Razz Rules

Overview

Razz is a variant of seven-card stud played as a lowball game. The objective is to make the lowest possible five-card hand from the seven cards dealt. In Razz, straights and flushes do not count against the hand (they are ignored), so the best hand is A-2-3-4-5 (a bicycle or wheel). Aces are always low, and the hand ranking is reversed from traditional high poker: the lowest hand wins.

Dealing and Betting Structure

Razz is typically played with a fixed-limit betting structure, though pot-limit and no-limit versions exist. The game uses an ante and a bring-in. Each player is dealt seven cards throughout the hand: two down cards (hole cards) and one up card (door card) initially, followed by three more up cards (fourth, fifth, and sixth street) and a final down card (seventh street).

Betting Rounds

1. Third Street (3rd St.): Each player receives two down cards and one up card. The player with the highest up card (by rank; Aces low, so King is high) must post the bring-in (usually a small fraction of the small bet). If two or more players have the same high card, suits determine the bring-in (alphabetical order: clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades, with clubs lowest and spades highest). Action proceeds clockwise from the bring-in, with players able to call the bring-in, raise to the small bet, or fold. The bring-in is considered a live bet; the player can also complete the bet (raise to the small bet size).

2. Fourth Street (4th St.): Each remaining player receives another up card. The player with the best (lowest) exposed hand acts first. Action begins with the lowest hand showing; betting limits increase to the big bet size (typically double the small bet) from this round onward.

3. Fifth Street (5th St.): Another up card dealt. The lowest exposed hand still acts first. Betting remains at the big bet limit.

4. Sixth Street (6th St.): A fourth up card dealt. Same betting rules as fifth street.

5. Seventh Street (7th St.): The final card is dealt face down. The lowest exposed hand acts first. A final betting round occurs, then a showdown.

Hand Rankings

In Razz, the lowest five-card hand wins. Straights and flushes are ignored (they do not make a hand higher or lower), so the best possible hand is A-2-3-4-5 (a wheel). The worst possible hand is K-K-K-K-K (five of a kind, though in practice any pair or higher is terrible). Aces are always low, so the ranking sequence is A-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q-K. Hands are compared by their highest card, then next highest, etc. For example:

• 8-7-6-5-4 loses to 7-6-5-4-3 (because the highest card 8 vs 7).
• A-2-3-4-5 (wheel) beats 2-3-4-5-6 (since 5 < 6).
• 7-6-5-4-3 beats 8-4-3-2-A (7 < 8).

Pairs, trips, etc. are bad because they increase the high card value. For example, a hand like 8-7-6-5-4 (unpaired) beats 8-7-6-5-5 (paired) because the paired hand's fifth card is 5 vs 4, so the pair hand is higher.

Common Strategy Points

• Starting Hands: Players look for three low cards (8 or lower) with no pair. The best start is three cards to a wheel (A-2-3). Aces are powerful because they are low.
• Dead Cards: Since cards are visible, players must consider which low cards are already out (dead) as they decrease the chance of making a low hand.
• Stealing the Antes: In late position, a player may raise with a marginal low hand to force out players with higher up cards.

Variations

Razz is commonly played in mixed-game rotations like H.O.R.S.E. and 8-Game. The rules are standardized across most poker rooms, though some home games may treat the bring-in differently (e.g., bring-in may be forced by the highest card, or the lowest card instead). Always clarify antes and bring-in amounts before the game starts.