Razz Poker

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Razz Poker is a variation of 7-card stud where the best low hand wins, played by two to eight players. As in regular, 7-card stud, each player is dealt of seven cards, the first two face down, the next four face up, and the final card is dealt face down.

To make your best five card low hand, using any combination of the seven cards you are dealt. Aces are always low, and straights and flushes have no effect on the low value of a hand. The lowest possible hand is A2345.

Unlike split-pot hi-lo games like Omaha, Razz doesn't have an "eight or better" component to it's play. In an hi-lo eight-or-better game, the winning low hand cannot have a card higher than 8 in it to count as a low hand -- but since Razz is a game with only a low hand winning, any hand can win, including hands with low pairs. However, while this is possible, it's highly unlikely, and most winning Razz hands will not have a pair in them.

How to play Razz Poker:

In Razz there are five rounds of betting. In fixed limit Razz, all bets and raises will be equal to either the low limit, or high limit bet size, depending on what round it is. In the first two rounds, all bets and raises must be equal to the low limit bet size. In the third, fourth, and fifth rounds, all bets must be equal to the high limit bet size. If, for example, you're playing $1/$2 razz, all bets in the first two rounds will be in increments of $1, and all bets in the last three rounds will be in increments of $2. A maximum of 3 raises are allowed per betting round. Meaning that the most you will bet in the first rounds is $4 and the last three rounds is $8.

Two cards are dealt face down to every player, followed by another card face up. The player with the highest card must bring in, by betting = of the low limit bet. That player may choose to raise by betting the full low limit bet. Play continues clockwise around the table, with each player choosing to fold, call, or raise. All bets and raises must be equal to the low limit bet size.

A fourth card is dealt face up to remaining player. The player with the lowest hand showing (at this point, the lowest possible would be ace-two) is the first to act. At that time the player may again choose to fold, check, or bet. If two or more players are tied for the lowest hand, the one closest to the dealer's left will be the first to act. Play continues clockwise around the table as before. Unlike regular 7-card stud, an open pair does not affect the betting limit. All bets and raises must be equal to the low limit bet size.

A fifth card is dealt face up to every player. Play continues with folds, checks, and bets as in the previous round, with the lowest hand betting first, except now all bets and raises must be equal to the high limit bet size.

A sixth card is dealt face up to every player. And once again play continues as in the previous round. All bets and raises must be equal to the high limit bet size.

A seventh and final card is dealt face down to every player. Play continues as in the previous round. All bets and raises must be equal to the high limit bet size. If all eight players were still in the hand at that point, there would not be enough cards for all of them to be dealt a seventh card. In that rare, a single card is placed in the middle of the table face up and considered a community card, which every player is free to use. Showdown - Anyone who has not folded after the last round of betting will now have the option of showing their hand in hopes of taking down the pot. The person who bet last is the first to show their hand, and then it proceeds clockwise from there, with each remaining player either choosing to show their hand, or muck it. Often times a player will muck their hand if they aren't going to win the pot, and don't want their opponents to see what they played.

FYI and just joking of course  This game, I am convinced, was invented by someone who was having a tremendous losing streak at 7 card stud!

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