Razz Poker is a fast-paced and thrilling card game where the lowest-possible five-card hand beats all others. This game is typically played amongst two or more players, though several online variations exist which allow you to play against the dealer.
By reading through this guide, you’ll learn all the important Razz Poker rules and gplaying Texas Hold’emame stages. We’ve also included a list of the best online casinos for this game and provided you with top tips from expert players.
What is Razz Poker?
Razz Poker, also known as Seven-Card Razz, is a stud variant that became popular across US land-based casinos at the turn of the millennium. Like many other lowball variants, including Omaha Hi-Lo and 2-7 Triple Draw, the winner of the game is the one that holds the lowest-possible hand. This is a stark contrast to typical poker games where a Royal Flush or a Straight Flush beat all other hands.
You can play Razz Poker against up to seven other players on a real or virtual table. This variant does not feature any community cards or a flop. In addition, some of the cards dealt to players are facing up, while others are facing down.
Razz Poker Rules
Before we dive right into how to play Razz Poker, let’s have a look at the rules of the game.
- The lowest-value poker hand wins the game.
- This game is played with a standard, 52-card deck.
- The entire pot goes to the winner.
- Aces are always low.
- There is no qualification required.
- Straights and Flushes are not playable hands.
How to Play Razz Poker
Razz Poker is typically played on a table that can accommodate between two and eight players. When played in this way, the dealer is only present to deal the cards and ensure that the gameplay is fair. To compensate the dealer, a percentage of the pot is paid to him or her.
Handy Tip:
Before you start playing your first game of Razz Poker, you should have a basic understanding of how to play poker, especially in a setting that involves other players. This should help you grasp what is happening in the game and will make it easier for you to master it.
In the following section, we’ve outlined the different stages of a Razz Poker round.
Stage 1: Razz Poker Ante
At the start of a new Razz Poker game, all participating players place an Ante of equal value. This is the cost of being dealt into the hand and its value depends on the rules of the table or casino.
Stage 2: Third Street
Players are dealt three cards each, with the first two cards dealt facing down and the third dealt facing up. The player with the highest face-up card is called the ‘Bring In’ and is the one that plays first. This player must place a second bet that’s equal to the Ante, similarly to the Big Blind when playing Texas Hold’em. Other players play their turn in a clockwise fashion until all the ones left in the game have placed an equal wager.
Stage 3: Fourth Street
The dealer deals the fourth card to all remaining players. This card is dealt face up and the player that gets the lowest ranking card is the one that gets to play first. When he or she is done, the rest of the players play their turn in clockwise order until each one has either folded or placed the same wager as everyone else.
Stage 4: Fifth Street
A fifth card is dealt to all players that are still in the game. Once again, this card is dealt face-up and the player that gets the lowest-ranking card starts playing. As with previous betting rounds, the value of a raise may be set by the casino. Moreover, from this point onwards, bets are increased to big bet increments. However, in no-limit versions of the game, players are free to raise at their discretion.
Stage 5: Sixt Street
The sixth card is also dealt face-up and, once more, the player with the lowest ranking card plays his or her hand first.
Stage 6: Seventh Street
Players receive their seventh and last card of the game. Unlike in previous stages, this card is dealt face-down. The player whose exposed cards have the lowest poker value plays first and all others play their turn in a clockwise direction. If, following this round of betting, two or more players are still in the game, the final stage is played.
Stage 7: Razz Poker Showdown
If you’ve played online poker for real money before, you’ll know that the showdown is the most thrilling part of the game. This stage begins with the last bettor or raiser showing his or her cards. If there was no bettor in the previous stage, the player on the lowest number seat shows his or her cards.
The winner of the game is determined by the dealer who compares all Razz Poker hands. The player with the best low hand wins the game and the entire pot minus the rake. If two players have the same low hand, they will share the pot equally. Unlike in some versions of poker, there is no superior suit that’s designed to choose the ultimate winner.
Handy Tip:
If Razz Poker gameplay feels complex or lengthy, you might want to try a faster alternative. There are many poker card games to choose from, including 3 Card Poker online.
FAQs About Razz Poker
How do you play Razz Poker?
What is the ranking of the Razz Poker hands?
Is Ace high or low in Razz Poker?
Who goes first in Razz Poker?
How is the Razz Poker pot split?
