Some Tips for When Playing Razz (Jennifer Harman)

The Rules

For those unfamiliar with Razz, it is a game played like 7-card stud. The difference is that in Razz, the worst cards win. Straights and flushes don't count, but pairs are bad. Aces are always the lowest cards. A 'five-high' (or 'wheel' - remember, straights don't count) is the worst - or should I say the best - hand possible in this game. A-2-3-4-5.

Starting Hands

When playing this game, it is important that you start with 3 low cards. You should not play with any card higher than 8 in your hand. However, there are two exceptions to this rule.

You have a 9 showing when the cards are dealt, everyone else's cards are higher than a 9, and you have two low cards hidden. In this case, you have the best starting hand.

You are in stealing position by showing a baby and the remaining player (or players) are showing a high card. You can often raise in this case to steal the antes, regardless of your other cards. If your opponent calls your raise, you should expect your next card (fourth street) to be a low card (baby) and your opponent's card to be a high. If your opponent draws a baby and you draw a high, let it go. There is no point in continuing the bluff.

Tracking letters

Are your cards dead? This is an important point to know when playing Razz. What do I mean by 'dead'? A dead card is a card that is no longer available in the deck. You know this because you have seen it in someone's hand. Keeping track of dead cards allows you to know how many cards can still hurt you and how many will improve your hand. For example: your first three cards are: 2-5-8. There are seven other players at the table and their up cards are: 2-5-8-8-2-7-J. Remember that pairs are bad in Razz. Fortunately, many of the cards that will pair with yours are in other players' hands, i.e. 'dead'. Now suppose your opponent is holding 7-3-A. He needs a lot of cards that are on the board (dead) to make his hand. The cards you need to make yours are still available. In this situation, you are slightly more than 56% favorite. By tracking cards, you can make more accurate decisions based on your actual equity.

Original from March 28, 2005, Author: Jennifer Harman- Full Tilt Poker – link (authorized reproduction)