What Is Razz Poker Articles | Poker

By: Richard Bleuze

What Is Razz Poker

Razz Poker is also known as 7 card stud low.  Razz Poker  became popular during the 2004 World Series of Poker.  The object of Razz Poker is relatively simple.  Whoever has the worst hand wins!  Razz Poker can be one of the most frustrating poker game, however. 

The Razz Poker rules are simple.  Razz Poker is an ante game and every player is required to put in their ante before the cards are dealt.  Once the cards have been dealt, Razz Poker plays very much like 7 Card Stud with a few important differences.

In Razz Poker, the highest up card on third street has to make the forced bring in bet to start the action.  On all subsequent rounds, the lowest hand showing acts first.  Should there be a tie then the first active Razz Poker player clockwise from the dealer begins the round's action.  Another difference in Razz Poker is if a player pairs his door card then there is no double bet option like there would be in standard 7 card stud.

In Razz Poker, the lowest hand wins the pot at showdown.  In addition, aces count as low and flushes and straights are ignored.  Thus, the best five card hand in Razz Poker is Ace,2,3,4,5.  Figuring out the best low hand is easy. You start with the top card and work down.  Thus, a six low beats a seven low for example.  Should there be a tie on the top card, then you move to the second card.

Razz Poker starting hands are easy to remember. If you have three cards between Ace and five, you have a great starting hand. A23 is the best starting hand, but any three cards between Ace and five (no pairs of course!) is a hand to bet and raise with on third street. Three card starting hands between Ace and six are good starting hands and should be played aggressively as well, but with a little more caution if several other players with lower door cards are ramping up the action. Three cards of seven or lower is a fair starting hand that you'll want to see 4th street with, even if you have to call a bet or two to do so. A three card eight is becoming marginal. If you can limp in or steal the antes with it, do so. Playing three card eights, however, will generally cost you chips in the long run.

Many Razz Poker players are observant when viewing the up cards and tend to have a much better idea of their relative hand strength by viewing the up cards.   If you have three cards to a nine low and there are no other up cards lower than a nine, then you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you have the best hand on third street and can bet and raise, even though a "nine low" is not usually a hand that you would play.  However, you should continue to keep an eye on the other Razz Poker players porches as the hand progresses.  Even if you catch low cards that pair your hole cards, if the other players are catching bad high cards, you can still usually win the pot by betting aggressively.

Live and dead cards is an important aspect of 7 card stud.  While in that game, you are wanting your cards to be "live", while in Razz Poker you prefer them to be "dead."  Catching pairs can kill a great starting Razz Poker hand, so the more dead cards you see the better.

Razz Poker is not really a slow playing game.  There are exceptions of course, but generally speaking if you have a good hand, you want to jam it.  The  reason is that by jamming it, you generally create a big enough pot on third street that it allows you to call on fourth street even if you catch a bad card.  You can get right back on track with another good low card on fifth street.  Generally, you won't go wrong by just betting and raising when you have the best of it.

An interesting feature of Razz Poker is the little known fact that after five cards are dealt, the best drawing hand is a favorite over any made nine low. In most forms of poker the made hand usually leads the betting to make the draw hands pay, but in Razz Poker, that is not usually true on fifth street. However, things are back to normal on 6th street.  With one card to come, the made nine low is now a favorite over the best draw and should definitely lead the betting.

Knowing when to fold.  If you make a habit of starting with sub par hands or drawing with weak hands, then you will just be leaking chips and blowing your bankroll.  Save your money for when you have the best hand and then play aggressively.  When good hands turn bad, release them.  This is when patience pays off!

In Razz Poker, ante stealing is important, especially the higher up you go in limits.  There are several situations where ante stealing should be attempted. First, if the bring in player is immediately to your left and it is folded up to you, you should always complete the bet to steal the bring and antes.  Another good stealing attempt to take in Razz Poker is when you are the lowest up card.  You can also attempt to steal with second highest up card if it is folded up to you in late position.  Just remember, that stealing becomes less effective and less profitable the lower the limits you are playing.  And remember to always be willing to let go of a steal attempt if another player plays back at you!

Have fun playing Razz Poker and remember to be patient

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