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How to Play Razz Poker: Rules and Fundamentals

Last updated on September 18th, 2025

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Learning how to play Razz poker offers a fun twist on traditional poker games. While conventional games reward high hand wins, Razz rewards the lowest hand. This unique contrast creates an engaging challenge for those looking to test their skills in a different arena.

On this page, you'll learn the essentials of Razz poker, from basic rules to advanced strategic insights. We'll explore hand rankings and game structure and provide a step-by-step guide to playing, helping you understand what makes Razz both a challenging and rewarding variant.

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What is Razz Poker?

Razz poker stands out in the poker world for its unique approach to hand rankings and gameplay. At its core, the objective is to form the lowest possible hand, making it the "opposite" of most poker games. Unlike Texas Hold'em or Omaha, where pairs and high cards are valuable, in Razz, they actually hurt your chances of winning. This reversal of traditional poker values requires players to completely shift their thinking and develop specialized strategies to collect low, unpaired cards.

Low Hand Wins: The player with the lowest five-card hand wins.
No Straights or Flushes: Straights and flushes are ignored when evaluating low hands.
Ace Is Low: Aces are always low, making A-2-3-4-5 (the "wheel") the best possible hand.
Seven-Card Stud Format: Each player receives up to seven cards, but only the best five count.
No Community Cards: Every player plays exclusively with their own cards.

Game Structure

Razz is played with a structured framework that guides the entire game progression from start to finish. This carefully designed structure creates a rhythm of betting rounds, card distribution, and strategic decision points, giving Razz its unique character and strategic depth.

Component	Description	Important Notes
Player Count	2–8 players	Eight is the practical maximum with a 52-card deck [1]
Cards Dealt	Up to seven per player	Best five-card hand determines the winner
Hand Evaluation	Lowest A-to-5 hand wins	A-2-3-4-5 is the nut (best) hand
Game Flow	Mirrors seven-card stud	Includes antes, a bring-in, and five betting rounds
Betting Rounds	Five rounds (Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh Street)	Bet sizes double on Fifth Street and thereafter ("big bet" streets) [2]

Hand Rankings in Razz

The game uses the A-to-5 lowball system, where the lowest hand wins. Here's more on how it works. In Razz, the best hand is A-2-3-4-5, also known as the "wheel." Straights and flushes do not affect hand strength, and pairs are detrimental because the object is to make the lowest distinct five-card combination.

Hand	Name	Strength
A-2-3-4-5	The wheel	Best possible hand
A-2-3-4-6	Six-low	Very strong; just misses the wheel
2-3-4-5-7	Seven-low	Strong
3-4-5-6-7	Eight-low	Remains competitive
4-5-6-7-9	Nine-low	Often a marginal winner
5-6-7-8-10	Ten-low	Rarely good in multi-way pots

Common Hand-Reading Mistakes

Avoiding common mistakes can significantly improve your Razz game. Many players struggle because they approach Razz with a high-card poker mindset, fail to track opponents' visible cards, or misunderstand how hand values work in this unique variant.

Here are some things to watch out for:

Overvaluing High Cards: High cards are detrimental in Razz. Focus on collecting low cards early in the hand.
Misreading Straights and Flushes: These don't count against you. Concentrate on the overall low value of your hand.
Ignoring Aces: Aces are always low. Use aces to build strong low hands.
Underestimating Opponents' Hands: Players may have better low hands than they appear. Pay attention to visible cards and adjust your strategy.
Playing Too Many Hands: Not all starting hands are worth pursuing. Instead, be selective and fold weak starting hands.

How to Play Razz

Let's walk through playing a hand of Razz, from the initial ante to the final showdown. This step-by-step guide covers each betting round and card distribution, helping you understand the flow of a typical Razz poker game.

Setup and Dealing Process

Ante: Every player posts a small ante to seed the pot.
Deal Three Cards: Two face down ("hole" cards) and one face up ("door" card) to each player.
Bring-In & First Betting Round (Third Street): The player whose up-card is the highest by rank (ties broken by suit) must post the bring-in, and betting proceeds clockwise.
Fourth Street: Each player still in the hand receives a second up-card.
Second Betting Round: Begins with the player showing the lowest board (visible) hand.
Fifth Street: Each player receives a third up-card. Bet size now doubles.
Third Betting Round: Starts with the lowest board.
Sixth Street: Each player receives a fourth up-card.
Fourth Betting Round: Continues at the big-bet level, lowest board starts.
Seventh Street (River): Each player receives a final card face down.
Fifth Betting Round: Lowest board again starts the action.
Showdown: If more than one player remains, hands are revealed and the lowest five-card hand wins the pot.

