Good ol’ Razz, also known as the most frustrating game on the planet. Many people saw Razz for the first time at the World Series of Poker, as we saw Howard Lederers frustrated face sum up the game everyone loves and hates.
Razz is like the polar opposite of 7 Card Stud, and is a lowball game. The object is to make the best low hand possible, and straights and flushes don’t count, with the best hand being A2345. There is no low qualifier however, so you can even win with a hand like 89JTQ(although that will require your opponent to have a K low or worse, not uncommon at low limit games).
Razz tables seat up to 8 players, and everyone has to post an ante. Each player is dealt three cards, two down cards that only they can see, and an up card that everyone else can see. The highest upcard is the bring-in, which has to do a forced bet. Each player, going clockwise from the bring-in, can then either fold, call or raise.
Next up we have fourth street, then fifth street and sixth street. On each street a new card is dealt face up to every player still in the hand. Then on seventh street, the card is dealt to each player face down, and the best, as in worst, five-card hand wins.
Reading Requirements: Sklansky on Poker by David Sklansky is the only book with a section on Razz, and it is a must-read for any player wanting to take up the game.
Online Availability: Razz is most commonly played at Full Tilt Poker, where the likes of Howard Lederer and Phil Ivey will even play! You can also play Razz at Carbon Poker.
Additional Razz Poker Questions:
Where can USA-based poker players play Razz online?
Players who are based in the United States of America are welcome to play Razz at either Full Tilt Poker or Carbon Poker.
Related Questions:
The answer to the question What Are The Rules To Razz? is also applicable for the following questions:
