Razz

Overview

Razz is 7-Card Stud flipped upside down. Same deal, same betting rounds, same seven cards per player — but the lowest five-card hand wins the pot. Pairs are bad. Straights and flushes don't count against you. The perfect hand is A-2-3-4-5, "the wheel."

The Deal

1. Every player posts an ante.
2. Third street: two down + one up to each player. The player with the highest up-card (opposite of Stud) posts the bring-in.
3. Betting round.
4. Fourth street: a second up-card. From here on, the lowest exposed hand acts first.
5. Betting round at the small bet.
6. Fifth street: a third up-card. Bets double to the big bet.
7. Betting round.
8. Sixth street: a fourth up-card.
9. Betting round.
10. Seventh street: a seventh card face down.
11. Final betting round.
12. Showdown — lowest 5 of 7 cards wins.

Reading a Razz Hand

Pick the lowest five of your seven cards. Read it from the top card down:

• A-2-3-4-5 is a five-low (the wheel) — the best possible hand.
• A-2-3-4-6 is a six-four low.
• 7-5-3-2-A is a seven-low, specifically a "seven-five."
• When comparing two seven-lows: compare the second card. 7-5-... beats 7-6-....

The ace always plays low in Razz. Straights and flushes don't exist — a hand like 5-4-3-2-A is just a wheel, not a straight.

No Qualifier

Unlike Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz has no 8-or-better rule. The lowest hand wins regardless of how bad it is. If every player at showdown ends up with a pair, the lowest pair wins. If someone's forced into a jack-high, that jack-high beats a queen-high.

Betting Structure

Fixed-limit — small bet on third and fourth street, big bet on fifth, sixth, and seventh. Maximum one bet plus three raises per round.

Starting-Hand Tips

• Three cards 8 or lower (ideally A-5 range) is a playable start. The lower, the better.
• Three to a wheel (A-2-3, A-2-4, A-3-5) is a premium hand.
• Pairs are poison. A pair in Razz is like getting a flush when you're drawing to a straight — ruins the hand.
• Watch opponents' up-cards. A player showing three low cards is a bigger threat than a player showing a king.
• A big up-card on third street (J, Q, K) usually means fold unless your two hole cards are very low.

Razz is coming soon to USAPOKER.LIVE. Try Double Board Omaha or Texas Hold'em in the meantime.