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Razz is a form of stud poker that is normally played for ace-to-five low (lowball poker). It is one of the oldest forms of poker, and has been played since the start of the 20th Century. It emerged around the time people started using the 52-card deck instead of 20 for poker.^[1]

The object of Razz is to make the lowest possible five-card hand from the seven cards you are dealt. In Razz, straights and flushes do not count against the player for low, and the ace always plays low. Thus, the best possible Razz hand is 5-4-3-2-A, or 5 high, also known as 'the wheel' or 'the bicycle'. Deuce-to-seven Razz is also sometimes played. Razz is featured in the mixed game rotation H.O.R.S.E. as the 'R' in the game's name.

Play[edit]

Razz is similar to seven-card stud, except the lowest hand wins. Seven cards are dealt to each player, but only the five best cards (generally the five lowest unpaired cards) are used in forming a complete hand.^[2]

Razz is usually played with a maximum of eight players,^[3] with limit betting, meaning that there is a fixed amount that can be bet per player per round. Each player antes and is dealt two cards face down (the hole cards), and one card face up (the 'door card'). The highest door card showing has to 'bring it in' – put in the mandatory first bet, which is usually one third to one half of the regular bet. The player responsible for the bring-in can instead opt to 'complete the bet', i.e. make a whole regular bet. If they opt to make a normal bring-in, the remaining players can either call the bet or 'complete', by raising to a regular bet. From that point the betting continues in regular bet increments.^[2][3]

In a case where two people have a door card of the same rank, the bring in is determined by suit.^[2][3] Spades (♠) is the highest possible suit, followed by hearts (♥), diamonds (♦), and clubs (♣). The K♠ is the worst possible door card in Razz, and a guaranteed bring-in. Play continues clockwise from the bring in, as in normal Stud poker. After the first round of betting, each player still in the hand receives another card face up. Betting begins with the lowest hand showing. Play continues like this until the fifth card, at which point the betting increments double.^[2][3] The seventh card is dealt face down, and action would begin with the same player who opened betting on the 6th card.^[2][3] In hand-dealt games, after each hand the deal rotates to the left, as with most forms of poker; although the dealer doesn't play a strategic role as in blind games.^[3]

Shortage of cards[edit]

It is possible for the dealer to run out of cards before the end of the hand. This can occur when eight players are still in the hand when the seventh cards are to be dealt. Seven cards for eight players would require 56 cards in the deck. Since Razz uses a standard 52 card deck, the hand would be four cards short.

To fix this problem, the dealer does not deal a seventh card to any player. Instead, the dealer deals one final card face up in the center of the table, which becomes a community card. All eight players may use this card as the seventh card in their own hands. This is the only time a community card is ever used in Razz.^[4]

World Series of Poker[edit]

Razz has been an event at the World Series of Poker since 1971, when Jimmy Casella won the first ever WSOP Razz event for a grand prize of $10,000.^[5][6] Razz is the most popular form of lowball poker but in the overall popularity stakes sits firmly behind Texas hold 'em and Omaha hold 'em. In 2004, the WSOP Razz event was televised by ESPN; the tournament was won by professional poker player and multiple bracelet winner T. J. Cloutier.^[3] After the event Razz grew massively in popularity and most of the major online poker rooms added Razz to their spread of games. Full Tilt Poker was the first online site to offer Razz games but soon after the televised tournament, Poker.com, Absolute Poker and finally in 2006 PokerStars added Razz to their selection of games.^[7] Since 1971, Razz has been featured in every World Series of Poker apart from the 1972 series.

London lowball[edit]

London lowball is a game played almost exclusively in Europe. It is almost identical to Razz in play with the following exceptions: straights and flushes count against a player for low, so the best possible hand is 6-4-3-2-A,^[8] and its canonical version is played at pot limit. Some variations of the game are played at no limit, but the name 'London lowball' is typically reserved for the pot-limit version.^[9]

Strategy[edit]

Normally the best starting hand in Razz is A-2-3. A general strategy in a full-ring game is to only play unpaired cards none of them higher than 8s.^[10] Players want to avoid making pairs and should evaluate other door cards in relation to the strength of their hand. For instance, Jane holds 3-4-5 and sees four 'dead' door cards of 3-4-4-5 behind her. This is a strong hand, as the likelihood of pairing her hole cards is now greatly diminished.

