HLH means High–Low–Hand High. Every hand can award a Board High point, a qualifying Board Low point, and a Hand High point. Players earn fractional shares when a point ties; the player with the greatest point total wins the whole pot, and tied point leaders chop it.

How HLH works

1. Board High

Make the best standard high hand using exactly two private cards and exactly three board cards.

2. Board Low

Make the best ace-to-five, 8-or-better low with the same exact two-plus-three usage. Straights and flushes do not count against a low.

3. Hand High

Make the best five-card high hand from private cards only. With more than five private cards configured, Aurora selects the best five.

When does a Board Low exist?

The board must supply at least three distinct ranks of eight or lower because every low uses exactly three board cards. Aces are low. Paired ranks cannot fill two places in a five-rank low.

Valid low structureThree distinct low board ranks are available.
Board
K♠9♠4♠6♣3♦
Player
A♠Q♠2♦5♣J♥

Uses A♠ 2♦ + 3♦ 4♠ 6♣ → 6-4-3-2-A

No low from the flopK-Q-J contains zero qualifying low ranks. Two cards remain, so the board can never reach the required three.
Flop
K♣Q♦J♠
Possible runout
2♣A♦

Only A and 2 qualify → Board Low is impossible.

Verified worked hand: a three-point scoop

This fixture follows Aurora’s production evaluator. The same private cards may score more than one category.

Board
K♠9♠4♠6♣3♦
Ben
A♠Q♠2♦5♣J♥
Sam
K♥9♥7♠4♥2♣
1
Board HighBen · flushA♠ Q♠ + K♠ 9♠ 4♠
2
Board LowBen · 6-4-3-2-AA♠ 2♦ + 3♦ 4♠ 6♣
3
Hand HighBen · ace-highPrivate cards only

Final: Ben 3, Sam 0. Ben is the sole point leader and wins the pot.

How splits and chops change the score

Board HighBen ½ · Sam ½A tied point is divided equally.
Board LowBen 1
Hand HighSam 1
TotalBen 1½ · Sam 1½The point leaders tie, so they chop the pot.

Diminishing vs Non-Diminishing HLH rules

Diminishing

If no Board Low is possible, that point disappears. The hand has only 2 contested points: Board High and Hand High.

High · 1Low · 0Hand · 1

Non-diminishing

If Board Low is dead, its value transfers to Board High. The hand keeps 3 points of value.

High · 2Low · 0Hand · 1

In Aurora’s room setup, the host sees a Low scoring control with the exact choices Diminishing and Non-diminishing for HLH. In a home game, announce this rule before dealing; online, confirm the room configuration.

Common mistakes

  • Calling any five low-looking cards a low: the board itself must provide three distinct qualifying ranks.
  • Using one or three private cards for Board High or Board Low instead of exactly two.
  • Using board cards for Hand High; it is private cards only.
  • Assuming a dead low always disappears without checking the room’s low-scoring mode.

Related guides

Place HLH in the wider family with High-Low poker, 8-or-better rules, five-point HLHLH, and the mixed poker games guide.

Ready to deal HLH?

Start an Aurora room, choose HLH, confirm the Low scoring setting, and share the room code.

Play on Aurora →