How to Play Razz Poker
Razz is a classic lowball poker variant where the worst hand is the best hand. Learn the rules, master the wheel, and discover the strategy behind winning when the lowest hand wins.
What is Razz Poker?
Razz is a seven-card stud lowball game. Unlike Texas Hold'em or traditional Stud where you try to make the highest hand, the objective in Razz is to make the lowest possible five-card hand out of the seven cards you are dealt.
1 Aces are Low
In Razz, the Ace is always the lowest (and best) card. It never counts as a high card.
2 No Straights or Flushes
Straights and flushes do not count against you. Having a flush does not ruin your low hand.
3 No 8-or-Better Rule
Unlike Stud Hi-Lo, there is no qualifier. The lowest hand wins the pot, even if it's a Queen-low.
Razz Hand Rankings
Because straights and flushes are ignored, and Aces are low, the best possible hand in Razz is 5-4-3-2-A. This hand is known as the "Wheel". Pairs are bad because they reduce your number of distinct low cards, forcing you to use higher cards to complete your 5-card hand.
The Nuts (Best Hand)
The "Wheel" — Five High
Very Good Hand
Seven Low (7-6-4-3-2). Evaluated from highest card down.
Poor Hand (Paired)
A pair of 4s is used as a low and would only beat a higher pair.
How to Play Razz (Street-by-Street)
Razz is usually played as a Fixed-Limit game with up to 8 players. There are no community cards. Instead, players receive individual hands spread across five betting rounds known as "streets".
Antes & The Bring-In
Before cards are dealt, all players post a small ante. After the first three cards are dealt, the player with the highest upcard showing is forced to make a forced bet called the bring-in. (If there's a tie, suits break the tie: Spades > Hearts > Diamonds > Clubs).
Third Street (The Initial Deal)
Each player is dealt three cards: two face down (hole cards) and one face up (door card). The player with the highest door card posts the bring-in. Action moves clockwise, with players choosing to fold, call, or complete (raise) the bet.
Fourth Street
Each remaining player receives a fourth card face up. From this street onward, the player with the lowest showing hand acts first. In limit play, bets are placed at the lower betting increment.
Fifth & Sixth Street
Players receive their fifth and sixth cards face up, followed by a betting round after each. The betting limits double (upper limit) starting on Fifth Street.
Seventh Street & Showdown
The final seventh card is dealt face down. After the final betting round, players reveal their cards. The player who can make the lowest 5-card combination from their 7 cards wins the pot.
Razz Strategy for Beginners
Starting Hand Selection
- ✓ Play low, un-paired cards. The best starting hands are three cards 8 or lower (e.g., A-2-3, 2-4-7).
- ✗ Avoid pairs. Pairing your hole cards is disastrous in Razz. Fold paired hands immediately.
- ✗ Don't play high cards. Avoid playing hands containing 9, T, J, Q, or K unless you are in a steal situation.
Intermediate Tactics
- ⚡ Steal the Bring-In. If the highest card posts the bring-in and folds around to you, and your door card is lower than the rest of the table, raise to steal the antes.
- 👁️ Board Reading (Dead Cards). Always look at your opponents' upcards. If you need a 3, but you see three 3s on the board, your chances of drawing one are mathematically dead.
📋 Razz Poker Cheat Sheet
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Razz in poker? ▼
Razz is a lowball variant of Seven-Card Stud. Instead of trying to make the highest hand like in Texas Hold'em, the sole objective in Razz is to make the lowest possible five-card hand from seven dealt cards.
Do straights and flushes count in Razz? ▼
No. In Razz poker rules, straights and flushes are completely ignored and do not count against your low hand. This makes 5-4-3-2-A the absolute best hand possible, regardless of suits.
What happens if hands tie? ▼
If two or more players have the exact same five-card low hand, the pot is split equally between them. Suits are never used to break a tie at showdown in Razz.
Is Razz the same as Stud? ▼
Mechanically, Razz is played exactly like Seven-Card Stud (same dealing structure, betting, and streets). However, the objective is inverted: you want the lowest hand, not the highest.
Ready to test your skills?
Razz heavily rewards observation and discipline. Remember to watch the "dead cards" and fold your pairs early!
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