Razz Poker is a unique variant of Seven Card Stud where the lowest hand wins. Unlike Texas Hold’em or Omaha, the goal in Razz is to make the worst possible five-card hand, with A-2-3-4-5 being the best.
This lowball twist makes Razz both strategic and psychological. Understanding the basic rules and adopting winning tactics can give you a major edge at the table.
Basic Rules of Razz Poker
Razz follows the Seven Card Stud structure, but Master Poker Malaysia with one key difference: the lowest hand wins the pot.
Game Format:
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Typically played with 2–8 players.
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Uses a fixed-limit betting structure.
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Played with a standard 52-card deck.
Dealing the Cards:
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Third Street: Each player gets two hole cards face down and one card face up. The player with the highest upcard posts the bring-in.
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Fourth to Sixth Streets: Each player receives a face-up card each round, with the lowest upcard acting first.
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Seventh Street (River): One final card is dealt face down.
Betting Rounds:
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Four betting rounds total: after third, fourth, fifth, and sixth/seventh streets.
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Fixed-limit means bet amounts are preset (e.g., $2/$4).
Hand Rankings in Razz:
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Straights and flushes do not count against you.
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Pairs are bad — the goal is five unpaired low cards.
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Best possible hand: A-2-3-4-5 (also called the “wheel”).
Example of a winning hand: A♣ 2♦ 3♥ 5♠ 4♣
(Beats 2♠ 3♣ 4♦ 5♠ 6♣)
Winning Tactics in Razz Poker
Understanding the rules is only the beginning. Here are the most effective tactics to improve your edge in Razz:
Starting Hand Selection
Start strong, fold often. Good players fold the majority of hands on third street.
Ideal Starting Hands:
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Three low cards below 8, especially unpaired.
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A-2-3 is the premium start.
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Avoid starting hands with a pair, or high cards (9 or above).
Tip: Don’t get attached to a hand just because it starts low. Always reassess as new cards are dealt.
Pay Attention to Upcards
One of Razz’s biggest advantages is visible information.
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Track which low cards are dead (i.e., already dealt to other players).
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If many of your outs are already showing, tighten up.
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Use your opponents’ upcards to estimate their potential hand strength.
Stealing the Antes
On third street, if you have the lowest upcard, you’re in a good position to steal the pot with a raise.
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This works best when seated next to players showing high cards like J, Q, or K.
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Raise with any decent hand to apply pressure.
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Be prepared to represent strength through future streets.
Know When to Bet or Check
In fixed-limit games like Razz, betting is about pressure and control — not pot size.
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Bet when your board looks strong, even if your hand is mediocre.
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Check or fold if your board looks weak or pairs up.
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Use board-reading skills to gauge when to bet for value or to bluff.
Protect Good Boards
If your upcards are A-2-3 and another player has Q-10-K, you’re almost certainly ahead. Don’t give them free cards — bet to protect.
If you fall behind later (e.g., you catch a pair or high card), reassess and don’t be afraid to fold to aggression.