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How To Play Razz Poker Online

March 24, 2010

Razz Poker is a variation of seven card stud, but a big difference between the two games is that the winning hand is either the lowest or the worst hand takes home the pot, and “the eight or better rule” that is observed in many poker games does not apply. The lowest hand in Razz is the “wheel” or “bike,” which is the Ace through five cards. Flushes and straights do not count in Razz.

Playing Razz Poker

Up to eight different players can play at the Razz poker table. Each game of Razz will consist of five betting rounds, which does not include the ante. The game will begin after the ante, and each player will receive two cards dealt to them facing down and one card, “the door” dealt facing up. After the three first cards are in play, the final four cards are played as follows: The fourth card is dealt facing up, and the second round of bets can be played. The fifth card is dealt to the players face up, and betting now is capped at the max limit of the table. The sixth card is also dealt facing up on the table, and another round of betting is allowed. The final card, the seventh, is dealt face down, and the last round of betting takes place for the game. The player with the highest door (in case of a tie, the highest door will use suits spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs in that order) must place a bet of half of the lower limit, which is called “bring in.” Once “the bring” in has been bet, players may now have an option to bet either the lower limit or half of the lower limit throughout game play. For example, if the players are at a $2/$4 table, the player that has the highest “door” card must make a bet of $1 or $2. Once the initial round of betting has taken place, each round thereafter, the betting will start with the player who has the lowest hand that is shown on the table.

Betting In Razz Poker

In the example listed above for a $2/$4 table, the first two rounds are set at the $2 value, which means that all raises and bets for the first two rounds will be capped at $2. The $4 cap for raises and bets will take place for the last three rounds of Razz play. Each round of play is referred to as a street - be it “First Street, Second Street, etc,” and the last round of play is called the “river”. The maximum permitted number of bets during any round is four.

The Showdown In Razz Poker

During the Showdown portion of Razz poker play, if more than two or more players are left, players will display their hands and the pot will be given to the player that is holding the lowest hand. The player who bets last during the Showdown will be the first player to reveal their hand. From that player, all cards are revealed going in a clockwise direction on the Razz table.

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