{"id":2533262,"date":"2024-07-08T18:22:15","date_gmt":"2024-07-08T18:22:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/?page_id=2533262"},"modified":"2025-10-30T07:25:46","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T07:25:46","slug":"razz-poker-rules","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/how-to-play-poker\/razz-poker-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"Razz Poker Rules \u2013 Master the Basics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

While Texas Hold\u2019em<\/a> and Pot Limit Omaha<\/a> may be the two most popular poker variations these days, they are certainly not the only ones you will find in live and online poker rooms around the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Razz poker is one of the less popular but very interesting games, not played too often as a standalone but a regular part of mixed-game tournaments and cash games, especially at the highest levels.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will find Razz poker tournaments at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) every year, as well as online at poker sites like PokerStars, while HORSE and 8-Game cash games that include this game can be found in poker rooms in all corners of the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, if you want to be a great all-around poker player, you will need to master Razz poker rules and understand how this game differs from other poker variations<\/a>. To get started, let\u2019s take a look at the most basic Razz poker rules and the way the game is dealt and played. <\/p>\n\n\n\"tournament<\/a>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Basic Razz Poker Rules \u2013 The Goal of the Game<\/a>
  2. Player Actions in Razz Poker<\/a>
  3. Razz Hand Rankings \u2013 What Beats What?<\/a>
  4. How to Play Razz \u2013 Strategy Tips for Beginners<\/a>
  5. Play Your First Hand of Razz Poker Today<\/a>
  6. Razz Poker FAQ<\/a><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n

    Basic Razz Poker Rules \u2013 The Goal of the Game<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Razz is a variation of Seven Card Stud<\/a>, meaning it is played without community cards and with each player dealt a total of seven hole cards instead.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Like in other forms of poker, players are looking to make the best five-card poker hands, except for the fact Razz is a \u201clo\u201d game, which means the best hand is actually the worst. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Poker hand rankings are inverted in the game of Razz, which means the worst possible cards are the best, and the best cards are the worst. Your goal in Razz poker is to have the lowest cards possible; A2345 is the absolute nuts.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We are going to take a look at the Razz poker hand rankings in more detail a bit later, along with things you should be aware of. Before we do that, let\u2019s take a look at how Razz poker is played and what each hand looks like in action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"A<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Looking for an opportunity to play some Razz? Check out Cardplayer Lifestyle’s upcoming Mixed Game Festival!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Antes, Bring In, and the Third Street in Razz Poker<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Before a hand of poker can begin, some forced bets must be put into the pot to get the action started. If you are a Texas Hold\u2019em player transitioning into Razz, you will immediately notice that the \u201cblinds\u201d are not in play in Razz. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Instead of posting the blinds, players at the Razz table post ante bets, with each player forced to post one ante bet to start the hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Once the antes are all in the pot, the dealer deals the first three hole cards to each of the players, with two hole cards facing down and one hole card facing up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The player with the highest (worst) card showing is forced to post the bring-in, another forced bet that will drive the action for the duration of the hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At this point, the player with the best Razz hand (lowest showing card) will act first and may either complete the bet or raise it to make it two bets to go.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Razz poker is played in a limit format, meaning all bets must be placed in increments of one bet at a time. The small bet is used as the betting increment on the third and fourth streets, while the big bet is used on later streets.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Further Betting Rounds in Razz Poker<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Once all players have acted on their hands on third street, the dealer will give each player another hole card, face up. The fourth street betting round comes next. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    On the fourth street, the player with the lowest hand exposed will act first, and this will be the theme for all remaining betting rounds. So, you can expect the order in which players act to change quite a bit from one street to the next. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    On Fourth Street, players will once again bet in increments of one small bet, with up to four bets allowed per betting street.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When all fourth street betting is done, another hole card is dealt to all remaining players, with each player now holding five cards, three of them facing up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    During the fifth street, all bets will be made in increments of one big bet, which means the price of poker doubles from this street forward. Once again, the player with the highest up-card goes first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The same action happens on Sixth Street, as players receive another up-card and are once again given a chance to bet their hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Finally, the final card is dealt to each player face down, and the seventh street starts. All the same rules apply on Seventh Street. Once all betting is completed, the dealer announces a showdown, with players exposing their hole cards and comparing their hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Player Actions in Razz Poker<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    On each betting street in Razz, poker players have a variety of options to act on their hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here is a short list of all the possible actions you can take in Razz poker, with a short explanation of when you can use them and what they do:<\/p>\n\n\n\n