Razz is a form of seven-card stud played for the lowest hand, and it rewards a different mindset than most other poker variants. If you love reading cards, adapting to live tells, and thinking about the inverse of traditional poker hand value, Razz offers a unique challenge and plenty of edges for disciplined players. This article combines practical experience, proven math, and situational advice to help you improve quickly — whether you play casually at home, in mixed games, or online.
What is Razz? A clear, experience-based explanation
At its core, Razz is seven-card stud low. Each player receives seven cards across cards dealt face-up and face-down, and the objective is to make the lowest possible five-card hand using any combination of your seven. Straights and flushes don't count against you (unlike some other lowball variants), and aces are low. Thus, the best possible Razz hand is A-2-3-4-5, often called the "wheel" or the "nut low."
When I first learned Razz at a weekend home game, I remember how counterintuitive it felt to cheer for a 3-2 over a natural pair. That early confusion quickly turned into fascination: because strong starting cards are so rare, aggressive exploitation of position and reads becomes even more valuable than in hold’em. Razz rewards patience and board awareness — the more you can see of other players’ upcards, the better you can estimate their final low prospects.
Basic rules and structure (quick reference)
- Each player gets seven cards: three down, four up.
- There are five betting rounds: after third street (aka "third"), fourth street, fifth street, sixth street, and seventh street (the river).
- The player with the highest upcard showing posts the bring-in; betting proceeds clockwise.
- Best five-card low hand wins the pot; aces are low, straights/flushes ignored.
Understanding these mechanics is essential before diving into deeper strategy; the rest of the article assumes familiarity with how streets and betting rounds operate.
Starting hand selection: the single biggest edge
Because Razz is low-only, starting hands define outcomes more than in many other games. The ideal starting hand on third street is 2-3-4 with one card down or up, and ideally without pairing or high cards showing. Hands such as A-2-3, A-2-4, and 2-3-5 are also premium. Conversely, a hand with a paired upcard or multiple high cards (9–K) is usually a fold unless you're in the very best position and the action is weak.
Practical rule of thumb I use at the table:
- Open or continue aggressively with any 7 cards that can make a 5-low (A-2-3-4-5) without pairs and with two low upcards.
- Fold hands that already have a pair showing on third street unless the pair is accompanied by extremely low other cards and pot odds are irresistible.
- Be position-sensitive: in late position, you can widen your range to include A-4-5 types when action is checked around.
Hand reading and upcard awareness
Razz is a game of visible information. You literally get to see large parts of your opponents’ hands as the hand progresses, and reading these upcards is where you convert that information into profit. Track counts of specific ranks — if two of your needed ranks are visible among other players' upcards, your chances of making that nut low drop substantially.
Example: you hold A-2 and see two 3s among opponents’ upcards on fourth and fifth street. The probability of making a wheel decreases, so you should tighten or avoid investing further unless pot odds favor a speculative call.
Betting strategy and aggression: pick your moments
Aggression in Razz tends to be more restrained than in hold’em, but well-timed pressure pays off. When you have the lead with a live low (for example, showing A-2-3 and opponents showing large upcards), betting forces marginal hands to fold and increases your chance to win uncontested. Conversely, with weak or paired lows, passive play or folding is usually best; chasing costly streets with a pair often erodes long-term win rate.
Key betting tips:
- Use the bring-in wisely — if you’re showing a weak upcard, don't be afraid to post the bring-in and then fold to a raise if the raise is substantial.
- Value-bet when you have a clear current favorite against the field, but avoid overbetting thin low draws.
- Check-raise occasionally as a deception tool when you have a disguised low (face-down ace combined with low upcards).
Advanced considerations: equity, outs, and conditional probability
Winning Razz involves straightforward counting: calculate your outs and adjust for live cards. For instance, with A-2-7 showing and a 3 in the hole, you might be drawing to a 5 or 4 to complete a strong low. You should count how many live cards remain that can pair with your downcards or improve your low without giving an opponent a better one.
I often use quick mental math at the table: estimate the number of clean cards that improve you and compare that to the number of cards that will likely help opponents. If the ratio is favorable and pot odds are decent, continue; if not, fold. This simple habit turns small edges into consistent profit.
Live vs online: table dynamics and tells
Live Razz demands observation. Players’ physical tells about delight or disappointment when they hit a low can be as valuable as the upcards themselves. Online Razz, meanwhile, requires pattern recognition: study bet sizing, timing tells, and player tendencies. Use tracking software and hand histories when available to find recurring patterns — who chases too much, who folds third street to aggression, etc.
Personal anecdote: in a casino mixed-game session I noted a particular player who would always check fourth street with a weak upcard — a sign of weakness I exploited by leading out on subsequent streets. Over several sessions I increased my win-rate by applying that read and adjusting bet sizes to exploit his fold-to-aggression frequency.
Bankroll, variance, and emotional control
Razz has high variance due to the swingy nature of low draws and the presence of multiple opponents chasing similar hands. Bankroll management matters: treat Razz like other high-variance games and allocate a suitably sized rollout (e.g., several dozen buy-ins for cash games; more conservative for tournament play). Emotional control is essential; tilt leads to over-chasing on sixth and seventh street, which is where most money gets lost.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Chasing paired low draws too far: fold more often when an opponent's upcards make your outs less clean.
- Ignoring position: don't play the same range out of early position as you would from late position.
- Overvaluing one downcard: many players fixate on a single hole card — remember you need five cards for the final low.
- Neglecting the bring-in: respect this initial cost and adjust your response to early aggression.
Tools, study, and practice
Improving at Razz requires practice and targeted study. Work through hand histories, use software when available to run scenarios, and play mixed-game sessions to keep your skills sharp. When practicing online, I recommend deliberately playing small live stakes with a focus on specific skills — e.g., aggressive third-street decision-making, or counting visible outs quickly.
For players looking for online platforms to practice and learn, consider reputable sites with mixed-game offerings. You can try Razz for structured games and practice environments, while combining that with study resources and forums to expand your situational knowledge. Using a mix of practice and reflection — note down key hands, rethink alternatives, and test adjustments in your next session.
Sample hand walkthrough
Imagine you're on third street showing A-2-7 (A down, 2 up, 7 up) and two opponents remain. One shows K-9, the other shows 3-8. You have the lead and the best potential low if your hole cards cooperate. Betting here makes sense: you can often force folds from players who currently have poor low prospects. If you check and see the 4 come on fourth street, then you'll be in an even stronger position to continue applying pressure. Conversely, if you pair on fifth street, you should reassess — a pair kills many low possibilities.
Final checklist for immediate improvement
- Play tighter on third street; prioritize unpaired, connected-lower starting hands.
- Count upcards and track ranks; don’t chase when key ranks are scarce.
- Be selectively aggressive with clear live lows.
- Manage your bankroll and avoid tilt-induced chasing on late streets.
- Review hand histories and practice specific decision spots regularly.
Conclusion: turning Razz into a repeatable edge
Razz rewards players who combine patience, pattern recognition, and disciplined aggression. It’s a game where seeing more of the deck than your opponents gives you actionable edges. Use starting-hand discipline, careful upcard counting, and situational aggression to steadily convert small advantages into wins. Practice deliberately, study your hands, and maintain emotional control — doing so will make Razz a profitable and intellectually satisfying part of your poker mix.
Ready to practice? Try playing responsibly and consider the resources available online; for structured games you can explore platforms like Razz to get hands in quickly and build experience. With focused study and table-time, you'll see measurable improvement within weeks.
