Global Sports: The Basics Of Razz Poker

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

The Basics Of Razz Poker

By Thomas Kearns

It seems that whenever a game is featured in the World Series of Poker, it gains quite a following and so it goes with Razz poker. It is becoming popular though not for just this reason, it also contains some very unusual and interesting play mechanics. Stripped down to its skivvies, Razz is the same as ace-low stud poker as the goal in each game is to obtain the lowest possible hand, a suited ace through five. HORSE includes it as one of its mixed game play components and Razz has been known to present some real challenges to the beginning player. This primer is intended to inform the new player of the nuts and bolts of Razz game play and to introduce them to the strategies to start them on the way to success.

So, Razz Poker Works How?

It is a basically a low-hand seven card stud game and is played with a maximum number of eight players in a limit betting format. The game commences with each player being dealt three cards, two up and one down. Next is a round of betting with the player showing the highest card leading off. If there is a tie for highest card, the suit breaks the tie. Another round follows with a card dealt face up and the lowest card begins the betting round. These rounds go on in the same manner until the fifth card is dealt , at which point the bets are doubled. After the final card is dealt face down around the table, the play starts with the same one who led the sixth round, if he is still in the game. If he is not, then the second player in the sixth round starts, and so forth.

The Ultimate Strategy in Razz Poker

An unsuited ace, two, three would be the lowest possible starting hand in Razz and a sensible strategy would be for the players with low, single cards below ten to remain in the game to the next round. A player with any hand of single cards below seven has a strong hand and an all out aggressive strategy is a good option should the other players be showing a weaker one. If the holder of the seven-high hand sees that the lowest face up card on the table is a ten, his odds at the pot are very high and he should proceed to value bet.

You must pay strict attention to the visible cards and modify your odds of attaining a pair (not good) or more unpaired cards (good). It is wise to use your table position to your betting advantage when you can see that your opponents' hands are higher. Even if you are drawing on the fourth round, wise strategy calls for you to value bet as you can optimize your assets by your strong beginning hand as you may draw to an improved even lower hand. You are in competition with other players with the same goal of drawing to a lower hand, so while your hand is strong, make them sweeten your pot.

In order to be successful at Razz, you must clearly comprehend its tactics and strategies. Know when to fold when your hand is a loser, don't hang on in hopes of drawing to a low hand as your opponents will probably have a lower hand even before a draw. But do use your table position for all its worth to force your opponents to bet high so when you collect that pot it's a humdinger.

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