Razz Poker is a lowball variant of Seven Card Stud that is becoming increasingly popular in both live and online poker rooms. The objective of Razz is to make the lowest possible five-card hand using seven cards dealt throughout the game. In this article, we will provide an in-depth guide to the rules of Razz Poker.
Razz Poker is played with a standard deck of 52 cards, and the game is typically played with 2 to 8 players. At the beginning of the game, each player is dealt two cards face down and one card face up. The player with the highest exposed card must start the first betting round with a forced bet known as the ‘bring-in’. The bring-in is usually half of the lower limit of the game.
After the first betting round, each player is dealt another face-up card. From this point on, the player with the lowest exposed hand must start each betting round. If two players have the same low card, the player who is closest to the dealer’s left will start the betting round.
After the second betting round, each player is dealt another face-up card. The betting round starts with the player with the lowest exposed hand. This continues until each player has a total of four face-up cards.
After the fourth card is dealt, each player is dealt another face-down card. This is known as the ‘hole card’. The final betting round starts with the player with the lowest exposed hand.
If more than one player remains after the final betting round, the players must show their hands to determine the winner. The player with the lowest five-card hand using any combination of their seven cards wins the pot. The ranking of hands in Razz is the reverse of standard poker, with the lowest hand being the best possible hand. The best possible hand in Razz is A-2-3-4-5.
It is important to note that in Razz, straights and flushes do not count against a player’s hand. Therefore, the best possible hand is A-2-3-4-5. Ace is always considered the low card in Razz, and any hand with a pair or better is considered a ‘dead’ hand.
In Razz, it is common for players to have to make tough decisions based on incomplete information. Because of the nature of the game, it is important to pay attention to the exposed cards of other players in order to determine their potential hand strength. It is also important to be aware of the possibilities of hitting a low hand on the later streets of the game.
In conclusion, Razz Poker is a fun and challenging variant of Seven Card Stud. The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards, and the objective is to make the lowest possible five-card hand. With its unique rules and strategy, Razz is a great game for poker players of all levels.
