Ace-to-Six Lowball Poker | Rules, Rankings & Strategy

Ace-to-Six Lowball (often shortened to “A-6 Low”) is a low-hand ranking system where the best possible hand you can make is 6-4-3-2-A. Straights and flushes are not important and aces always count as low. Unlike Ace-to-Five, the “wheel” (A-2-3-4-5) is not the nut hand.

Ace-to-Six Poker Explained: How the A-6 Low System Works

Let’s first unpack the basic rules so you can see how Ace-to-Six differs from other lowball systems and understand what makes a strong hand.

In Ace-to-Six, aces always play low, meaning they are the lowest possible value, and straights and flushes do not count against you. The difference lies in the hand rankings:

• The “lowest” possible hand is 6-4-3-2-A.
• The wheel (A-2-3-4-5) is strong, but not the nuts.
• Pairs are always bad in a low hand.

With this basic foundation in place, let’s look at how the hands stack up in this system and which hands beat which.

Ace-to-Six Lowball Hand Rankings: From the Nuts to Weak Lows

Hand rankings in Ace-to-Six can be a little counterintuitive and confusing, especially if you’re used to Ace-to-Five, so here’s the order laid out clearly. Take note!

• 6-4-3-2-A – The nuts, or best possible Ace-to-Six low hand.
• 6-5-3-2-A – The next strongest possible hand.
• 6-5-4-2-A – Another strong holding.
• 7-4-3-2-A – Weaker than any 6-low, but still competitive.
• 8-5-4-3-2 – Mediocre low, often beaten.
• Any hand with a pair – Automatically weaker than unpaired lows.

Example:

• Hand 1: 6♠ 4♦ 3♣ 2♠ A♥ → 6-4 low (the nuts).
• Hand 2: A♠ 2♦ 3♥ 4♣ 5♣ → 5-4 low (good, but weaker).

Result: Hand 1 wins.

It’s especially important to memorize this hand ranking ladder if you want to become a good player. You always need to be sure of your hand and have an understanding of the probabilities of beating your opponent’s hand. Now let’s take a look at how Ace-to-Six differentiates from other similar games.

Ace-to-Six vs. Ace-to-Five vs. Deuce-to-Seven: Key Differences Explained

It can be quite easy to mix up the different lowball systems, but each has its own key difference. Here’s a side-by-side breakdown for you so you can see how Ace-to-Six fits into the bigger picture of lowball games.

Now that you understand the differences, let’s look at where you’ll actually encounter Ace-to-Six in live and online poker and what games to look for if you want to play.

Poker Variants That Use Ace-to-Six Lowball

Ace-to-Six isn’t the most popular variant, so keep an eye out for the following games if you want to try this format.

• Triple Draw Lowball (A-6): Played in a draw format with the Ace-to-Six system as the backbone of hand rankings.
• Mixed Games (H.O.R.S.E. or 8-Game): Some mixed game rotations feature Ace-to-Six Lowball.
• Home Games & Variants: Occasionally, it can be used in very niche variants where players want a twist on the more common Ace-to-Five.

So now you know how to play and where to play, but what you really need to know is strategy! Because it is these key little points that can turn you from a novice to an intermediate, that and a lot of practice of course.

Ace-to-Six Poker Strategy: How to Play with A-6 Low

Strategy in Ace-to-Six isn’t just about memorising rankings, it’s about applying them in real-world play to your advantage. 

• Chase the 6-Lows
  Hands that draw toward 6-4, 6-5, or other six-lows are your best starting point. Utilize these.
• Be Careful with the Wheel
  While A-2-3-4-5 is powerful in Ace-to-Five, here it’s not unbeatable. Respect the stronger six-lows and play cautiously. 
• Avoid Pairs
  As with other lowball systems, any pair ruins your low hand. Avoid at all costs.
• Position Still Matters
  In draw or split games, being last to act still lets you control pot size and spot weaknesses in your opponents’ ranges. Take advantage of good position.
• Adjust to Opponents
  Tight players often overvalue the wheel in Ace-to-Six; you can exploit this by pushing with stronger six-lows.
   

Theory is great, but practice is better. Let’s bring this game to life with an example hand.

Ace-to-Six in Action: Example Hand Breakdown

Here we have an example hand to show how Ace-to-Six actually plays out.

Game: Triple Draw Lowball (A-6 system)

• Your hand: 6♠ 4♦ 3♣ 2♠ A♥ → 6-4 low (the nuts).
• Opponent’s hand: A♠ 2♦ 3♥ 4♣ 5♣ → 5-4 low (the wheel).

Result: You win with the stronger 6-4 low, despite your opponent having the wheel!

This example highlights the critical difference between lowball systems: in Ace-to-Six, the wheel is strong, but never the absolute best. So remember that and check out some frequently asked questions below before you head to the tables.

FAQs

What is the best Ace-to-Six low hand?
The nuts is always 6-4-3-2-A.

Does the wheel (A-2-3-4-5) win in Ace-to-Six?
It’s strong, but it loses to any six-low hand.

Do straights and flushes count in Ace-to-Six?
No. Just like Ace-to-Five, straights and flushes are ignored.