Razz Poker Hands Gameplay
When it’s your turn to play, you can take any of the following actions as long as they adhere to the rules of Razz Poker.
- Check – Stay in the game without placing a bet. This is only possible as long as a previous player has not placed a bet.
- Call – Match a bet to stay in the game.
- Raise – Increase the table’s existing maximum wager.
- Fold – Abandon the game and lose any bets that you’ve already placed.
Razz Poker Hand Rankings
Razz Poker hand rankings can be confusing for new players, but the table below should help you understand them better. Unlike traditional poker hand rankings, the lower the rank of the cards, the stronger the hand is.
| Name | Description | Example | Strength |
| Five Low | The best hand in Razz Poker that’s also known as the Wheel. | 5♣, 4♥, 3♠, 2♣, and A♠ | 4 |
| Six Low | A hand that has 6 as its highest card and has no pair. | 6♦, 5♠, 4♣, 3♦, and 2♣ | 3 |
| Seven Low | An unpaired hand that has 7 as its highest card. | 7♥, 6♦, 4♥, 2♣, and A♥ | 2 |
| Eight Low | A hand that has 8 as its highest card and has no pair. | 8♠, 7♦, 5♠, 3♦, and A♠ | 1 |
What is the Best Hand in Razz Poker?
Five Low, also known as the Wheel, is the best of all Razz Poker hands. If two players get to the Showdown with this hand, the pot is shared equally between them. However, this is not the case for the other hand rankings.
If two players were to each have a Six Low, for example, the next highest card is used to determine the winner. Using 6♦, 5♠, 4♣, 3♦, and 2♣ vs 6♥, 4♦, 3♣, 2♥, and A♦ as an example, the second hand would win the game since the next highest card is a 4 rather than a 5.
Razz Poker Strategy
Any successful Razz Poker strategy depends not just on how you play your cards, but also on how you play other players. You can borrow many basic poker strategies from other games, such as Omaha or Hold’em, and use them in a classic game of Razz.
To understand if you’ve got the potential of a winner in your hand, you always need to keep top hand rankings in mind. You’ll notice that none of these hands include a pair or other combination that would be beneficial in a typical poker game. Many experienced players would immediately fold if their hole cards featured a pair or even any card that’s higher than an 8.
Your position at the table, or rather, your position in relation to the Bring In could also impact the outcome of your game. Keeping an eye on and memorizing your opponent’s face-up cards can help you determine whether you’ve potentially gotten a stronger or weaker hand. Knowing when to raise, for example, can help you discourage other players at the table in order to steal the Antes and Bring Ins.
Unlike Blackjack charts and other types of cheat sheets, there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to the Razz Poker strategy. Say, for example, that you’ve got a Seven Low hand and you’ve seen two more 7s hit the muck in a previous round, you’re likely to use raises to discourage another player who is showing a 6-high hand.
Using Razz Poker strategy can make a significant difference in your performance. Most players, especially those playing for low stakes, will likely ignore any strategy, so you can use what you’ve learned here to get an edge over them.
Razz Poker Tips
Here are the top tips to help you play better Razz Poker rounds.
- Practice playing in demo mode – You should never play an unfamiliar game with real money. Use some of the top Caribbean Stud Poker casinos to practice playing this or similar Stud Poker games for free. This will provide you with the opportunity to test your strategy without any risk to your bankroll.
- Be ready to fold when it’s necessary – If you don’t know when to fold you’re probably going to lose a lot more rounds and money than you should. Look at your cards and those of your opponents and if your cards have a higher rank, form a pair, or are suited, you should consider folding.
- Keep an eye on the discard pile – Keep a mental note of the cards that are being discarded as these provide clues as to what cards are coming next. If the discard pile includes 2s and 3s, it’s less likely that you, or any other players, will be dealt favorable cards. This could make any low rank cards in your hand extremely valuable.
- Play the players – A novice Razz Poker player will play his or her cards, but a pro will play his or her opponents. Unlike when you play video poker or other single-player variants, you can use tactics to try and dissuade or encourage raises. You can also use bluffs and other techniques to get the players to behave in your favor.
- Let your skills time to develop – It takes time to learn the rules of Razz Poker and develop a successful strategy. Choose low-stakes tables that feature bets that you can afford to place. You should also keep safer gambling tips in mind to ensure that you stay in control of your wagering activity.