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Razz Poker is played the same way as Seven Card Stud Poker but with one major difference. In this game there is no high-low split. In fact, there is no highest ranking poker hand with which you can win. It’s the player with the lowest poker hand overall who gets to take the pot. Razz Poker is perfect for the poker player looking for a familiar game with a new slant on it. Straights and flushes don’t count against a hand being low, and aces are always counted as low. This means that the best hand you can have in Razz Poker is A-2-3-4-5, regardless of suits.
In order to start the game, all players place a bet known as the ‘ante’. After the ante, each player will be dealt three cards. Two of these are face down and are known as ‘hole cards’ but one is face up. This card is called the ‘door card’
Whichever player’s ‘door card’ has the best hand, which in Razz Poker is the lowest value hand, then starts the betting. The betting will continue clockwise, as will all betting rounds from here onwards. Players can choose to call the bet, raise, or fold. This round of betting is known as ‘Third Street.’
When the round of betting is over, a fourth card is dealt to each player face up. Again, the player who has the lowest combination of face up cards will begin the betting.
Players are then dealt another face up card each and another round of betting ensues. This round is known as ‘Fifth Street’.
After the ‘Fifth Street’ round is over, players are dealt another card. Again, this card is dealt face up and another betting round known as ‘Sixth Street’ begins.
Any players still remaining in the game then receive their final card. This card is placed face down.
The last round of betting then begins. This final round is known as ‘Seventh Street’ or more commonly the ‘River’. When the round of betting ends then any players who are still active in the game will reveal their hands. The player who can make the lowest five card poker hand will win the round and also the pot!
