Razz
The term 'Razz' in poker refers to a form of Stud poker that is normally played for ace-to-five low (lowball poker).
What Is Razz in Poker?
Razz is a variant of seven card stud poker, but unlike traditional poker games, the aim in Razz is to have the lowest hand instead of the highest. It's often played for ace-to-five low, which means the best possible hand is 5-4-3-2-A, often referred to as the 'wheel' or 'bicycle'. It should be noted that any making any Hold'em hand - a pair through to a Royal Flush - means you have a high hand. For instance, if you have 4-3-2-A-A, while you have a low four-card hand, you also have a pair of Aces. This means you'll lose to K-K-Q-J-T, which is not a strong holding either in Razz.
Razz is part of the mixed game rotation in H.O.R.S.E. poker (standing for Hold'em, Omaha, Razz, Seven Card Stud, Seven Card Stud Eight-or-better) and is also played as a standalone game in both cash games and tournaments.
The game of Razz is found in both online poker and live poker environments. While it's nowhere near as popular as Hold'em or Omaha, Razz is still a very popular game and is competed in by the some of poker's greatest players.
Example of "Razz"
For example, in a game of Razz, each player starts with two hidden hole cards and one face-up card. The player with the highest face-up card starts the betting, and this continues with further face-up cards being dealt and rounds of betting. In the end, each remaining player will have seven cards, but only the best five-card low hand possible for each player is used to determine the winner.
- "I played a game of Razz and managed to get a perfect 5 low hand."
- "Razz is a challenging variation of poker because you're aiming for the lowest hand instead of the highest."
- "After playing Texas Hold'em and Omaha, I decided to try my hand at Razz."
Razz in Poker FAQs
[FAQ]
Q: What is Razz in poker?
A: Razz is a variant of seven card stud poker where the aim is to have the lowest hand instead of the highest. It's part of the mixed game rotation in H.O.R.S.E. poker and is also played as a standalone game.
Q: How is Razz different from traditional poker games?
A: Unlike traditional poker games where the highest hand wins, the goal in Razz is to have the lowest possible hand. The best possible hand in Razz is 5-4-3-2-A, also known as the 'wheel' or 'bicycle'.
Q: Is Razz a popular poker game?
A: While not as widely played as games like Texas Hold'em or Omaha, Razz is popular among players who enjoy stud poker and are looking for a challenging variation. It's often included in mixed game tournaments and is played both online and in live poker rooms.
Q: Can I play Razz online?
A: Yes, many online poker sites offer Razz as part of their game selection, both in cash game and tournament formats.
Q: How can playing Razz improve my poker skills?
A: Playing Razz can help improve your poker skills by challenging you to think about hand rankings in a different way. It can also improve your ability to read opponents and make strategic betting decisions based on the visible cards.
