Razz is seven-card stud with the ranking turned upside down. Each player receives seven cards, and the lowest five-card hand wins the pot. Straights and flushes do not count against a hand, and the ace is always low.
The inversion takes a while to absorb. A pair, which would be a playable holding in most games, is close to worthless here, and a hand showing a king is effectively dead.
Reading a Razz Hand
Hands are read from the highest card downwards, exactly as in the low half of Omaha hi-lo, and the hand whose highest card is lowest wins. There is no qualifier, so the pot always has a winner even when every hand contains a pair.
| Hand | Read as | Result |
|---|---|---|
| [pokeraddict_cards cards="5s 4h 3d 2c Ah"] | Five-low | The best hand in the game |
| [pokeraddict_cards cards="6d 5c 4s 3h Ad"] | Six-five | Beats any seven-low |
| [pokeraddict_cards cards="8c 6h 4d 3s 2c"] | Eight-six | Beats eight-sevens and worse |
| [pokeraddict_cards cards="9h 7s 5c 3d Ac"] | Nine-seven | Usually not a winner at showdown |
| [pokeraddict_cards cards="7d 7h 5s 3c 2d"] | A pair of sevens | Loses to every unpaired hand |
Order of Play
The structure matches stud, with one reversal: the bring-in falls on the highest exposed card, and from fourth street onwards the lowest exposed hand acts first.
- AntesEvery player posts an ante.
- Third streetTwo down, one up. The highest exposed card posts the bring-in.
- Fourth to sixth streetOne exposed card per round, with the lowest board acting first.
- Seventh streetA final card face down, then the last betting round.
- ShowdownThe lowest five-card hand takes the pot.
What to Play
- Three cards of rank eight or lower is the normal entry requirement, and three cards to a wheel is a premium start.
- An ace is worth more than any other card, both as a low card and as a strong exposed card.
- Any pair among the first three cards is a reason to fold except in very cheap pots.
- Live cards matter as much as in stud: if the cards you need are visible on other boards, the hand loses most of its value.
- A low board invites folds, which is why a hand that improves visibly can win without reaching showdown.
Because the hand is built over five betting rounds, the cost of chasing a card that may already be dead adds up quickly. Counting outs here is the same exercise described on the pot odds page, applied to cards that are low rather than cards that are high.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do straights and flushes count in razz?
No. Five-four-three-two-ace is the best hand precisely because the straight is ignored, and five cards of one suit are judged on their ranks alone.
Is there a qualifier like eight-or-better?
No. Every hand qualifies, so the pot is always awarded to the lowest hand even if that hand contains a pair.
Which card posts the bring-in?
The highest exposed card on third street, with suits used to break a tie — the reverse of seven-card stud.