Razz Poker

learning the basics

Razz Tips

The Fundamentals of Razz Poker

The concept of Razz poker is quite simple once you know the Razz rules. In Razz, the worst hand wins. Although the concept of that seems fairly simple, there is much more to it and understanding the fundamentals of Razz is key to your success at the tables.

Playing Razz poker requires patients, discipline, mental focus, and an ego check. One must have these basic qualities to succeed; if you don't, then you may end up playing the way most other people play Razz... poorly.

When first playing Razz it may seem like a game of luck, after all, you are trying to make the worst hand. Although there is an element of luck (variance) in Razz, just like in any other form of poker, when playing correctly and mathematically then in the long run the results will be positive.

When you see players winning hands when they should not even had been in the hand to begin with, you can be be assured that these players lose in the long run. Don't get mad at these players, in fact, congratulate them for winning the hand. After all, these are the types of players we welcome and the reason we can profit from this game. No sense in getting mad at them and scaring them off. Make them feel as if they are playing the game well and keep playing your style and eventually you'll take their chips in a polite and friendly manner.

Razz can be a very frustrating game at times and that is why discipline is so vital in this game. In Razz you may have to wait for a while to be dealt a good starting hand, you may have to make a huge lay down after being dealt three perfect babies (A to 5), you may lose a hand with 6 4 3 2 A, and so on and so on.

Play Razz properly and you WILL profit from it. It is that simple.

Here are some Razz hands that will give you an idea of their strengths with two cards to come. You should also look at the Razz Starting Hand Strategy and the Razz odds tables to get an understanding of Razz starting hand requirements and some key hand probabilities.

Favorite to Win:

(The first two cards are the hole cards and the rest are the up-cards)

Card Card Card Card Card

Underdog Hand:

(The first two cards are the hole cards and the rest are the up-cards)

Card Card Card Card Card

Favorite to Win:

Card Card Card Card Card

Underdog Hand:

Card Card Card Card Card

Favorite to Win:

Card Card Card Card Card

Underdog Hand:

Card Card Card Card Card

The best playable cards in Razz are cards between aces and sevens. Eights are playable when using caution.

The Dream Hand in Razz:

The Wheel... the Nuts!

Top 10 Razz Poker Hands:

#1 - 5 4 3 2 A (known as the nuts, the wheel, the bicycle, or the bike)

#2 - 6 4 3 2 A

#3 - 6 5 3 2 A

#4 - 6 5 4 2 A

#5 - 6 5 4 3 A

#6 - 6 5 4 3 2

#7 - 7 4 3 2 A

#8 - 7 5 3 2 A

#9 - 7 5 4 2 A

#10 - 7 5 4 3 A

Razz Tips and Facts

Here are some key Razz tips that will help you along the way and separate you from most other Razz players.

The minimum dealt hand that you should be playing when your opponents up cards are strong is three low cards to a seven.

The minimum dealt hand that you should be playing when your opponents up cards are are marginal should be three cards to an eight.

Always be observant when the cards are dealt. Look at all the exposed cards and look for the ones that would help your hand. If there are many of those cards exposed then that is not good for you. However, if you don't see any or just a couple then that is potentially good for your hand.

Even if you are dealt three perfect cards, like A 2 3, and then catch two bad cards (bricks) in a row and your opponent looks good, then you should pass on the hand if bet to you. Hoping for runner-runner in Razz is not advisable as it rarely comes in and making these kinds of plays in the long run will make you a losing player.

If you are behind in a hand and don't improve by fifth street, then you should fold if bet to you.

If you caught bad on seventh street and are heads-up, you should call a bet if you have some possible hand of winning it. Usually the math dictates that you call and there is a good chance that your opponent may have missed as well and may be betting in desperation.

The best drawing hand is a favorite over a made nine high hand on fifth street. On sixth street the nine low is favorite.

A made eight high hand on fifth street is a favorite over ANY four card drawing hand.

Slow playing in Razz is not very common and not suggested. If you are heads-up and your opponent starts to check when in prior rounds they were betting and you have a half decent hand, then you should bet. Chances are they hit bad and they won't check-raise you. You can also bluff in this situation. If your opponent calls and catches bad on the next card a bet from you will usually take the pot down right there.

When playing against weak players it is very important to play fundamental poker, unless you know you have them beat. Do not try tricky plays on a weak player as they may call you down to showdown with almost any cards.

Although the name of the game is to play tight, it's important to understand that the value of your hand is principally based on what the other players are showing.

The name of the game in Razz is to wait for three low starting hands. Be patient and they will come. Once you are dealt these you want to jam the pot when you think you have the best of it. When you feel that you don't have the best of it then you must know when to lay down your hand or simply call IF you think you still have a chance at winning the pot.

Razz Poker Rules

Razz Tips for Tournaments

Razz Hand Probabilities

The R in H.O.R.S.E

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