RAZZ
In Razz, you are trying to make the worst possible hand. Play is the same as in seven card stud. However, the rules are different at showdown.
The Antes and Bring-In
As in seven card stud, each player is required to put in an ante before the cards are dealt. The ante is a percentage of the small bet, which is set by the casino. For example, in a $2/$4 game, the ante would likely be .50.
Once the antes are paid, players are dealt two cards face down and one face card up. In razz the player with the highest card must make a forced bet called a “bring-in” to start the action. In razz, the King is high for the bring-in. If there are two or more cards of the same rank the player with the lowest suit rank makes the bring-in bet. If two or more players have the same ranking card, the player with the lower suit rank makes the bring-in bet. Suits are ranked alphabetically from worst to best: clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades, with spades being the best suit.
The bring-in bet is a predetermined amount, usually half of the small bet. In a $2/$4 game that would be $1.00. The player with the lowest card can either make the bring-in bet, or raise to complete the bet to $2.00.
First Betting Round – Third Street
If the first player made the bring-in, then players to the left of him may call, raise to complete the bet or fold. If the first player completed the bring-in to the full small bet, players may call, raise (thereby doubling the small bet) or fold. After each player has acted, the next round begins.
Second Betting Round – Fourth Street
On fourth street the dealer discards the top card of the deck facedown on the table (the “burn” card) and deals each player another card face up and another round of betting begins. The first person to act is decided by who has the best low hand showing face up. For instance a KQ is a better low than 33. That person can check or bet. Once a bet has been made, each player acts in turn, calling the bet, raising or folding. When all players have acted, fifth street begins.
Third Betting Round – Fifth Street
On fifth street, the top card is burned and each player is dealt another card face up. As with fourth street, the player with the highest hand acts first. In addition, the bets double on fifth street. In a $2/$4 game, bets on third and fourth streets are $2; on fifth, sixth and seventh streets they double to $4. As on fourth street, the high hand starts the action and play is the same as on fourth street. Once all players have acted, sixth street begins.
Fourth Betting Round – Sixth Street
Sixth street play is identical to fifth street. The top card is burned and each player is dealt another card face up, highest hand acts first, and players act in turn as on fifth street.
Fifth Betting Round – Seventh Street
On seventh street, or the river, the top card is burned and players are dealt their last card face down and play is identical to fifth street.
Showdown
Once all players have acted on seventh street, the players still in the hand turn over their down cards. The last to make a bet or raise on seventh street turns over his down cards first. Players still in the hand in turn, turn over their cards or can throw them into the muck if they are beaten.
· The player with the worst five card hand, using any of the seven cards in his hand, wins the pot.
· Straights and flushes don't count in Razz hands, meaning the absolute best hand possible is the lowest straight (known as the wheel) A-2-3-4-5
· There is no qualifier for the winning hand - even if a player has two pair, if it's the lowest hand on the table, it's declared the winner
· Hands are evaluated from the highest card down. An 8,6,3,2,1 is worse than 7,6,5,4,3.
· If two players have the same winning hand, the pot is split between them.
