Razz
A form of Seven-Card Stud where the lowest hand wins; aces are low, straights/flushes don't count against you.
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What Is Razz?
In Razz, the best possible hand is A-2-3-4-5, often called "the wheel," and players aim to avoid pairing cards since pairs count against them in a low-hand game. Razz is played with the same betting structure and card-dealing sequence as regular Seven-Card Stud, but the fundamental hand-ranking goal is reversed, rewarding low, unpaired cards rather than traditional high hands.
Examples
In Razz, a hand of A-2-3-4-7 beats a hand of A-2-3-5-6 despite having a higher single card.
He folded his up-cards early in Razz once he showed a pair, since pairs are undesirable in this lowball variant.
Strategy Tips
Fold hands early that pair up or contain high cards, since these are significant disadvantages in Razz's low-hand format. Pay close attention to opponents' exposed up-cards, since they reveal significant information about the low cards still live in the deck. Prioritize starting hands with three unpaired low cards, ideally eight or lower, for the best chance at a strong final hand. Study Razz specifically as part of mixed game preparation, since its strategy differs entirely from standard high-hand poker variants.