Playing "The Nuts"
So I've just played the nuts game for the first time. My question is, does the Ace (A) count as a low card?
The reason being is I didn't think it was, coming from Hold 'Em - but it kept saying I picked the wrong hand because there is an A-2-3-4-5 straight. I wasn't including the A to be a low card though - or should I?
For example.
Board is
8d - As - Js - 4s - 5s
Obviously holding a spade makes a flush, so I chose a Ks and Qs so the two highest spades left to make a flush Ace high. The result though was for a better hand to be 3s and 2s. I assume this would mean making an As-2s-3s-4s-5s straight flush...but is that the case, using A as a low card? Is Ace a low card for a straight? Why would they say a better hand is 2s and 3s?
Some help with this would be really helpful.
Comments
Yes, aces can be high or low in Hold'em. No other cards wrap around (You can't make a straight from K-4, for example). But the A can be used with the low number cards to make the "wheel" straight, A-5. And the suited wheel is called a "steel wheel." And obviously, in the nuts game, a flush is better than just any old wheel. But the smallest possible straight flush is better than the regular non-sequential nut flush.
BTW, I forgot to mention that I love playing this game on my phone. I think training myself to quickly sort through the possibilities helps me tremendously during regular poker hands, when it is nice to be able to know when I have the nuts, or what possible hands could have me beaten.
Ah OK great thanks, nytider. I wasn;t aware Ace is low in Hold'em. I thought that only happened in other poker games. Thanks.