Razz
拉兹
**Context: Poker term: Razz** Razz is a seven-card stud variant in Texas Hold'em, where the goal is to make the lowest possible hand. It typically uses A-5 lowball rules, meaning Aces are low, and straights and flushes do not count as low hands, so the best possible hand is A-2-3-4-5 (rainbow). In practice, Razz emphasizes precise low hand construction, and players must avoid high cards or pairs, as any pair weakens the hand. A typical scenario: a player holds A-2-3-4-6, while an opponent holds A-2-3-5-7; the former wins because 6 is lower than 7. If a pair appears, such as A-2-3-4-4, the hand is significantly weakened and may lose to a lower five-card unpaired hand. This term is commonly used in mixed games or dedicated lowball events.
Context: Poker term article: Razz
Overview
Razz is a variant of Seven-Card Stud where the goal is opposite to that of regular Stud: players aim to make the lowest possible hand. Typically, the A-5 lowball rules apply, where A is the lowest, 2 is next, and so on, and straights and flushes do not count as low hands (i.e., suits and straights are ignored; only the card ranks are compared). Therefore, the best hand is A-2-3-4-5 (of different suits), known as the "Wheel."
Game Flow
The flow of Razz is similar to Seven-Card Stud, but the dealing and betting order differ slightly:
- Each player first receives two hole cards (down cards) and one open card (door card).
- Then three rounds of dealing follow, each giving one open card, with the final card dealt face down.
- The betting begins with the player holding the lowest open card (in case of a tie, suits determine order, typically spades being the lowest).
- At showdown, players select the five lowest cards from their seven to form a hand. The lower the sum of the ranks, the better.
Hand Comparison
- Hands are compared starting from the highest card, going down one by one; the hand with the lower card wins. For example: A-2-3-4-6 beats A-2-3-5-6 (because the fourth card 4 < 5).
- Pairs, trips, and other made hands increase the card ranks and are usually disadvantageous. Therefore, players tend to avoid pairing.
- If the hands are identical, it is a tie, and the pot is split.
Strategy Points
- Starting hand selection: Typically choose three low cards with no pairs, such as A-2-3, A-2-4, etc.
- Observing opponents' open cards: Since open cards are visible, players can infer the range of low cards an opponent might hold.
- Stealing blinds and semi-bluffing: In favorable positions, players can use the advantage of low cards to raise and force opponents to fold.
- Beware of pairing risk: If an open card pairs, it may weaken the hand, so proceed with caution.
Common Occasions
Razz is commonly featured in mixed games (e.g., H.O.R.S.E.) as one of the rotating disciplines. It also has dedicated events at tournaments like the WSOP.