Observing the door cards of other players is also very important. A player's hand is much stronger if there are cards of the same denomination already showing (less chance of pairing up on a draw) and weaker if there are make cards visible (i.e. a A-6-7 is a much stronger hand when other players are showing Aces, 6s and 7s than when these players are showing 2s, 3s, 4s and 5s).

Another key strategy in Razz is stealing the antes and bring-in bets. If a player is to the right of the bring-in bettor, and everyone else folds, a raise with a lower exposed card is normally the correct play. For example, if Mary has a 9 showing, and John, the bring-in bettor, has a K showing, Mary should normally raise if everyone else folds.

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

1. ^'Razz Rules'. somuchpoker.com. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
2. ^ ^abcdePokerstars.com: Razz (7 Card Stud Low)
3. ^ ^abcdefgPoker-Babes.com: How to Play the Game of Razz
4. ^lolPoker.com: Razz poker rules
5. ^'2nd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1971 – $ 1,000 Limit Razz'. The Hendon Mob. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
6. ^Razzpokerrules.org - WSOP Razz
7. ^Playlowballpoker.com: Razz Poker
8. ^PlanetPoker.com: Poker Dictionary
9. ^Gambling-Poker.com: Razz Poker - London Lowball Poker
10. ^Poker-Strategy.org: Razz poker

Poker Games

Texas Hold'em

One of the most popular poker games in the world. Players must make the best five-card hand possible from a combination of five community cards and two hole cards. The player with the highest hand wins the pot.
GEGA-001313 (Limit) & GEGA-002254 (No Limit)

Omaha

A variation on Texas Hold'em in which players compete to make the best five-card hand from a combination of four hole cards and five community cards. Players must use exactly two of the cards in their hand and three of the community cards
GEGA-001307

Omaha Hi/Lo

In Omaha Hi/Lo, players make their highest and lowest hands from a combination of four hole cards and five community cards, using exactly two cards from their hand and three cards from the board. Once the showdown is complete, players show their cards; the players with the highest and lowest hands split the pot. If no player has a qualifying low hand (8 qualifier), the player with the highest hand wins the entire pot.
GEGA-001308

Big O

Big O is a variation on Omaha Hi/Lo in which players are dealt five hole cards instead of four. Players must make their best hand from exactly two of their hole cards and three board cards. Once the showdown is complete, players show their cards; the players with the highest and lowest hands split the pot. If no player has a qualifying low hand (8 qualifier), the player with the highest hand wins the entire pot.
GEGA-002898 & GEGA-002899

Stud

The game that made poker famous. In Stud, there are no community cards; players must make the best five-card combination from the cards in their own hands. Players are dealt four cards face-up, and three cards face-down. The best five-card combination wins the pot.
GEGA-001316

Stud Hi/Lo

In Stud Hi/Lo, players compete to make their highest or lowest five-card combination from a deal of seven. Four cards are dealt face-up, three face-down. The players with the highest and lowest hands split the pot. If no player has a qualifying low hand (8 qualifier), the player with the highest hand wins the entire pot.
GEGA-001324

Lowball

Lowball is a variation on 5-Card Stud where the player with the lowest ranked hand wins. The most common form of Lowball is known as 'ace-to-five' or 'California lowball.' In ace-to-five, aces are low, with the best possible hand being a straight of 5-4-3-2-A.
GEGA-001322

Mixed Games

Step up to the next level of poker and try your hand at Mixed Games. The games usually change/rotate every 8 hands or a half hour depending on the players’ requests.

Razz

Similar to Lowball, Razz is a variation on 7-Card Stud, in which the lowest hand wins. The player with the best ace-to-five low hand wins the pot.
GEGA-001891

Badugi

Badugi is a combination of Lowball and Draw Poker in which players compete to have the lowest four-card hand of different suits with no pairs. The top hand is 4-3-2-A, with each card in a different suit. (This is called a 'Badugi.') The player with the best four-card hand wins.
GEGA-000212

2-7 Triple Draw

2-7 Triple Draw is a variation on Draw Poker in which players compete to have the lowest five-card combination. Unlike in ace-to-five Lowball, aces are high with straights and flushes counting against your hand. The best hand therefore being 7-5-4-3-2. The player with the lowest five-card hand takes the pot
GEGA-000211

