Razz (Seven Card Stud, played ONLY for low) is a form of poker in which the lowest hand of aces to five wins the pot at the showdown. In Razz, seven cards are dealt to each player during the course ofthehand, but players may only use the bestfive-card hand of each one to determine the winner.

Razz Ace to Five is the method used to classify the low hands. The best possible hand would be the “wheel”: 5, 4, 3, 2, A. Some Razz hands with 10 being the best:

1. 3, 3, 3, 5, 5
2. K, K, 4, 3, 2
3. 2, 2, 7, 6, 5
4. A, A, T, 9, 8
5. K, Q, J, T, 9
6. K, Q, J, T, 7
7. 9, 8, 7, 6, 5
8. 9, 7, 6, 5, 3
9. 9, 7, 6, 5, A
10. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
11. 6, 4, 3, 2, A
12. 5, 4, 3, 2, A

How to play Razz

Remember that a low hand is always ranked the highest card down. For example, the hand 9 is known as “Six-low” (six low) because the six is the highest card. The hand 5 is a “Seven-low” (seven low) and the hand 5 is an “eight-low” (eight low). In the language of poker, we distinguish between similar low hands down the categories, for example, the hand 9 would be a “Six-Four low” (six four lowest) hand than 8, a “Six-Five low” (six five low).

Before you start a game of RAZZ, all players must put a nominal amount called the ante.

Third Street

Each player is dealt three cards; two of them face down and one face up. The player with the lowest exposed card is the bring-in, and is bound to be the first to act. Players must make another nominal bet (the exact amount again depending on the game) or, if they prefer, a full bet in the minimum increase. The action continues in the clockwise direction until the betting round is over.

Fourth Street

Each player now receives another exposed card called “Fourth Street”. The first player to act is one that has the best poker hand displayed visible in his letters. For example, in the example above, the player with pocket kings acts first, for his letters discovered is more than the pair of jacks. This player may check or bet the amount set lower (e.g. $1 in a game of $1 / $2). There is a round of betting.

Fifth Street

Then each player receives another exposed card, called “Fifth Street”. Again, the first player to act is one that has the best poker hand displayed visible in his letters. There is a round of betting. From Fifth Street falls, all bets are in big bets ($2 in a game of $1 / $2).

Sixth Street

Around round starts wherein each player receives another exposed card called “Sixth Street”. Again, the first player to act is one that has the best poker hand displayed visible in his letters. There is a round of betting.

Seventh Street or River

Finally, each player receives another covered card (face down). The first player to act is one that has the best poker hand displayed visible in his letters. There is one final round of betting.

Showdown

The player with the best five-card LOW hand wins the pot. If several players have identical hands, the pot is split equally between the players with the best hands. RAZZ is usually played with a limited betting structure in which bets are made in predetermined increments. For example, in a game of $1 / $2 limits; the bets are made in increments of $1 in the first two rounds of betting, and then in increments of $2 in the following three rounds of betting. The best low hand and high hand will be determined in the showdown.