How to play Razz

Author: Jesse McLean

Summary: This article explains the basic rules of Razz (stud for low only)

Razz is a nasty game. Basically, it is seven card stud played for Low only.

The basic structure of a seven card stud game is as follows.

1) Everyone antes (this is typically a 1/10th of a small bet).
2) Everyone gets three cards (two down and one up – the “door card”)
3) There is a betting round, started by the bring in. The bring in is the player with the lowest door card. The bring in bet makes a half or a whole small bet.
4) All active players get another face up card (fourth street).
5) There is a round of betting.
6) All active players get another face up card (fifth street).
7) There is a round of betting. All active players get another face up card (sixth street).
9) There is a round of betting.
10)All active players get one last face down card (the river).
11) There is one last round of betting.

The worst hand (based on high hand rankings but without straights or flushes and aces are low) at showdown takes the pot. So A2345 is the best Razz hand. There is no qualifier in Razz, so if my worst hand is KQ654 and yours is KQJ32, your hand is higher than mine and I take the pot.

Razz is a little awkward to learn, because although it follows the basic structure of a seven card stud game, everything is upside down – pairing cards and catching high cards are bad.

But, once you get used to it, it is easier to play than Stud. You have a much better idea of how you opponent is doing. It’s also great fun, especially when you’ve been catching bricks (useless cards) all day.