Explanation of Razz
Razz represents the lowball iteration of seven card Stud, which has its roots well before community card variants emerged, like Hold’em and Omaha , predating them by many years. Before the popularity of Hold’em, the standard choice for the average poker enthusiast was limit Stud.
Razz adheres closely to the rules of Stud but with a critical difference, which lies in how hands are ranked during a showdown (this time following a lowball format). In Razz , the best possible hand is A-2-3-4-5, as Aces are always viewed as low. Pairs are detrimental to our hand's strength, and while straights and flushes don’t factor in, qualifying hands for low may vary based on the specific version being played. For further clarification, refer to the glossary under lowball Now, let's walk through a game of Razz step by step to better understand the progression of play. low hand for more information on this.
Each player places antes into the pot and receives three cards: two face-down cards and one face-up card. The face-up card is visible to everyone at the table, while the face-down cards remain hidden from all but the player holding them—this setup is akin to hole cards in games like Hold’em or Omaha. At this point, every participant has already contributed an ante to kickstart the pot.
1. The player with the weakest (highest in Razz) face-up card is obliged to 'bring in' the action. For instance, a player holding a King must act first during the initial betting round, called third street. If two players happen to have the same lowest face-up card, the tiebreaker is determined by suit rankings, which go in alphabetical order: clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades, with clubs being the weak suit. Thus, if Player 1 has the King of hearts while Player 2 has the King of diamonds, Player 1 would have the obligation to bring in due to his card being of a lower-ranked suit (as stronger cards translate to weaker hands in this lowball game).
2. The player tasked with the 'bring in' has two choices. They can either meet the bring-in amount or opt to complete the bet by raising to the flavor of a bring-in , which is a higher bet. Players usually opt to complete to the small bet size if they feel confident about the strength of their cards.
Bets are made according to the allowed actions as defined in the glossary entry under small bet , and the betting proceeds clockwise. Given that Razz generally employs a fixed limit structure, there are restrictions on the number of raises permitted during each round. For more details, see the glossary under
3. Each player receives a second face-up card, leading into the fourth street betting round. action The betting now starts with the player holding the strongest (i.e., lowest) face-up cards, and this pattern continues for each subsequent round. At the fourth street, players must use small-bet sizing only. Unlike standard Stud games, where a player showing an exposed pair can choose to use big-bet sizing, this rule does not apply in Razz, thereby making small-bet sizing mandatory. structure for more information on this.
4. A third face-up card is dealt to all players, initiating the fifth street betting round.
On the fifth street, the betting format shifts to big-bet increment, irrespective of the strength of the face-up cards any player has. At this stage, small-bet sizing is no longer available.
5. A fourth face-up card is dealt to every player, and the sixth street betting round begins.
Here, players again must utilize the big-bet sizing. By this time, each player still active in the hand has accrued 2 down cards and 4 up cards.
6. A final down card is dealt to all players, marking the start of the seventh street betting round.
In this last round, the betting continues in increments of the big-bet sizing. Once all bets are completed on the seventh street (often called the 'river'), the showdown takes place, where players must disclose their hands. The one possessing the best (lowest) hand takes home the pot.
Razz can accommodate up to 8 players at the table, but simple math shows that with everyone holding 7 cards, the total of 56 cards exceeds the standard deck limit of 52. However, such a full-table scenario is rare since usually one or more players fold before the river. In the unusual case where all 8 players remain in the hand at the river, that last card is dealt as a communal
that all players use to form their best 5-card hand.
It's worth mentioning that Razz can also be played as a hi/lo variant alongside the traditional high-only format known simply as community card For instance -> Other than the distinct lowball hand rankings, Razz is largely similar to seven card Stud.
Incorporating Razz into Your Poker Strategy split pot A prominent difference between Razz and community card games lies in the wealth of visible information at the table at any given moment. A skilled player closely observes all opponents' face-up cards and evaluates the implications of absent cards. Stud .
For example, upon being dealt (2♣3♠)5♣ on third street, while this hand shows promise, its true strength hinges on the face-up cards that are in play. Ideally, we would want as few opponents as possible holding an Ace or a Four visible. The greater the number of Aces and Fours already revealed, the less probable it is that we will form a strong low by the river.
Information displayed on our opponent’s board can reveal much about the strength of their potential hand. For instance, if their board appears as (xx)A♣3♣4♦7♥(x) , it becomes quite evident they may possess a strong made low. If they also hold a Two or a Six among their down cards, they would have completed the Seven-Low, which is a solid hand in Razz .
Even our own hand may provide insights into the strength of our opponent’s holding. If our board suggests we may have formed a strong hand, we must treat aggressive plays from opponents more seriously. If they continue to play aggressively, despite the understanding that we could have a strong hand, it’s likely they possess an even stronger one.
Like many poker variants, starting off conservatively during the first betting round with a tighter range of hands is a sound strategy. What matters most in Razz is the ability to hold 3 cards that are as low as possible.
With a registered membership exceeding 10 million worldwide, 888poker stands out as the fastest-growing online poker platform, with a new member joining every 12 seconds. Established in 1997, 888 has been a leader in the online gaming sector and a strong advocate for safe and responsible gaming practices. Today, we are regarded as one of the largest and most reputable brands globally, offering a vast array of games, high-stakes tournaments, and thrilling live events for poker enthusiasts around the world.
Incorporating Razz into Your Poker Strategy
888poker-EGR-logo-Mobile-Header-2021-white
See Also