In every hand of Razz players must post an ante before their cards are dealt. As in other forms of Stud games the player is dealt three cards, two face down and one face up. The player with the highest up card or door card must make the opening bet, known in Stud games as the bring in. This bet is usually half of whatever the small blind is for the game. If they wish, the opening player can make the bet the full amount of the small blind. The action then continues clockwise around the table as in other forms of poker.

In poker you are looking to get your money with the best hand possible. The top hand in Razz where you want your money in the pot is A-2-3-4-5, which is known as a five low. This is not because it is a straight as flushes and straights do not count in Razz, but they are the five lowest cards in the deck. In Stud Lo you cannot get any lower in a five card hand. This is the stone cold nuts in Razz; the second nuts would be a six low, and so on.

The action during the hand after each card is dealt follows what you are used to from other Stud games. You have two face down cards, four face up cards and the last card goes face down. After Fourth Street the player with the lowest up cards acts first. E.g. if you were in a hand with X-X-A-3 against X-X-A-4 the player with A-3 would act first. After the betting the player with the lowest hand wins the pot.

Your hand is named after the highest card you have. For example, holding 10-5-3-2-A is a “Ten Low” hand (the Ace always plays low in Razz). Unlike Texas Hold ‘em you need to avoid pairs and sets. Everything is opposite to what you are used to where hands that are totally weak in Stud Hi like A-3-5-6-7 is actually a very strong hand as the 7 low (the third nuts in fact).

Some strategy considerations for hole cards are to fold pairs, as this greatly reduces your chances of a good low hand, and bet aggressively with A-2-3, which are technically the strength of AA or KK for the Holdem expert. You should watch the up cards of your opponent very carefully as most of their hand is exposed in a Stud game. Remember the old saying that is so true in all forms of Stud Poker, if you cannot beat what you can see, fold. Razz is a drawing game and players do not fold often due to them not fully understanding the game and the fact Razz is a limit game, so getting caught up in chasing a Jack low hand is not a great poker strategy for Razz.

If you can master Razz it is an enjoyable form of Poker and very different from what you will be used to playing. Contrary to popular opinion there is skill in Razz. That skill comes from knowing the odds, knowing the best time to draw for a hand even when the odds seems good and being able to play correctly before the flop. A good Stud player should be able to adapt well to this game. You will need luck to win, but luck is part of all poker.

Good luck!

By Malcolm Clarke