How the Progressive High Hand Works: a complete guide for poker players in Bogotá

If you play poker seriously in Bogotá, you’ve probably heard about the Progressive High Hand — that extraordinary hand that doesn’t just win you the pot but also pays an accumulated bonus on top. At The Lounge Casino, the High Hand is one of the permanent poker room promotions, and understanding how it works can make the difference between staying home on a Tuesday night and showing up with something extra in play.

This guide covers what the Progressive High Hand is, how the pots accumulate, which hands qualify, and how to claim the prize when it lands. No tricks, no strategy — just practical information so you know exactly what to expect when you play at the largest poker room in Bogotá.

What the Progressive High Hand is

The High Hand is a bonus on top of the regular pot, paid by the poker room when a player makes a premium hand during a cash game session. Unlike the pot itself (which goes to the winners of that specific hand), the High Hand is paid from the poker room’s accumulated fund.

The key word is “progressive”: the pot grows every hour it goes unclaimed. If nobody makes quads in Hold’em today, tomorrow’s pot is bigger. That’s how it works at most poker rooms around the world, and that’s how it works at The Lounge.

How the pots accumulate

Each qualifying hand has its own independent pot. There isn’t a single “High Hand pot” — there are several running in parallel, one for each premium hand on the list. For example:

• The “quads from 2 to 9” pot accumulates on its own.
• The “quads from 10 to A” pot runs separately.
• The “straight flush” pot follows its own pace.
• And so on for each category on the current list.

The house contributes to the pots proportionally to the rake generated at the tables. If the poker room had a busy week, the pots grow faster. If it was a slow week, they grow slower. It’s a fair, self-regulating system based on how much poker is actually being played.

Which hands qualify

The exact list of qualifying hands is posted at the poker room reception and updates periodically. In general terms, the categories are:

• Quads (subdivided by card rank)
• Straight flush (usually excluding royal flush, which typically has its own pot)
• Royal flush
• Special hands by variant (certain combinations in Omaha or Omaha 5)

Something important: each variant has its own criteria. A straight flush in Hold’em counts; in Omaha 5 the criteria may be different due to the number of cards in hand. Always check the current list before sitting down.

How to claim the prize

When you make a qualifying hand, the process is simple:

1. Play the hand to showdown. The prize applies only if the hand is shown at the table — a fold doesn’t pay even if you had the hand.
2. Notify your dealer. Staff automatically detects the hand in most cases, but if it isn’t registered for any reason, ask for immediate verification.
3. The floor validates the hand. They review the current pot structure, confirm your hand qualifies and register the prize.
4. You receive payment at the end of the session (or per current policy). Some pots pay immediately; others at day close.

The key: the hand must occur at an active cash game table with sufficient action. It doesn’t apply in tournaments (tournaments have their own prize structures).

Play responsibly

The Progressive High Hand is a fun promotion that adds to the poker room’s appeal, but it’s not a reason to chase hands or change your strategy. Professionals will tell you the same: play the hands you should play and collect the prize if it lands.

Where to check current pot sizes

Pot amounts change daily. To find out current amounts before your session:

• Ask at the poker room reception when you arrive. Staff will give you the day’s numbers.
• Check the poker room board — the main pots are posted visibly.
• Ask your dealer when you sit down. They usually have the numbers on hand.

Related reading

• Poker Room — table structure, schedule and live action
• Tournaments — weekly tournament calendar and prize pools
• Promotions — full list of poker room and casino promotions