Betting Rounds

Razz follows a structured betting format, similar to 7-card stud. Here's how each round unfolds:

Round Name	Available Actions	Betting Limits	Special Considerations
Third Street	Bet* / Raise / Fold	Small Bet	*Bring-in may be smaller than a full bet
Fourth Street	Bet / Raise / Fold	Small Bet	Lowest visible hand starts the action
Fifth Street	Bet / Raise / Fold	Big Bet	Limits double here
Sixth Street	Bet / Raise / Fold	Big Bet	Continues at big-bet level
Seventh Street	Bet / Raise / Fold	Big Bet	Last chance to bet before showdown

Example Decision Scenarios

The following examples illustrate typical situations you might encounter during a hand and demonstrate the thought process behind key strategic choices. These scenarios show how to evaluate your hand strength relative to opponents' visible cards and how betting patterns should adjust as the hand develops.

Example Scenario 1: On Fifth Street, you hold A-3-4-7-9. With the lowest board showing, you bet aggressively to thin the field.
Example Scenario 2: On Sixth Street, an opponent catches a visible deuce, giving them A-2-5-7-♣ showing. You fold your mediocre 9-low.
Example Scenario 3: On Seventh Street, you complete an 8-low. You value-bet, expecting calls from worse nines or tens.

Razz Strategy Fundamentals

Mastering Razz requires a solid understanding of strategy. Understanding these core principles can improve your win rate, as Razz rewards players who make disciplined decisions and avoid common traps that beginners fall into.

Starting-Hand Selection

Choosing the right starting hand is vital in Razz. Unlike games like Hold'em where you can often improve poor starting hands, in Razz a bad start typically leads to a worse finish, making your initial three cards crucial to long-term profitability.

Here's what to consider:

Three Low Cards (8 or lower): Premium start; play aggressively.
Three Middle Cards (9 to J): Borderline; continue only if boards ahead look weak.
Two Low Cards and a High Card: Situational; fold if opponents show strength.
Three High Cards: Automatic fold.
Mixed Cards: Always evaluate relative to opponents' door cards.

Position and Timing

Position plays a pivotal role in Razz, as the betting lead changes based on who shows the lowest cards. Positional awareness is important for determining when to be aggressive and when to exercise caution.

Position Name	Optimal Strategy	Hands to Play / Avoid
Early	Play conservatively	Avoid starting hands worse than 9-low
Middle	Balance aggression with caution	Enter pots with strong 8- or better lows
Late	Be aggressive with strong boards	Steal antes/bring-ins when opponents show high cards

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many newcomers to Razz struggle because they apply strategies from high-card poker games, which leads to costly errors. Even experienced poker players often fall into predictable traps when first learning lowball variants like razz and badugi. The following list highlights the most frequent pitfalls and provides practical solutions to help you avoid them:

Playing Too Many Hands: Weak starts rarely improve into winners.
Ignoring Opponents' Cards: Visible cards are free information—use them.
Overvaluing High Cards: Tens and above dramatically weaken your hand.
Betting Aggressively With Weak Hands: Choose your spots; conserve chips.
Misreading Hand Strength: Always consider pairs and duplicate cards.
Failing to Adapt: Adjust to table texture and opponent tendencies.

Online vs. Live Play Differences

The Razz experience is quite different between online and live environments. Online play features faster gameplay and relies more on betting patterns, while live games offer a slower pace with physical tells and social interaction. Below is a comparison of key differences to help you adapt your strategy for each setting:

Aspect	Online Play Considerations	Live Play Considerations
Speed	Faster pace; time-bank is limited	Slower; more deliberation possible
Tells	Rely on bet sizing and timing tells	Physical tells may offer additional clues
Multi-tabling	Easy to play several tables	Usually one game at a time
Environment	Play anywhere; minimal social interaction	Social, face-to-face environment
Bluffing	Requires strong line and timing	May incorporate physical deception
Adaptability	Rapid adjustments needed	More time to study opponents

Pro Tip: When transitioning from live to online, practice single-tabling first to get used to the faster decision-making cadence.

Ready For the Lowball Razz-le Dazzle?

Razz poker offers a refreshing challenge with its unique focus on low hands. By understanding the rules, hand rankings, and strategic nuances, you'll be well-equipped to tackle this intriguing variant. Practice regularly to refine your skills, and don't shy away from experimenting with different strategies. Embrace the learning curve, and soon you'll find yourself mastering the art of Razz.

Several reputable real money online poker platforms offer Razz games, so try signing up today and start enjoying this fascinating poker variant with players worldwide.

Cliff Spiller is a casino and sports enthusiast with nineteen-plus years of experience as a writer and editor. He's blogged about US casino and sports betting news for several prominent gaming sites. Along the way, he's written for OddsShark, NJ.com, SportingNews.com, and LegalSportsReport. Cliff is a US editor for ClickOut Media and a writer for Catena Media.