Chinese Poker

In Chinese Poker, a maximum of four players compete to make their three best hands from thirteen cards. Each player is dealt thirteen cards which they must separate into one hand of three cards ('the front') and two hands of five cards each ('the middle' and 'the back'). The bank hand must be the highest hand with the front hand as the lowest. The pot is divided according to who takes each hand, with a possibility of multiple winners within a single game.
GEGA-001304

Cal Games

EZ Baccarat

In EZ Baccarat, as in standard Baccarat, the goal is to get as close to nine as a banker or player with two or three cards. Aces count as 1 and 2-9 cards hold their face value. 10-K each count as zero. If cards add up to more than ten, the 'tens' digit is ignored – a 4 and a 9 would count as 3 not 13, for instance. The hand totaling closest to nine wins the pot.
GEGA-002539

21st Century Blackjack

In 21st Century Blackjack Aces on the initial two card has a value of 11.5. The object is to get as close to 21.5 without going over. Should the dealer receive a 7, 8, 9 of spades all busted hands are considered a push. Additional bonus bets such as Buster Bet and Perfect Pair are added for bigger payouts.
GEGA-003514

21st Century Blackjack Switch

In 21st Century Blackjack Switch, players compete with the Player / Dealer to get as close to 21 as possible without going over. In this variation, players are dealt two hands, while the Player / Dealer is only dealt a single hand. Players may switch cards between their hands to build the best hand possible.
GEGA-003444

Pai Gow Poker

Pai Gow Poker is played with a standard poker deck plus one Joker, which is a wildcard. Players build their best two-card and five-card hands from a seven card deal. The object is to have both sets rank higher than the corresponding sets of the Player / Dealer for that hand.
GEGA-001309

Fortune Pai Gow Poker

Fortune Pai Gow Poker is a variation on Pai Gow Poker with a bonus bet, known as the 'fortune bet.' Players can wager extra that their hand contains a winning combination. The better the hand, the higher the payout on the fortune bet.
GEGA-002157

Pai Gow Tiles

Let It Ride Poker Games

The rules of Pai Gow Tiles are similar to the rules of Pai Gow Poker. Instead of cards, players are dealt four dominos that they must separate into front and back combinations. Players win if both of their combinations beat the combinations of the Player / Dealer.
GEGA-002968

Ultimate Texas Hold'em

In Ultimate Texas Hold'em, players compete to form a higher five-card poker hand than the Player / Dealer from two hole cards and five community cards. Gameplay is similar to standard Texas Hold'em, with a number of additional side bet options
GEGA-002362

3 Card Poker

In 3 Card Poker, players must make the best 3-card hand possible. Players receive their cards face-down, while the Player / Dealer receives two face-down and one face-up. Player / Dealer requires a Q high or better to qualify. Five unique bets are possible on each hand, including a 6 Card Bonus, in which players wager whether a combination of their cards and the Player / Dealer's cards will contain a winning five-card hand
GEGA-003645

Mississippi Stud

Mississippi Stud is a progressive poker game in which two hole cards and three community cards are all dealt face-down. As each community card is turned over, another round of betting commences. Player with a pair of 6’s – 10’s push and J’s or better wins.
GEGA-003665

Crazy 4 Poker

In Crazy 4 Poker, players compete against the Player / Dealer to build the best four-card hand from a five-card deal. After all players have set their hands, the Player / Dealer's cards are revealed. Players with better hands than the Player / Dealer win. Player / Dealer requires a K high or better to qualify.
GEGA-003964

Let It Ride

In Let It Ride, players make their hands from a combination of three hole cards and two community cards. Any hand containing a pair of 10s or better wins.
GEGA-002362

Casino War

It doesn't get much easier to learn than Casino War, a variation on the classic game War. Players set their wagers, then compare their card with that of the Player / Dealer. All players with higher cards win. In case of a tie, players who choose to play must match their original wager.
GEGA-003391

Pan 9

Let It Ride Poker Games Free

Pan 9 is a variation on Baccarat in which 7s-10s are removed from the deck. Players start with 3 cards and may have the option to stay or receive an additional card. As in Baccarat, the object is to get as close to nine as possible.
GEGA-003806

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