Razz poker is a fun and exciting version of poker that provides a break away from the ordinary for poker enthusiasts. Razz poker is also known as seven card stud low, and has gained a considerable amount of popularity since it was featured in the 2004 World Series of Poker tournaments. Unlike traditional poker games, the object of razz poker is to make the worst possible traditional poker hand to win the pot. Razz, although exciting, can be very frustrating until you learn the ropes of the game. Razz is also included in numerous mixed poker games such as H.O.R.S.E Poker. Let’s look at Razz poker a little more closely.
Razz poker is an ante game where every player around the table must put in a forced ante bet before being dealt any cards. Once the cards are dealt, Razz poker is played very similarly to traditional seven card stud, with a few important differences that should be noted. Let’s look at Razz poker a little more closely.
Razz Poker Rules
As mentioned earlier, Razz plays out much like seven card stud. However, the highest card that is in the upward facing position on Third Street must make a forced bet called “the bring in” bet to begin round action. On succeeding rounds, the lowest hand, instead of the highest hand will act. Should there be a tie for lowest hand (based on showing porch cards), the player who is seated clockwise from the dealer will begin the round’s action, which is different from the traditional seven card play. Additionally, in razz poker, players who pair their door card have no option for double betting as in seven card. The lowest traditional hand in poker wins the razz poker pot during the showdown. Aces are counted as ones and straights and flushes are simply ignored. This makes the best possible five card Razz poker hand an ace – two – three – four and five.
Easy Way to Figure Razz Poker Hand Weakness
To figure the lowest hand in razz poker, it is simple to convert the hand into a numeric value. For example, a hand with eight- six – five – four and three (86543) would beat a hand with eight – seven – five – four and three (87543) because it is lower in numeric value. This method makes determining the winner in Razz poker a breeze.
Razz Poker Tips
General tips for winning big at razz poker include:
· Be patient. Play a tight yet well-timed game.
· Know good razz starting hands. For example, if you have three cards that have a face value under five, you can be assured that you have an optimal razz starting hand.
· Watch your opponents’ upward facing cards. By being ever-observant of the cards on the table, you will not only get a feel for the strength or weakness of your opponent’s hands, but you’ll also have greater insight to whether or not the card you need is still out there.
· Watch for live cards and dead cards in razz poker. You want to see dead cards, in fact, more so than in any other game of poker. Why? The answer is simple – if you see pair cards to some of the cards that you are holding in your hand, you do not have to worry about drawing a pair and ruining your razz hand. This means that the more dead cards you discover, the stronger your razz hand in most cases.
· Have an exit strategy in razz poker. You should have a plan for folding your hand if you have a less than stellar hand. So many razz players fall into the habit of chasing after cards that simply aren’t likely to fall into their hands. Even those hands that started out “good” can go downhill quickly in razz – so why bother holding on to them if they are likely to cost you chips? Know when to fold.