Razz

Razz

This is the most popular poker game of the Lo-Hand policy family. It has increased its popularity in live and online play during the past few years due to the inclusion of HORSE games worldwide, especially during big live tournament events. It is based on a variation from Seven Card Stud and holds many of the same rules used in this game.

Table Positions

Since this is a stud game, the action is defined not by blinds but by mandatory bets called “ante” and “bring-in”. The dealer position in most poker games still stands, but it is for identification only purposes. The ante, is to be placed by all players at the beginning of the game, normally it is 1% of the lower limit (stake) of the game. The bring-in is defined in the first betting round by the player holding the highest visible card. In case of a tie with the same card, the suit ranking will be used to break the tie. The suit raking goes in the following order (♠♥♦♣) from highest to lowest. The bring-in is normally twice the amount of the ante.

Betting Rounds

This is the most popular poker game of the Lo-Hand policy family. It has increased its popularity in live and online play during the past few years due to the inclusion of HORSE games worldwide, especially during big live tournament events. It is based on a variation from Seven Card Stud and holds many of the same rules used in this game.

Razz

Third Street: The action starts with the antes posted by all players, continued by giving each player 3 cards (2 facing down and 1 facing up). The bring-in is defined to the player with the highest visible hand and must be posted. Once this is done, all players have a betting action option and the game carries on with the second round of betting.

Fourth Street: One upwards card is given to each remaining player, the player with that holds the lowest combination visible card starts the betting action. Once all players have acted the game continues.

Fifth Street: A fifth card is given to each player, facing up is given to each player still in the game. Once more the player who acts first is the player with the lowest visible hand. The betting round continues and once it is done the next round can start.

Sixth Street: Another open card is given to the remaining players; once again the player with the lowest visible hand starts the action of this 4th betting round. Once the betting action has been concluded the next round can start. Seventh Street: A final round of betting is played here; a final and 7th card is given to each player facing down. The player with the lowest hand out of its visible cards acts first. Once all betting action has been completed, the remaining players are to show their hands and the player with the lowest hand is declared as the winner. Remember in the event all 8 players get to the final round the seventh card is drawn in the middle and is used as a community card.

Table limits (Stakes)

Razz tables have a low limit and a high limit to restrict the bets on each round of betting. The low limit will define the ante and bring in. The ante will be 10% of the low limit while the bring-in will be 2 times the ante. During the Third Street, the low limit is the minimum you can bet or raise. During the Fourth Street the player with the higher hand has the option to raise the low limit or the high limit. The limit he chooses will be the minimum bet that will be used during this betting round. Fifth to Seventh Streets minimums are based on the high limit.

Betting Limits

When playing Razz, you will find 2 options of play: Fixed and Pot Limit tables. These limits define the maximums of every bet you do at a table. On fixed limit the maximum you can bet is set by the table limits, during the rounds were the minimum bet is set by the low limit the maximum will be the low limit as well. On the ones that have the minimum set as the high, they will use the same limit for the maximum bet.