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How to Play Razz – (Seven Card Stud Low)

Seven card stud for low, called razz, has been around a long time but has seen a resurgence of interest since HORSE mixed games have become popular. Currently the highest buy-in tournament at the World Series of Poker is the HORSE event which costs a mere $50,000 to enter. For those unfamiliar with this event the name HORSE is an acronym for several games that are all played in rotation. The “H” represents hold’em, the “O” is for Omaha, “R” is for razz, “S” is for seven card stud and the “E” is for stud, eight or better high-low split. This tournament is regarded by many professionals as the true test of poker prowess, as each game requires different skills.

The Basic Rules of Razz

The format of the game is the same as seven card stud high but in razz only the lowest hand wins. The best hand is ace, deuce, three, four and five and straights and flushes have no value beyond the card ranks. There is also no “qualifier” for the best hand although, once you get to a nine or ten low you usually need divine intervention to prevail. Razz is normally played eight handed and where in high stud the lowest exposed card must “bring it in”, meaning it is forced to bet, in razz the highest card is obligated to make the initial bet. This forced bet is intended to stimulate action. Similar to its high hand cousin, razz also prizes live cards so the value of your hand rises or falls based upon what exposed cards you see around the table. Obviously, you would like to start with three low cards and not see any of your outs exposed in an opponent’s hand. It also helps for small ranks that you already hold to be out as it minimizes you pairing that card. Razz is truly seven card stud upside down.

Key Strategy Tips for Razz

The following list represents some key strategy tips to help you approach razz in a winning way. Of course, there is no substitute for playing experience.

  • Live cards are very important. You must keep track of exposed cards that are then mucked and out of play.
  • The minimum starting hand you should play against a strong group of starting players is three cards no higher than a seven.
  • If an opponent entered the pot on third street with an eight and then catches a seven on fourth street, he probably did not pair the seven, as to have come in with an eight would indicate better cards in the hole.
  • Chasing low cards to the river can be expensive. If you’re behind heads up on fifth street, you should usually fold unless you have a draw to the nuts which would be A-2-3-4. It would certainly help if no fives/sixes have been shown.
  • As in all forms of poker, know your opponents’ tendencies. Calling on the end, heads up with a ragged low such as a ten, isn’t a bad move against a known bluffer.
  • On fifth street a perfect four card draw against a complete ragged nine (9-8) is the favourite unless all/most of your fives, sixes, sevens and eights are out.
  • A made eight high on fifth street is a favourite over any four card drawing hand no matter how low. This is due to the fact that you already have a made hand, coupled with re-draws, against your opponent.
  • The number of opponents is key to whether you should bet come hands or not. For example, if your holding a smooth king on fifth street (A-2-3-4-K) against three or four opponents, even if you believe one opponent has a made 8-7 you should bet if you believe another player will call with a worse low. In this example you would have two re-draws to the nuts.

Conclusion

Many players avoid this variation of poker as they find it very stressful to be dealt starting hands that would be excellent for high only. As they go on a run of pocket Kings, rolled up Queens and other starting hands which would be powerhouses in regular seven card stud, they tend to begin to tilt in razz. There is always an element of luck in any form of poker and a hallmark of a winning player is one who can keep his emotions in check. Even if you do not aspire to becoming a top razz player, you’ll need to know something about its intricacies for when you enter the HORSE Championship at the World Series of Poker. I find the power of positive thinking a wonderful approach to life!