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Basics of Razz Poker

November 21, 2008

The lowest hand wins the pot. The game is not all that different from seven card stud (aces are low) is required to make the first forced bet of the first round. The low hand acts first on all subsequent rounds. In Razz straights and flushes have no rankings, so the best possible hand is 5-4-3-2-1-A affectionately known as a wheel.

Rules of Razz Poker

1. The lowest hand wins the pot. Aces are low and straight and flushes have no effect on the low value of a hand.

2. All seven card stud rules apply in Razz unless otherwise noted.

3. The high card by suit starts the action with a forced bet. The low acts first in the rounds to follow. If the low hand is tied then the first player clockwise to the dealer starts the action.

4. Most fixed-limit games use a lower limit one third and fourth streets and the upper limit on subsequent streets. Having a pair does not affect the limit

Basic Razz Strategy

The best starting hand in Razz is A-2-3. A general strategy in a full-ring game is to only play three card eights or lower, meaning any three cards eight or lower that are not paired. Players want to try and avoid any pairs and should strongly watch the door cards in the relation to the strength of their own hand.

Another key Strategy in Razz is to steal the antes and bring-in bets. If a player is to the right of the bring-in bettor, and everyone else folds a raise with a lower exposed card should normally induce a fold from the bring-in bettor.

Other Player’s Up Cards

This is undoubtedly a very important aspect of Razz. The players who are very observant will tend to view the up cards in order to have an educated guess as to the relative strength of their own hand.

Live and Dead Cards

This is an important aspect of seven card stud. As in that game, you want your cards to be “live” in Razz you want them to be “dead”. Seeing your cards on the board is good so you know that the chance of pair you cards goes down and nothing kills and good Razz starting hand than a pair.

Knowing When to Fold’em

If you make it a habit to starting with subpar hands and drawing to weaker hands, you will just be leaking out your chips along with your bankroll. As with other poker variation, if it looks like you are beat you probably are beat. In low-limit games you have to play aggressively players tend to have the hands they represent so don’t pay them off, stay patient and wait for that time to be aggressive.

In Razz it goes totally against what most players are comfortable playing, it gets frustrating at times. This game is also a welcome break from the normal poker element. It even helps players who might take poker too seriously and help them remember why we love poker in the first place. So remember folding is okay, but raising is more fun.

Written by Rob · Filed Under HORSE Poker Strategy 

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