Razz is a lowball game: lowest hand wins.
Straights and flushes are irrelevant and a pair (or higher)
hurts your hand. The objective is to get five, low, unpaired
cards. That's RAZZ in a nutshell. Razz
is similar to Seven card stud: everyone is dealt 7 cards
(2 down, 4 up, 1 down) there's a round of betting between
each card. The major difference between Razz and 7-Stud
is: In a game of Razz, you're trying to get the worst
possible hand. Read on for more details.
Razz
Gameplay
A razz hand begins with each player posting a small ante.
Everyone
is then dealt three cards: two face down and one face up.
The
highest face-up card starts the betting with a forced blind,
also known as the bring-in. If you're playing $2/$4,
the bring-in is usually $1; half or the smaller betting
unit. The bring in bet may choose to raise
by betting the full low limit bet (in $2/$4, that would
be $2.). Play proceeds clockwise around the table, with
each player choosing to fold, call, or raise. All bets and
raises must be equal to the low limit bet size. This
opening round is commonly refered to as "3rd Street."
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with Razz:
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4th
street - A fourth, face-up card is dealt to every
player. The player with the lowest hand showing is the first
to act: check, or bet. As before, play proceeds
clockwise around the table. All bets and raises must be
equal to the low limit bet size.
5th
street - A fifth card is dealt face up to every
player. Play proceeds as in the previous round, with the
lowest hand betting first, Note, on 5th street, the price
of poker goes up: all bets and raises must be equal to the
high limit bet size ($4 in a $2/$4 game.).
6th
street - A sixth card is dealt face up to every player. Play
proceeds as in the previous round.
7th
street - A seventh and final card is dealt face down to every
player. Once again: all bets and raises must be equal to the higher bet
limit. Anyone who remains in the hand and calls the last bet/raise then
goest to showdown, where the worst hand wins. |
Top 10 Razz Hands
2, 2, 7, 6, 5
A, A, T, 9, 8
K, Q, J, T, 9
K, Q, J, T, 7
9, 8, 7, 6, 5
9, 7, 6, 5, 3
9, 7, 6, 5, A
6, 5, 4, 3, 2
6, 4, 3, 2, A
5, 4, 3, 2, A
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Razz
Strategy
Look
for good starting hands: Three babies are what you want (three
cards whose value is Eight or Lower.)
If
you wait for good starting hand, blinds and antes will eat you up....
try to steal some blinds and antes with the occasional late position raise
(with a low 'up card' showing.)
OBSERVE!
Keep your eye on your opponents holdings as well as what they have folded.
By tracking cards, you can more accurately make decisions based on your
real equity at any given time.
Last
but not least: No free cards! |
