As is often the case, when a game is featured in the World Series of Poker it is apt to gain a following, as is the case with Razz. It also doesn’t hurt its popularity when the game offers some peculiar and challenging features The nuts and bolts of Razz are that it is an ace low stud poker game with the objective of compiling the lowest possible hand of an unsuited ace through five. It is one of the games making up HORSE poker, a mixed play variant, and can be overwhelming for folks new at the game. The purpose of this basic Razz primer is to inform you of the game’s play structure and some strategies to help you become a respected and feared competitor.
How Razz Poker is Played
It is a basically a low-hand seven card stud game and is played with a maximum number of eight players in a limit betting format. The game commences with each player being dealt three cards, two up and one down. Next is a round of betting with the player showing the highest card leading off. If there is a tie for highest card, the suit breaks the tie. Another round follows with a card dealt face up and the lowest card begins the betting round. These rounds go on in the same manner until the fifth card is dealt , at which point the bets are doubled. After the final card is dealt face down around the table, the play starts with the same one who led the sixth round, if he is still in the game. If he is not, then the second player in the sixth round starts, and so forth.
The Optimum Razz Strategy
Ace, two, three unsuited is the lowest possible beginning hand in Razz, but good sense strategy will have players with low, single cards under ten staying through to the next round. Any hand comprised of single cards lower than seven is a very strong hand, indeed and playing it aggressively is good strategy if the opponents are showing very little. If your hand is seven high and your glance around the table picks up nothing under a ten, now is your chance to bet for value.
You must pay strict attention to the visible cards and modify your odds of attaining a pair (not good) or more unpaired cards (good). It is wise to use your table position to your betting advantage when you can see that your opponents’ hands are higher. Even if you are drawing on the fourth round, wise strategy calls for you to value bet as you can optimize your assets by your strong beginning hand as you may draw to an improved even lower hand. You are in competition with other players with the same goal of drawing to a lower hand, so while your hand is strong, make them sweeten your pot.
With the understanding that Razz demands a thorough knowledge of its tactics and strategies, you will also know when to cut your losses and fold. You are most probably vying against players with a lower starting hand, so don’t hold out hopes of drawing to a low one yourself. Then again, if you are in the catbird position at the table, you can use that to get your opponents to enhance the value of the pot before they fold their marginal hands and give that rich pot to you.
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