Razz Rules

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Razz Rules

Razz is a variation of 7 card stud where the best low hand wins. The game can be played with 2 to 8 players. Players are dealt 7 cards, three of them are face down, and the other four face up.

OBJECTIVE

In order 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 straights and flushes have no effect on the low value of a hand. The lowest possible hand is A2345.

Razz Rules – Forced Bets

Ante
7 card stud is normally played with an ante that is approximately 1/5 of the low limit bet size. Every player must ante up before the hand begins. The ante does not count towards any future bets.

Bring In
After the initial deal when every player has 1 card showing, the person with the highest card must “bring in�, which means he must place the low limit bet size in the pot. If two or more players share the highest card, the one closest to the dealer’s left side must bring in. This bet counts as your first round bet, so as long as nobody raises, you won’t have to place any more money in the pot to see the next card.

Razz Rules – Betting Rounds

There are five rounds of betting. If fixed limit Razz, all bets and raises must 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 3-6 razz, all bets in the first two rounds will be in increments of 3 dollars, and all bets in the last three rounds will be in increments of 6 dollars. A maximum of 3 raises are allowed per betting round.

3rd Street – 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 ½ of the low limit bet. He may choose to raise by betting the full low limit bet. Play proceeds clockwise around the table, with each player choosing to fold, call, or raise. All bets and raises must equal the low limit bet size.

4th street – A fourth card is dealt face up to every player. The player with the lowest hand showing (at this point, the lowest possible would be ace-two) is the first to act. He may 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 proceeds 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.

5th Street – A fifth card is dealt face up to every player. Play proceeds 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.

6th Street – A sixth card is dealt face up to every player. Play continues as before. All bets and raises must be equal to the high limit bet size.

7th Street – A seventh and final card is dealt face down to every player. Play proceeds as in the previous round. All bets and raises must be equal to the high limit bet size. If all players are still in the game and there are not enough cards to continue, a card is placed in the middle of the table face up for everyone to use.

Showdown – At this point, players that are still in the game have the option of showing their hands. The player that has bet last will be the first to show their hand and will continue in a clockwise motion. Players may choose to fold if they have a weak hand and don’t want others to see their cards.