It seems that whenever a game is featured in the World Series of Poker, it gains quite a following and so it goes with Razz poker. It is becoming popular though not for just this reason, it also contains some very unusual and interesting play mechanics. Stripped down to its skivvies, Razz is the same as ace-low stud poker as the goal in each game is to obtain the lowest possible hand, a suited ace through five. HORSE includes it as one of its mixed game play components and Razz has been known to present some real challenges to the beginning player. This primer is intended to inform the new player of the nuts and bolts of Razz game play and to introduce them to the strategies to start them on the way to success.

So, Razz Poker Works How?

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

Even if you do not hold the best possible starting hand of an unsuited ace, two, three, if you have a low hand with single cards only below ten, sound strategy dictates that you go on to the next round. If you are holding a hand with any unpaired cards under seven, you have a potential winner and should go for aggressive play if your opponents aren't showing much. If your hand is seven high and the table is showing the lowest card of ten, you should feel encouraged and go ahead and value bet.

You must closely observe the face up cards so you can continuously update your odds of attaining a pair ( bad sign), or single cards, (good sign). . Your table position can give you an edge in betting when you see that your opponent's visible cards are either low or high. A sound strategy would be to bet for value even in the event that you draw on the fourth street. You can still improve your odds at the pot due to your strong hand at onset, you may even draw to a lower hand. Always play your low hands with contention. If you find yourself with opponents also drawing to lower hands, don't hold back, get them to up their bets so your pot will be enriched in the end.

A deep understanding of the tactics and strategies of Razz is supremely important to becoming a competitive player. You must know when to fold on a loser and not expect to draw to a low hand when it is a very long shot as your opponents are apt to have a lower hand from the get go. You must also know that a good table position gives you a betting edge as you may encourage players with marginal hands to remain in the game and ante up till they fold, donating all those antes to the pot, which is yours.