RAZZ rules
Razz is 7 card stud poker where the best low hand wins. Must have 2 players at the least. As in regular 7 card stud, every player is dealt a total of seven cards, three downcards, and four upcards.
At the end of the hand, the player will have seven cards and he will have to choose 5 from them to make a hand. Aces are always low, and flushes and straights have no effect on hand values.
The lowest but the strongest possible combination is A: 2: 3: 4: 5.
There are a few clear rules of combination development that are observed in Razz.
• Aces are the lowest card;
• Straights and Flushes don’t count against you;
• Maximum of 8 players are accepted to the game;
• Best achievable Razz combination: A-2-3-4-5;
• The '8 or better rule don’t apply.
The following Razz card combinations are ranked from lowest (1 = will rarely win - gotta fold this), to most powerful (12th = the nuts):
- 4
, 4
, 4
, 6, 6
- Q, Q, 5, 4, 3
- 3, 3, 8, 7, 6
- 2, 2, 9, 8, 7
- Q, J, T, 9, 6
- Q, J, T, 9, 4
- 9, 8, 7, 6, 4
- 9, 7, 5, 4, 3
- 9, 7, 5, 4, A
- 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
- 6, 5, 3, 2, A
- 5, 4, 3, 2, A
Third Street.
Deal: Razz is an ante game, with all players paying some amount to play each game. There is no dealer button in the game. Each participant is dealt two hole cards (that only owners can see) and one up card, socalled door card. The player with the highest card have to “bring it in”, or start the betting with either a small or a large bet. Other players then can either call the bet or raise the first player’s bet.
Second round of betting - Fourth street.
When the first betting round is finished another face up card is dealt to each player. The betting round is started by the player with the worst hand. The maximum bet is equal to the lower limit. This player has the choice to bet or check. Play continues in a clockwise until all players have called or folded.
Third betting round - Fifth Street.
Each player is now dealt another card face up. The same betting arrangement as Round Two applies, except that the bring-in and completion bet has risen now. 3 raises are allowed in this round, restricted to the amount of the completion bet.
Fourth round - (6th Street).
A sixth face up card is dealt up to each player, followed by another betting round.
Fifth betting round - 7th Street.
The last face down card is dealt. It will still follow the same procedure with the 5th and 6th street. The seventh street becomes very important since it will be the last card before the showdown.
Just in case eight players are still active after the 6th street, players will have to share the communal cards placed in the middle of the table.
Showdown.
Players open their hands at this level. The player with the lowest hand wins the pot. Straights and Flushes don’t count against the players low hand. For example, A-2-3-4-5 suited has the same strength as A-2-3-4-5 off-suited. And, A, 2, 3, 4, 5 is the best achievable combination to have in Razz.
See also RAZZ Tips
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