RAZZ for Beginners
Razz is another name for Seven-Card Stud Low. There is no high hand. The lowest hand Scoops the Pot.
The play format and set-up is similar to that of seven-card stud high, except the high card is only required to make the forced first round bet. Ace is considered low. All low hands play first on all preceding rounds.
Straights and flushes are irrelevant, and have no ranking. This leave the best possible hand as A-2-3-4-5.
This perfect hand is known as the wheel. An open pair has no effect on the betting structure.
During a horse game, Razz is normally played at limit, and is the third poker variation to be played.
Rules of Razz Poker
All seven-card stud betting rules still apply in razz poker, except as otherwise stated.
The smallest hand is deemed to have won the pot. Aces are always used as a low card, flushes and straights have no effect whatsoever on the low value of a hand.
Each card value can only be used once so paired cards also have no value. The best possible hand you can have is A-2-3-4-5.
The highest card by suit kicks off play with a mandatory bet. The low hand always acts first on each of the preceding rounds.
If the low hand is tied, the first player clockwise of the dealer will commence to play.
Fixed-limit games use the lower limit on third and fourth streets and the upper limit on the following streets. An open pair is ignored and will not affect the limit.
The dealer always announces pairs when they first occur, except face card pairs, which will never get announced.
Razz Tips for beginners
The best possible starting hand is A23, which would comprise of two hole cards and the first community card. The worst hand is KKK.
Hand Ranking is high card downwards. This means that 6,5,4,3,2 will always outrank 7,5,4,3,A, because 6 is lower.
In short-handed games you may have the opportunity to bluff your opponents, but be careful. Unless you have a good early bluffing opportunity, and don't possess three low starting cards, it's probably best to play it safe.
Pairs are useless. A pair is like having a dead card. if you have two pair showing, its usually best to fold.
If you get a low third and fourth street, regardless of what your hole cards are, there is a good opportunity to bluff.
Look around to view your opponents up cards. If you're beating them, sometimes value can be had by quickly throwing in a raise.
Bluffing is a key skill in Razz. When first starting out in the game, many inexperienced players believe Razz is merely a game of luck. Experienced players know better.
As you start to play more, you'll realize the game is more about observations and timely bluffs. Like all other poker varieties, patience is a virtue.
Razz is probably the easiest poker game for new players to learn, if you can count to five you already understand the basics.
