Razz
Razz Poker Rules
Objective
In razz you are trying to make the best 5-card low hand from the 7 cards dealt to you. Aces are low and the best hand you can make in razz is the wheel, which is (ace to 5). Flushes and straights don’t affect the value of your hand.
Hand Values
When determining which is the best 5-card low hand you first look at the highest of the 5 cards. For example a hand with a high card of 9 would lose to a hand where a 6 was the highest card. When the high cards are the same you work your way down in value until one player has a lower card in the same position. For example, (8,6,5,4,3) wins the hand over (8,7,3,2,A).
Bets in Razz
Ante – This is the first bet that every player must make in order to be dealt a hand. The ante amount is usually around a fifth of the low limit bet size.
Bring In – After the first 3 cards have been dealt the player with the highest up card must bring in. The bring in amount is normally half of the low limit bet size. If 2 players tie for the highest up card, the one closest to the left of the dealer must bring in.
Low Limit Bet – The bet size for the first 2 rounds of betting.
High Limit Bet – The bet size for the final 3 rounds of betting. The high limit bet is normally double the low limit bet.
Game Play
To start the hand every player must ante up. Then 2 down cards are dealt along with 1 up card. The player who has the highest up card has to either bring in or complete a full bet. The play then continues around the table with players calling or raising by the low limit bet amount.
Fourth Street
Players are dealt another up card and the player with the lowest up card hand acts first. Play then continues around the table with bets equal to the low limit bet size.
Fifth Street
Players are dealt the 5th card for their hand, which is the 3rd up card. The player with the lowest 3 card hand showing starts the action and play continues around the table. The bet size increases to the high limit bet amount.
Sixth Street
A 6th card is dealt to each player. This is the final up card, resulting in each player having 2 down cards and 4 up cards at this stage. Once again the player with the lowest hand using the up cards acts 1st and play proceeds around the table with bets equal to the high limit bet size.
Seventh Street
The 7th card is dealt face down to each player. The same player who acted 1st on 6th street starts the action again. Play proceeds around the table with bets equal to the high limit bet size.
Showdown
Whichever player was the last to bet must show their hand first and then this proceeds around the table with every player either showing or mucking their hand. Whichever player has the lowest 5-card hand wins.