Razz Starting Hands

What is Razz?

Razz is a lowball variant of seven-card stud where the objective is to make the lowest possible hand using five cards. Aces are low, and straights and flushes do not count against you (i.e., they are not considered high hands). The best possible hand is A-2-3-4-5 (a “wheel” or “bicycle”).

Evaluating Starting Hands

In Razz, each player receives three cards to start: two down and one up. The up card is visible to all, which heavily influences strategy. A good starting hand typically consists of three cards ranked 8 or lower (A-8), with no pair. Pairs are detrimental because they increase the hand’s value; for example, (A-2-2) is worse than (A-2-3).

Ideal starting hands are “smooth” – meaning they are low and contain no gaps or only small gaps. For instance, A-2-3 is smooth, while A-2-6 is rougher because of the gap. However, any three unpaired cards all 8 or below are playable. The very best hands are A-2-3, A-2-4, A-3-4, 2-3-4, A-2-5, etc. Hands with a card 9 or higher (e.g., K-2-3) are weak because a high card will likely remain in the final hand.

Key Principles

• Position and Upcards: Your starting hand strength is relative to your opponents’ upcards. If many opponents show high cards (e.g., K, Q), your low starting hand gains value. Conversely, if several opponents show low upcards (e.g., A, 2), your hand may be in trouble. Use the visible cards to estimate drawing dead or having a dominated hand.
• Avoid Pairs and High Cards: A hand like (8-8-3) has a pair and is worse than (8-7-3). Even (A-A-2) is bad because aces are low but the pair ruins the hand. Never play a hand with a known pair from the start unless it’s extremely low and you can improve quickly (e.g., A-2-A is borderline, usually fold).
• Connectedness and Suits: Unlike other lowball games, straights and flushes do not harm you – they are neutral. However, they can give false hope: a hand like (4-5-6) is fine; but if you catch a 7 and 8, you’ll have a straight (which is a high hand in regular stud but in Razz it’s just an 8-low – acceptable). Suits are irrelevant.
• Starting Hand Categories:
  • Premium: Three cards 5 or lower, unpaired. E.g., A-2-3, A-2-4, A-3-4.
  • Good: Three cards 6 or lower, unpaired, with one gap. E.g., A-3-6, 2-4-6.
  • Playable: Three cards 8 or lower, unpaired, with gaps. E.g., A-5-8, 3-7-8.
  • Marginal: One card 9 or higher or a small pair. Usually fold unless in favorable position.
• Strategy Tip: In early position, play tighter (only premium/good hands). In late position with many high upcards visible, you can expand to playable hands. Always consider the “dead” cards (cards you have seen folded) to avoid drawing to a made low that someone else holds.

Razz starting hands are the foundation of success; proper selection avoids costly mistakes in later streets.