Razz Poker basics

Poker Basics: How to play Razz

On this poker variant, for the game to start all players must place an ante bet before receiving cards. The amount varies depending on the table and poker room. Once players have placed the ante, they will be dealt 3 cards, two hole cards are facing down and one more facing up. Whoever shows the highest value card –the one facing up- will start the betting round, and place the ¨bring in bet¨, the betting cycle will continue clockwise, until all players have decided to call-raise or fold. When trying to figure which cards are more valuable, to determine who will start the betting round and place the ¨bring in bet¨, the card suits will rank if necessary to determine a winner: spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs, with spades being the highest.

Players will later get a 4th street card also facing up. Now the system changes and the one who will start the betting round will be the one with the lowest value hand. This player will chose between check, raise – half the low limit - or fold (no reason for this). Again this betting round starts with the lowest 4th street card and continues clockwise.

Once the betting round after the 4th card is done, the dealer will give the players one more card, in this case 5th street, also facing up, and the same procedure as before, the lowest card will begin the wagering round.

After the 5th street card all wagers will become ¨big bets¨.

In the Sixth Street round, players receive another exposed card. And just like before, the player with the lowest hand will the first to start playing.

Once the round is done all players will receive their final card, also called 7th street. This time the last card will face down. The play proceeds as before.

Once the players have placed their bets, the last bettor will start the showdown and will expose his/her cards.

Determining the winner on Razz is not complicated, the same hand values used in hold´em will be use in Razz, and in the search for the lowest value hand only 5 cards will be taken into consideration. The winner is the player with the lowest hand value; one important detail to know is that on Razz there is no need to have a qualifying hand like in other poker variations. In a case of a tie between hands the pot will be split, and the suit of the cards won´t be taken into consideration to undrawn the game.

This game is very similar to Seven Card Stud, so if you are already familiar with this other poker variant, it won’t be hard for you to learn it.

Many online poker rooms offer Razz to be play for fun as well as 7 Card Stud do try those first before getting into the real action; don´t forget to complement this information with some strategy to improve your skill even more.

Poker Rules & Games

• Badugi Poker


• Caribbean Stud Poker


• Five Card Draw


• H.O.R.S.E Poker


• Omaha Hi-Lo


• Omaha Poker


• Razz Poker


• Seven Card Stud


• Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo


• Texas Hold'em