How to Play Razz Poker

Razz is a poker game played with a standard English deck of 52 cards. Each player receives a total of seven cards with which to make the lowest five-card hand. Straights and flushes do not count in razz, so the best hand is A-2-3-4-5, often called a wheel.

The next best hand is A-2-3-4-6, then A-2-3-5-6, A-2-4-5-6, A-3-4-5-6 and 2-3-4-5-6. Each of these is called a six, or six-low. The next lowest hand is a seven, or seven-low hand: A-2-3-4-7.

Razz is played like 7-card stud for low, usually as a limit game. A typical game of $5-$10 has a single ante of 50-cents and each player is dealt two cards down and one card up. The high card (King is the highest) is forced to "bring it in" for $1. If there is a tie for high card, suits are used with spades being the highest followed by hearts, diamonds and clubs. Anybody wishing to raise must take the bet to $5.

The next card is dealt face-up (Fourth Street) and the bet is $5, but from this time on, the low hand is first to act. The next two rounds (Fifth and Sixth Street) have $10 betting after each card is dealt face-up. A final round of cards is dealt (the river) with a single card to each player, face-down. Most razz games allow a three or four raise limit per round.

After the final round of betting, all cards are turned face up, and "cards speak," meaning the dealer will sort the cards of each player to verify their best five-card "low" hand. In the case of a tie (i.e.: two hands of A-2-3-4-5) the pot is split evenly between the two best "low" hands.

Players new to razz often play too many hands and fail to recognize when they are drawing dead (unable to win regardless of what they catch on the river). Because four cards are face-up out of each player's hand, the reading of hands is very important. After five cards you can figure out your opponent's best hands, and then adjust after seeing Sixth Street. Remember that each opponent has three down-cards after Seventh Street. Monsters are often hiding at the river.