker room pays $500 every hour to the best hand dealt that hour. At 8 p.m. a player makes aces full of kings, which is the highest hand so far.
Full explanation
The high hand is the best hand in a round of poker. In hi-lo games, the high hand wins one half of the pot, and in some casinos a high hand jackpot pays the best hand of the hour.
The high hand is the best hand under normal poker rankings.
In hi-lo games, it takes half of the pot, and the low hand takes the other half.
Casinos often have a ‘high hand’ promotion that pays a bonus for the best hand in a time period.
A hand such as quads or a straight flush usually wins such a prize.