• Aces are always low 
• The best razz poker hand is A, 2, 3, 4, 5
• Straights have no value.
• Flushes have no value.
• Seven cards are dealt to each player, there are no community cards in razz.
• Razz players try to avoid pairs, trips and full house as they have a detrimental value to the hand
• Razz can be played by a maximum of eight players

How to play razz poker

• All players provide and ante and are then dealt three cards, two face down and one face up.  The person with the highest face up card  is first to bet.  If two cards tie, there are two ways of deciding who goes first (one convention is the player closest to the dealers left, the other depends on the suit of the card with the suits ranking being spades (highest), hearts, diamonds and clubs.

• Another card is dealt face up
• The next better round starts with the person with the lowest 'hand' on show. For example if a player had Ace 2, they would start first. 
• The fifth card is dealt to each player face up and betting starts as before with the lowest hand starting.
• The sixth razz card is dealt face up as before with the same betting rules
• The seventh and final card is dealt face down
• When betting is complete, the winner is decided by the highest card in their hand and then working down. For example if one razz hand is 87542 and the next is 86542 then the second player (86542) would win.

Razz Poker winning hands

Razz poker strategies

• The best starting hand in Razz is A, 2, 3 but if you get any three cards between A and 5, then play aggressively.  
• Do not slow play if you think you have a good hand, there's always the danger that you've overestimated your advantage or someone else will make the nuts in later rounds.
• Watch the other players up cards, if you are on third street, have a 7 low and all the other players are showing cards higher than a seven, then you know you have the best hand and should bet 
• If you see pairs to your cards in your opponents up or door cards, then you know there's far less chance that you will catch a pair yourself.  Remember pairs can destroy a good razz low hand.
• Don't play your mediocre hands in the hope that they'll get better.
• If the first three cards are dealt and you have the lowest up card but two high hole cards, bet anyway and try to steal the antes.  This will be more successful with higher stakes games where the players play tighter than in low stakes games where there are a lot of new players that see a winner in almost every hand.
• Watch the player who has been calling all your bets with a high door card, chances are their hole cards could give them the nuts.  Unless you are in a small stakes game, when they may not know what they are doing.
• Player types for for razz generally fit into the same categories as player types for a holdem game.   Look to our texas holdem player type guide to decide how to play against them

Tips for new razz poker players

• When you are starting out playing razz, don't worry about trying to get a read on your opponents, you'll be too busy looking at their door cards to hang a player type on them.  
• Keep your bluffing to third street when you have the lowest showing hand. You probably won't be ready  to carry out any more complicated bluffs yet.
• Play online for play money or low stakes games. Don't go any higher unless you have  a good number of hours under your belt.

Where to play razz poker online

1. Full tilt                 Download Full Tilt for free
2. Poker Stars       Download PokerStars for free