Poker term
Wheel
The lowest possible straight, A-2-3-4-5, with the ace playing low. In lowball and split-pot games such as Omaha Hi-Lo it is also the best possible low hand, and a suited wheel is a 'steel wheel'.
Frequently asked questions
What is the wheel in poker?
The straight ace-two-three-four-five, with the ace playing low. It is the weakest straight in high-only games — every other straight beats it.
Why is the wheel important in Hi-Lo games?
Because in Omaha Hi-Lo and similar split-pot games it is simultaneously a straight for the high half and the best possible low hand. Holding it is the classic way to scoop a pot.
Can the ace be high and low in the same hand?
It plays at either end of a straight — A-2-3-4-5 or 10-J-Q-K-A — but not both at once; there is no 'around the corner' straight such as Q-K-A-2-3 in standard poker.