Game Guide for Sampyong Hi-Lo (a.k.a. PLS7: Pot Limit Sampyong - 7 or better)
Sampyong Hi-Lo (a.k.a. PLS7: Pot Limit Sampyong - 7 or better) is a new poker variant based on Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo (PLO8), with modified rules to allow for a wider variety and more powerful hands to occur frequently.
1. Core Rules#
- Base Game: Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo. Betting is limited to the pot size, and the pot is split between the highest (High) and lowest (Low) hands.
- Hand Formation (Most Important Change):
- Each player receives 3 cards instead of 4. Five community cards are dealt on the board. (Total 8-card pool)
- Unlike Omaha’s ‘2 hole cards + 3 board cards’ rule, in Sampyong Hi-Lo, players can freely use any number (0-3) of their hole cards from the total 8-card pool to make the best 5-card High hand and Low hand.
- Low Hand Rule: Adheres to the strengthened ‘7-or-better’ rule, which is stricter than standard Hi-Lo games. This means a Low hand must consist of five different cards ranked 7 or below to qualify. (The best possible Low hand is
A, 2, 3, 4, 5) - Recommendation for 4 players or fewer: For 4 or fewer players, it is recommended to play Sampyong (PLS) focusing only on High hands, excluding the Low rule. In 2-3 player games, frequent Hi/Lo pot splits can make the game slow.
2. Additional Special Hands#
These new special hands add more excitement to Sampyong Hi-Lo.
Skip Straight#
- Condition: A 5-card combination where numbers skip one rank consecutively. (e.g.,
2, 4, 6, 8, T) - Role of Ace: Can be used as 1 for the lowest straight (
A, 3, 5, 7, 9) or as 14 for the highest straight (6, 8, T, Q, A). - Possible Combinations (stronger as you go down)
A, 3, 5, 7, 92, 4, 6, 8, T3, 5, 7, 9, J4, 6, 8, T, Q5, 7, 9, J, K6, 8, T, Q, A
Skip Straight Flush#
- Condition: Skip Straight and Flush . (e.g.,
2♥ 4♥ 6♥ 8♥ T♥)
3. Hand Rankings & Probabilities#
The final ranking, including all special hands, was determined by recalculating the probability of each hand appearing within an 8-card pool (your 3 hole cards + 5 board cards).
| Rank | Hand | Probability in 8 cards | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Flush | 0.0045% | Suited A, K, Q, J, T. Undisputed #1. |
| 2 | Skip Straight Flush | 0.025% | Skip Straight and Flush |
| 2 | Straight Flush | 0.04% | 5 suited cards in sequence. |
| 3 | Four of a Kind | 0.25% | 4 cards of the same rank. |
| 4 | Full House | 3.5% | Three of a Kind + a Pair. |
| 5 | Flush | 4.0% | 5 cards of the same suit. |
| 6 | Skip Straight | 5.8% | (New) 5 cards skipping one rank consecutively. |
| 7 | Straight | 6.5% | 5 cards in sequential rank. |
| 8 | Three of a Kind | 6.0% | 3 cards of the same rank. |
| 9 | Two Pair | 28.0% | Two different pairs. |
| 10 | One Pair | 35.0% | One pair. |
| 11 | High Card | 3.4% | No hand made. |
The reason why the probability of making a Straight is higher than that of making a Triple, yet a Triple ranks higher, is explained in the appendix below.
4. How to Play#
- Blinds: Small Blind (SB) and Big Blind (BB) place mandatory bets.
- Pre-flop: Each player receives 3 hole cards, and the first betting round begins.
- Flop, Turn, River: Community cards are dealt in sequence: 3 on the Flop, 1 on the Turn, and 1 on the River. A betting round occurs after each deal.
- Showdown: After the final betting round, remaining players reveal their hands.
- Pot Distribution: The player with the best High hand takes half of the High Pot, and the player with the best Low hand takes half of the Low Pot. (If no player qualifies for a Low hand, the High hand takes the entire pot.)
Enjoy ‘Sampyong Hi-Lo’ with its new rules and hands, making the game even more exciting!
Appendix#
Probability of Hand Completion by Street#
The probabilities in the table below estimate the average probability of completing a specific hand at each stage when dealt 3 random hole cards and encountering random board cards.
