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Basic Razz Strategy

When you play Razz it is in a very similar format to the way you play seven card stud. However there are a number of very big differences in the rules. First of all everybody has to ante every hand and there are not any blinds. Every player posts their ante before the cards are dealt and then everyone is dealt three cards, the first two are down and the third card is dealt face up.

In Razz the Ace is the lowest ranking card, which is the opposite of seven card stud and Hold Em, and the player that has the highest ranking card showing, at this point, has to open the pot and this is also called “bringing it in”. In the remaining betting rounds, or “Streets”, during the hand the betting starts with the lowest hand that is showing, hole cards are not considered in this. Like in Hold Em there is a rotating Dealer button but this only comes in to play to determine the betting action in the event of ties. The only other purpose for the Dealer button in this game is to determine the order in which the cards are to be dealt.

Razz is a Low game so the best possible hand that can be made is Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, also know as a “Wheel”. You might be thinking that hand would be a straight but in Razz straights and flushes do not count. The second best possible hand would be Ace, 2, 3, 4, 6 and this is referred to as a “six four”. The final card that is dealt leading up to the final round of betting is not exposed so at the final betting round each remaining player will have four cards that are exposed and 3 cards that are not exposed. There are no community cards in Razz.

Watch the Exposed Cards Carefully

As it is in any Poker variant, observation is very important. In Razz you can sometimes get a good idea of the relative strength of your hand by watching the exposed cards of the other players in the hand. Keep in mind that even though each player that stays in the hand all the way will be getting seven cards but will only be using the best five. Because of this a player could have a king or even a pair showing and still end up with the best hand possible. However after the sixth card is dealt if you have made a hand that where your highest ranking card is lower than the two lowest exposed cards in any other player’s hand then you can be certain that you have the best hand, or the “Nuts”.

Dead Cards are Good to Have in Razz

In a high game, like Hold Em, you often hear players saying that at least they have “Live” cards. That means that they at least have a chance of improving by pairing. In Razz, which is a low game, you would rather have “Dead” cards because it would reduce your chances of pairing. So if you see your cards exposed in other players hands then you will know that you have a better chance with your draw.