Games Tournaments

Razz (also Seven Card Stud Low, 7 Card Stud Lo)

Razz is another version of seven card stud, however is played using the ace to five low hand rules. Like all poker formats utilizing low hand rules, pairs count against the player. So any hand with no pairs will defeat a hand with a pair and a hand with a pair will beat a hand with a set and so forth. Hands without any pairs are compared by the highest ranking card. This is the exact same as in Hi hand poker, but the high hand in this instance will lose. Once again straights and flushes are ignored as it is low hand poker and aces are played as the lowest card.

To begin the game, each player posts a small ante and then each player is dealt three cards. Two of them face down and the third face up.

The player with the highest face up card begins the betting with a forced bet. This is called 'The Bring In' and is used similar to the blinds on Omaha and Holdem - to force the action. Play then progresses in a clockwise fashion with players either calling, raising to the lower limit (completing the bet) of folding their hand. There is a limit of three raises in any betting round.

Another card is then dealt face up, and is followed by a subsequent betting round. Following this round, the exact same takes place again - another card followed by another round of betting started by the player whose up cards make the best hand. There are now five cards dealt. This takes place one more time until a total of six cards have been dealt to each player. Two face down, and four face up.

Next, another card is dealt; however this time it is face down. This is the final card and is followed by the final round of betting.

Finally comes the showdown. Any remaining players must show their cards and a winner is crowned and awarded the pot.

Razz follows the 2 down, four up, 1 down pattern of seven card stud.

For more Razz information, see Wikipedia.