Play Razz Poker: Fixed Limit, Ante Bets, Bring-In Bet

Razz Poker Rules

Razz poker is the Lowball version of 7 Card Stud, where players compete for the lowest possible poker hand. If you consider yourself to be a terrible 7 Card Stud player, perhaps Razz poker is the perfect poker game for you!

Object of Razz

The object of Razz poker is to use the 7 cards available to you to develop the weakest possible 5-card poker hand.

Hand Development

In Razz, not all standard poker hand ranks apply, making it easier to develop a low hand. The following rules of hand development apply.
- Straights are not considered combinations
- Flushes are not considered combinations
- Aces are the lowest card, not highest
- Best possible hand: A-2-3-4-5

Note: Razz is not like 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo, where the Low Hand must “Qualify” to win. The lowest/weakest hand wins, regardless of its actual strength.

Limits & Betting Structure

Razz is most often played in a Fixed Limit betting structure. It is possible to play as No Limit or Pot Limit, but less common. Because of this, we'll be teaching you how to play Razz in Fixed Limit. For more information about other limit structures, see our other pages on No-Limit Rules and Pot-Limit Rules.

Fixed Limit: Fixed Limit (FL) betting means that players may only make bets and raises equal to the low or high bet. The first two betting rounds of Razz require bets/raises equal to the low bet, increasing to match the high bet in the last three betting rounds. For example, if the stakes are $1/$2, the low bet is $1, the high bet $2.

Ante Bets: Razz poker employs Ante Bets, not the Blind Bets found in other poker games, like Texas Holdem. An Ante is a forced bet that all players must wager before any cards are dealt. The actual Ante may vary from one poker room to the next, but is typically 10-25% of the low-end stakes.

Bring-In Bet: Another forced bet, the Bring-In, equal to 50% of the low bet, is placed by the player with the highest Door Card. The Door Card is the first face up card dealt to each player. Should two players tie for highest Door Card, highest suit determines the Bring-In bettor. Suits rank, lowest to highest, alphabetically: Club, Diamond, Heart, Spade.

How To Play Razz – Playing a Hand

A game of Razz poker starts with all players dropping an Ante bet into the pot. Every player then receives 3 cards – the first two are face down hole Cards, and the third is the face up Door Card. The player showing the highest Door Card places the Bring-In bet to start off the first betting round.

The player left of the Bring-In will then bet, raise or fold. Betting continues around the table. Once all players have acted, the betting round is over. Note that the Bring-In bettor will only need to add enough chips to his current Bring-In to call or raise.

4th Street: Each payers receives a fourth card, face up. The next betting round begins, but from now on, the player with the lowest open hand (face up cards only) will start each round.

5th Street: Each player receives a fifth card, again face up. From here on out, the bets/raises increase to meet the high-end stakes.

6th Street: Each player is dealt a sixth card, also face up. The fourth betting round takes place.

7th Street: Each player receives his seventh card. This card will be dealt face down if possible (see No More Cards?!). A fifth and final round of betting begins.

The Showdown: All players who are still active in the hand (those who haven't folded) will use 5 of their 7 cards to develop the weakest possible poker hand. The weakest hand wins the pot. In the case of a tie, winning players split the pot.

No More Cards?!

Though extremely rare, it is possible to run out of cards before each player is dealt a 7th Street. This can only happen at a full table of 8, should no player choose to fold. (7 cards x 8 players = 56 cards; a deck has only 52.) In such rare cases, the dealer will place a single card face up in the center of the table. This community card takes the place of all player's 7th Street card.

Razz Poker Hand Ranks

Highest to lowest...
Royal Flush Ace-high straight, all suited
Straight Flush - any straight, all suited
4 of a Kind - 4 same-value cards
Full House - 3 of a Kind + one Pair
Flush - all same suit
Straight - all sequenced/connected
3 of a Kind - 3 same-value cards
2 Pair - one Pair + one Pair
Pair - 2 same-value cards
High Card - none of the above

Please read our other rules pages to learn more about the different poker games: Omaha,Omaha Hi/Lo,Caribbean Stud,Let it Ride,7 Card Stud,Texas Holdem Poker,Double Flop.

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