Razz Poker strategy

Razz Strategy

It’s easy to know that the best possible starting hand in Razz is Ace- 2 -3, looking always for the lowest value hand we can, as well consider good any hand with cards rounding between Ace and 5, (no pairs please). Even a card with a 6 should be play aggressively, although if face up cards show low value cards on your opponents end, then you need to be cautious. With a hand on third street of cards with less than 7 as value, wait till the 4th street, call it and stay in the game, let the 4th card tell you what to do next. More value than the hand before, this starts to get risky, so if your hand is 8 high, you can find yourself tempted to continue, but still in the long run this will be negative, and of course we don´t want that. Remember the golden strategy is to know that not all hands should be winning hands therefore not all hands should be played, stay focus and play with skill and not emotion.

Cards Face-Up
Always keep a close eye on your opponents´ exposed cards; you need to carefully analyze your hand and compare it with your opponents’ cards, most of the times you will find the answer of what to do right there. If for example on the pocket cards you have all cards with a value of less than nine, an all face up cards show values of more than nine, by far you know you have the bet hand, therefore you can raise starting from the 3rd street card; this is truly a particular case since in other situation who wouldn´t have never bet or raise on a hand with cards high as nine. Still, you maintain a close eye on the rest of the up cards, if you get cards below nine that pair your hole ones –talking about the same previously exposed case- then you need to see if the other players are getting high or low cards, if those are still high you need to bet aggressively. This is simple, your cards are not the most important thing to check, all the exposed cards somehow are yours too.

Live and Dead Cards
While in 7 card stud you want your cards to be live (in the search of pairs) on Razz you want to see them dead. Seriously! That simply means that if you are holding 2 - 4 -5 in your hand, as the dealer dealt cards to you and your opponents, you want to see those cards showing as their face up cards, this will somehow save you from pairs. Remember the less value the best; so even with a great starting hand, a pair can ruined it all.

Unlike other poker variations, you need to bet aggressively to increase the pot since the third street, just because that will save you from betting more on the 4th card that might not be very good for you, and still recovery by getting a decent one on the fifth street. If face-up cards are high cards, bet, stay playing with the ones that really will compete for you, that will prevent you from having to analyze many hands.

You always need to know when to fold; like in other poker variations when you feel that your hand is dead, high chances are that it truly is. Don´t let your chips leak, by jumping over 4th or 5th street cards if you have a weak hand on the long run you be minus.

Save your bankroll to kill opponents when your hand allows you to; betting aggressively on Razz when the situation demands it –based on the strategy you are learning- is utterly important; so not only you will win your hand but you will do it with a good pot; and that sounds good you being a skilled player who goes only for those hands that really will pay your wait back.

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