Probabilities are determined by the total number of cards available at each stage:
- Flop: Your 3 hole cards + 3 board cards = Total 6 cards for combination
- Turn: Your 3 hole cards + 4 board cards = Total 7 cards for combination
- River: Your 3 hole cards + 5 board cards = Total 8 cards for combination
Sampyong Hi-Lo Hand Completion Probabilities (Street by Street)#
| Hand | Flop (6 cards) | Turn (7 cards) | River (8 cards) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Straight Flush | ~0.001% | ~0.002% | ~0.0045% |
| Skip Straight Flush | ~0.002% | ~0.01% | ~0.025% |
| Straight Flush | ~0.01% | ~0.02% | ~0.04% |
| Four of a Kind | ~0.025% | ~0.1% | ~0.25% |
| Full House | ~0.4% | ~1.5% | ~3.5% |
| Flush | ~0.5% | ~1.8% | ~4.0% |
| Skip Straight | ~1.5% | ~3.5% | ~5.8% |
| Straight | ~2.0% | ~4.0% | ~6.5% |
| Three of a Kind | ~2.5% | ~4.0% | ~6.0% |
| Two Pair | ~15.0% | ~22.0% | ~28.0% |
| One Pair | ~50.0% | ~45.0% | ~35.0% |
| High Card | ~28.0% | ~22.0% | ~3.4% |
※ Explanation for Probability Fluctuations:
- Decrease in One Pair / Two Pair Probability: While One Pair or Two Pair have a very high probability on the Flop, as more cards are added on the Turn and River, hands often develop into higher ranks (e.g., Three of a Kind, Straight), making their relative probabilities appear to decrease.
- Decrease in High Card Probability: As more cards become available, the probability of forming any combination increases, so the likelihood of ending with just a High Card (no hand made) decreases sharply.
Why a Straight is Valued Higher Than Three of a Kind in Sampyong Hi-Lo#
When looking at the hand rankings for ‘Sampyong Hi-Lo’, you might notice something interesting. Based on the final probabilities of making a hand with all 8 cards, Three of a Kind (exclusive - 6.0%, cumulative - 20%) is rarer than a Straight (exclusive - 6.5%, cumulative - 25%). According to the fundamental poker principle of ‘rarity’, Three of a Kind should be ranked higher than a Straight. However, Sampyong Hi-Lo maintains the traditional poker ranking of Straight > Three of a Kind.
The reason for this goes beyond simple final probabilities; it is a strategic choice designed to maximize the game’s ‘strategic depth’ and ‘dynamic fun’.
The Key is the Action on the Turn#
The most significant reason for this decision is to make the gameplay on the turn more exciting. Let’s compare the difference between the two rule sets through the following scenario.
-
Scenario: On the turn, Player A has made ‘Three of a Kind’, and Player B has a ‘Straight Draw’. Player A makes a strong bet.
-
Case 1: If the ‘Three of a Kind > Straight’ rule were applied?
- From Player B’s perspective (with the straight draw), there is no dilemma. Even if they miraculously complete their straight on the river, they would still lose to the Three of a Kind. With almost no chance of winning, there is no reason to put more money into a losing battle, so Player B will almost certainly fold to Player A’s bet.
- Impact on the game: The action dies on the turn. The winner is decided before the river card is even dealt, eliminating tension and making the game very dull.
-
Case 2: With the current ‘Straight > Three of a Kind’ rule? (The Sampyong Hi-Lo rule)
- From Player B’s perspective, a meaningful decision now begins. “If I complete my straight on the river, I can beat the Three of a Kind!” Player B will now start calculating pot odds and their draw probability, and can make various strategic choices like calling, or even raising if they suspect a bluff.
- From Player A’s perspective (with the made Three of a Kind), going to the river isn’t a pure loss either, even though Player B might hit their straight. Player A still has an opportunity to draw to a full house, which would beat the straight.
- Impact on the game: The action on the turn comes alive. The pot gets bigger, and a tense psychological battle unfolds between Player A and B. The suspense of knowing that a single river card can change everything makes the game far more exciting and strategically deep.
The hand rankings in ‘Sampyong Hi-Lo’ do not solely reflect the final rarity on the river. Rather, they are strategically designed to enrich the action at every stage of the game, especially on the turn, which is often the pivotal point of a hand.
By valuing a Straight higher than Three of a Kind, the value of drawing hands is preserved, and players are encouraged to make bold plays with a wider range of hands. This is the key element that makes ‘Sampyong Hi-Lo’ a more fun and engaging game.