Razz Poker: Rules and Tips

Razz Rules

Razz is a lowball version of Seven Card Stud. That means the goal is to make the lowest possible five-card hand from seven cards. It requires careful hand reading, patience, and aggression.

Here’s how Razz differs from popular poker variants like Hold’em and Omaha:

The lowest hand wins. For example, A-2-3-4-5 is the best hand in Razz poker. This hand is known as The Wheel.
There are no community cards. Each player receives seven unique cards. Some are face-up and others are face-down.
Aces are always low. That stands in contrast to Hold’em and Omaha, where aces can be high or low.
Straights and flushes don’t count. You only need to focus on individual card ranks when learning how to play Razz poker.
Pairs, trips, and full houses are unattractive, as they make your hand worse in this lowball format.
The highest upcard starts the betting. In Omaha and Hold’em, the blinds determine who goes first, whereas the player with the highest face-up card is required to post a bring-in bet to kick off each Razz poker hand.

How to Play Razz Poker

Razz poker follows the same structure as Seven Card Stud. Each hand features several betting rounds, and each player receives a mix of face-up and face-down cards. This step-by-step guide explains how a Razz poker hand will unfold.

1. Antes & Deal

Each player posts an ante, which is a small forced bet designed to create action. You will then each receive three cards:

Two face-down cards (hole cards).
One face-up card (door card).

2. Bring-In Bet

The player with the highest face-up card must then kick things off by placing a “bring-in bet,” which is a small initial wager. If two players have the same card, the suit is used as a tiebreaker: Spades > Hearts > Diamonds > Clubs. Players can then call, raise or fold.

3. Fourth Street

If you didn’t fold, you will receive another face-up card. By this point, each remaining player will have two face-up cards and two face-down cards.

The player with the lowest two face-up cards then starts the betting. The wagering follows the fixed-limit structure. For example, if you’re playing a $10/$20 game, the bets are made in $10 increments.

4. Fifth Street

Another face-up card is dealt, so you’ll now have three face-up and two face-down cards. Once again, the player with the lowest board places the first bet. The betting then increases to the higher limit – for example, $20 in a $10/$20 game.

5. Sixth Street

Another face-up card is dealt, meaning the remaining players will have four face-up and two face-down cards. Betting continues in the same pattern as described above.

6. Seventh Street (River)

The final card of each hand is dealt face-down, so each player will end up with four face-up cards and three face-down cards. A final round of betting ensues.

7. Showdown

If two or more players remain, there will be a showdown. The player with the lowest five-card hand – essentially, the worst hand – wins. If there’s a tie, the pot will be split.

Tips for Playing Razz Poker

Razz poker requires a different set of skills to variants like Hold’em and Omaha. Once you’ve absorbed the Razz poker rules, here are some tips to boost your chances of success.

1. Pay Close Attention to Upcards

Razz is a partial information game, so it’s important to keep an eye on each opponents’ face-up cards. You can use this information to assess your chances of receiving certain cards when compiling your hand.

For example, let’s say you need a 4, but you can see three of them face-up on the table. In that case, your chances of receiving a 4 are slim. Conversely, if your opponents are showing pairs or high cards, you may win by playing aggressively, even if you don’t yet have a particularly strong hand.

2. Don't Chase If You're Behind

Don’t be afraid to fold. Many beginners crash and burn by overplaying poor hands. For example, if you begin with J-7-5 and your opponents are showing low cards, you’re already in trouble. If an opponent starts strong and keeps betting, consider folding unless your draw significantly improves.

3. Steal Pots Aggressively

If everyone else has high upcards (King, Queen, Jack, 10), you can afford to bet aggressively in the early stages, even if your hand isn’t great. Many players win pots without the need for a showdown.

The idea is to essentially act first and pile pressure on your opponents. They may decide to fold marginal hands rather than run the risk of calling with an uncertain draw. This is known as stealing pots, and these are some of the best opportunities to do so:

Third Street: This is known as an early steal. If you begin with a low card, such as (Ace, 2, 3, or 4), but your opponents show high cards, consider raising aggressively in a bid to take the pot immediately. This can scare players into folding, and it’s especially effective in short-handed games if players aim to conserve chips.

Fifth or Sixth Street: These are known as late steals. If your upcards are still looking strong, and your opponents have high cards or pairs, keep applying pressure. You’ll often find that players throw in the towel of Sixth Street if their draw looks bad.

This approach can work well against tight players, but it won’t be effective against players that always call the river. Experienced players may also push back if they suspect you’re bluffing.

4. Adjust to Your Opponents

For the reasons mentioned above, it’s important to tailor your approach to specific opponents. For example, be more aggressive when it comes to stealing antes and small pots against tight players.

If you’re facing loose players, you might want to tighten up and wait for strong starting hands before you commit to large pots. Essentially, the goal is to assess your opponents and then exploit predictable tendencies if possible.

5. Position Matters

There are no community cards, but position still matters when playing Razz poker. A later will give you more information on your opponents’ decisions before you act.

As a basic example, if a player ahead of you folds, your bet is more likely to succeed. Being last to act on later streets can allow for profitable bluffing when opponents check.

Start Playing Razz with Confidence

Razz is a game of discipline, hand reading, and aggression. This variant offers an interesting alternative to Hold’em or Omaha, as you must focus on building the lowest possible hand, while avoiding high cards and pairs. If you master reading boards and playing aggressively when opponents are weak, you can gain a significant edge.

The best poker sites offer a wide range of variants and formats. They make it easy for you to create an account, and you can then begin playing your favorite games online right away. You’ll also benefit from attractive bonuses, and you can often take part in freerolls to sharpen your skills too.