Razz Poker Rules

Players familiar with 7 card stud should pick up Razz very easily, because the structure of the game is quite similar to seven card stud.  However, this guide will help any player understand how to play Razz Poker and all the razz poker rules.

Antes

The game begins by all players posting a fixed ante.  After all antes have been posted, each player receives two face down cards, and one face up card.  Opposite of seven card stud however, whoever has the HIGHEST showing card begins the betting by making a forced bring in bet.  This forced bring in bet is usually around 5x the ante amount.

After the player with the highest showing card makes the bring in, play then continues clockwise around the table.  The rest of the players can either call the bring in, raise, or fold.  After the first round of betting is completed, another card is dealt out face up.

Betting Structure

One major difference in this round and all following rounds of betting is that the player with the lowest hand starts the betting.  Then, it continues clockwise around the table.  In the rare situation there is a tie for low hand showing, the first player with a hand clockwise from the dealer begins the betting.

The betting continues until all players have their first 2 down cards, 4 face up cards, and their final down card.  At this point, if there is a showdown, the lowest hand will win the pot.

Winning Hands

In Razz, aces are low, and straights and flushes are irrelevant.  So, the best possible hand you can hold is 5-4-3-2-A.  To determine the winner, first locate who has the lowest top card.  For example, a 8-5-4-3-2 beats a 9-4-3-2-A because the first card (8) is lower then the second hand's first card (9).

If the top card is the same for both hand, you look at each following card, and whoever has the lowest card wins.  So, if you held 8-5-4-3-2 and your opponent held 8-6-3-2-A, you'd win the hand because your 8-5 low would beat his 8-6 low.

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