Razz Rules

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RAZZ is simply a low variation of Seven Card Stud, and like Seven Card Stud poker, each player gets 7 cards; 3 down cards, and 4 up cards visible to everyone at the table. The winner is the last player in the pot, if everyone else folds, or after all 7 cards are dealt and bets called, the player that shows down the lowest 5 card poker hand.

RAZZ is usually played Ace to 5 and straights and flushes do not count but Pairs do. So the lowest possible hand is A-2-3-4-5. Since it is a low only, there is no qualifier required. The remaining 2 cards do not count in any situation. RAZZ is usually played in a LIMIT structure but you may encounter it as POT LIMIT. You will probably never see NO LIMIT RAZZ.

RAZZ may be the poker variation that is the simplest to play well. A competent RAZZ player will dominate a group of casual or inexperienced players. Most players will only encounter RAZZ as part of a mixed game format like HORSE, where the “R” stands for RAZZ. Although RAZZ was never that popular, like Seven Card Stud (High,) RAZZ dropped in popularity as Hold ‘em became the game of choice. Had RAZZ not been included in the mixed games it might hold about the same appeal as Draw Poker.

The mechanics of the game are handled by the Online Site’s Poker Client. This software prompts the players for the antes, deals the cards and then prompts each player to Fold, Check, Call, Bet, or Raise as appropriate, with the proper amounts. Then at the showdown, evaluates the hands for the winner. There may be computer or internet crashes but the software cannot make a mistake. If you think it did, check the Hand Histories which are available on every poker site.

In RAZZ, the player that acts first on each betting round is based on the up cards. On the first round of betting most online poker rooms require the highest card to make a small “bring-in” bet to start the action. (A very few sites may require the low card to make the bring-in bet.) On subsequent rounds the action begins with the player whose exposed cards make the lowest poker hand. Since the initial “action” may move throughout the hand, there is no reason to pass the deal from player to player like Hold'em, or other variations. Online, some sites rotate the deal, but on most it is not passed and the same player gets the first card every deal. (In mixed games like HORSE, when blinds are used, the deal will be rotated to pass the blinds appropriately).

Quick Summary

Each player posts their Ante. Three cards are dealt to each player, 2 down, and one up. A betting round occurs started by the player with the highest card. A 4th card is dealt up. A 2nd betting around occurs with action started by the player with lowest hand showing. The player with the lowest hand showing at the beginning of the betting round will act first on all of the remaining betting rounds. A 5th card is dealt up to each player. A 3rd betting round occurs. The bet size is DOUBLED for this round and every other round of betting following. A 6th card is dealt up to each remaining player. A 4th betting round occurs. The 7th and final card is dealt down to each player. A final betting round occurs. The cards are exposed and the pot awarded to the lowest hand. The best hand is the wheel; A-2-3-4-5. Straights and flushes are ignored in RAZZ but pairs do count. So, K-Q-J-10-9 beats A-2-2-3-4.

The Hand

In RAZZ, like Seven Card Stud, the hand begins when each player posts their Ante. The amount of the ante is usually a fraction of the bet. Players that do not post the Ante will be dealt out of the hand.

The beginning: Each player is dealt 2 cards down, and 1 card up, their door card. On most online poker sites the highest card makes a bring-in bet of half or even one quarter of the bet size.

Ties for the highest card are broken by the suit of the cards. Clubs are lower than Diamonds are lower than Hearts are lower than Spades. (Note that it is in alphabetical order.) Aces are considered low in RAZZ. So, the King of Spades is the highest card in the deck. This is the only time that the suit enters into play in a poker hand.

After the bring-in bet, the action moves to the bettors left, clockwise, around the table to each active player in turn. Each player has the option to Fold, Call, or Raise. On most sites this initial raise is limited to completing the bring-in bet to a full bet. On some sites the raiser may be allowed to make a full sized raise. Each player has the same options unless the maximum number, usually 3, of raises have been made. The round continues until every player has either folded or called every bet and raise. If on any betting round all of the players have folded but one, the remaining player has won the hand and is awarded the pot.

4th Street: A 2nd up card is dealt to each player remaining in the hand, and a 2nd round of betting occurs. The player with the lowest exposed hand starts the action. If the there is a tie, the player with the lowest hand showing, in clockwise rotation, acts first. The player with the lowest hand has the first option to Check, (Pass the action without betting.) or Bet. If he Checks, action moves to his left, clockwise, to the next active player who has the same options, Check or Bet. If all active players check, the 4th street betting round is over, but when a player opts to Bet, the next player must Fold, Call the bet or Raise. Each player has the option to Raise until the maximum number of raises have been reached. The round of betting is ended when every player has folded or called all bets and raises.

5th street: A 3rd up card is dealt to the remaining active players, and the 3rd round of betting occurs. The bet size DOUBLES for the rest of the hand. The player with the lowest hand acts first and has the option to Check or Bet. The action moves to the subsequent player to the left. Each player may Check if there are no previous Bets. If there is a bet, the remaining players must Fold, Call the bet, or Raise. The betting round ends when all players have either folded or called the appropriate bets and raises.

6th street: A 4th up card is dealt to the active players. The player with the lowest poker hand acts first. The betting round occurs exactly like 5th street with the larger bet size.

7th street, “the River:” A 7th card is dealt down to the active players. Each player now has all 7 cards and the deal is finished. The action, for the final betting round, starts with the player having the lowest hand, “showing,” and continues in a similar manner as on earlier streets.

The Showdown occurs after the betting round is complete. The down cards of the active players are exposed, in order, and the pot awarded to the player with lowest 5 card poker hand. Pairs do count and lose to any hand with no pair. Although most sites automatically reveal hands that beat all previous hands, there are a very few that require you to actually choose to expose your hand. You can usually preclude folding a winner by selecting the auto-muck option on the poker client. When in doubt simply reveal your hand.

The cards are collected.

Ante up for the next hand.

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