Razz Poker – What Is It, How to Play, and What to Know

Razz poker turns traditional poker on its head. Instead of chasing high cards or powerful combinations, your goal is to make the weakest hand possible. The best Razz hand is A-2-3-4-5, also known as “the wheel.” Let’s learn more about the rules of Razz and the basic strategies you can apply to win in this quirky poker format. 

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What Is Razz Poker?

Razz poker is a lowball poker game where the lowest five-card hand wins. Every player receives seven cards, but only five are used to determine the winner. There are no community cards. All action is based on what you hold and what you see from your opponents’ upcards.

In Razz , aces are always low, and flushes or straights don’t count against you. That means a hand like 7-6-5-3-2 can beat a hand with no flushes or pairs, even if it looks random in other formats.

Razz is less common than Texas Hold’em or Omaha, but it’s a staple in mixed games and some high-stakes online formats. You’ll find it at niche tables, private cash games, and in series like the WSOP where it’s included in HORSE or dealer’s choice rotations. Although not as widely spread as other poker types, razz poker has a loyal following, and yes, it’s available online for real money.

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Razz Poker Rules

Razz is played with 2 to 8 players using a standard 52-card deck. There are no wild cards or jokers. Each player is dealt seven cards over the course of the hand, and the goal is to make the lowest possible five-card combination. It’s a fixed-limit game, and there are no community cards or betting all-ins like in Hold’em.

Important Rules to Remember for Razz Poker:

• Aces are always low.
• Straights and flushes don’t count against your hand.
• The lowest five-card hand wins the pot.
• Pairs are bad; only unique cards win.
• The highest upcard posts the bring-in.
• Betting happens in five rounds.

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Razz Poker Hand Rankings

In Razz poker, the lowest five-card hand wins. Hands are ranked from the highest card down, and the best possible hand is A-2-3-4-5. Pairs are bad, and neither straights nor flushes matter.

As you’ll see, Razz poker hand rankings are not as intuitive as Texas Holdem poker hand rankings. Check out these top 10 strongest Razz hand rankings from best to worst:

1. A-2-3-4-5 (the wheel)
2. A-2-3-4-6
3. A-2-3-5-6
4. 2-3-4-5-6
5. A-2-4-5-6
6. A-3-4-5-6
7. 2-3-4-5-7
8. A-2-3-4-7
9. 3-4-5-6-7
10. A-2-3-5-7

In razz, you’re not chasing high cards, you’re avoiding them. Always aim for five unpaired cards under 8, with aces helping your cause.

What is the Best Hand in Razz Poker?

The best possible hand in Razz poker is A-2-3-4-5, often called “the wheel.” It contains five unique low cards with no pairs, and since aces are always low in Razz poker, this unbeatable hand sits at the top of the rankings. Remember, when evaluating Razz hands, flushes and straights are ignored, so the suits are irrelevant. To form this hand, you need to avoid duplicates and keep all your cards five or lower, making the wheel both rare and powerful.

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How Betting Works in Razz Poker

Betting in Razz poker follows a fixed-limit structure and feels very different from the no-limit formats most players are used to. You won’t be shoving stacks or pushing opponents out with oversized raises. Instead, bets follow pre-set increments (small bets and big bets) across five distinct betting rounds. For instance, in a $5/10 Razz game, a small bet is worth $5, and a big bet is worth $10. 

It’s a slower pace, but one that rewards patience and consistency over bold bluffs and aggressive spikes in chips.

How Antes Work in Razz

Before the cards are dealt, each player must post an ante. This small forced bet creates a pot to play for and ensures that every hand has action. There are no poker blinds in play in Razz. 

Here’s how it works:

• In a $2/$4 Razz game, the ante might be $0.50.
• All players pay this amount at the start of the hand.
• The ante is separate from any bring-in or bet that follows.

Even though it’s a small amount, the ante helps drive engagement and keeps every hand competitive right from the start.

How Bring-Ins Work in Razz

After everyone posts their ante and receives three cards, the player with the highest visible upcard must post a bring-in bet. This is a forced bet that starts the action on third street.

Key points to remember:

1. The bring-in is typically half the small bet (e.g., $1 in a $2/$4 game).
2. If multiple players show the same high card, suit determines who brings it in (spades are highest, followed by hearts, diamonds, and clubs).
3. The next player can choose to call the bring-in, complete the bet, or fold.
4. The bring-in sets the stage for the rest of the hand, often revealing who’s already at a disadvantage.

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How to Play Razz Poker: Simple Walkthrough

In this section, we’ll walk you through a full hand of Razz poker, from antes to showdown. You’ll learn what to expect in each round, how cards are dealt, when bets are made, and how a winner is determined. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to play Razz from start to finish.

Ante

Each hand of Razz begins with a small forced bet from every player at the table. This is called the ante.

Once the antes are posted:

• The dealer gives each player three cards: two face down, one face up.
• These are the starting cards for Third Street.

The ante doesn’t give you any advantage in the hand, but it creates a pot worth playing for. It also ensures there’s always some incentive to stay in the hand, even before the betting begins.

Third Street

Players now look at their starting three cards. Two are hidden (hole cards), and one is face up (the door card).

• The player with the highest visible upcard must post the bring-in.
• Action then proceeds clockwise.

At this point, players can:

• Call the bring-in
• Complete to a full small bet
• Fold

This is your first opportunity to assess your hand and decide whether to continue. Starting hands like A-2-3 are ideal. Hands with high cards or pairs are often folded immediately.

Fourth Street

Each remaining player is dealt another face-up card. Now, everyone has two visible cards.

• The lowest visible board (upcards) acts first.
• If two players have equal lows, the player closest to the left of the dealer goes first.

Players may:

• Check (if no bet is made)
• Bet the small limit
• Call, raise, or fold

This street starts to reveal which players may have strong low hands.

Fifth Street

A third upcard is dealt to each remaining player.

• This is the first street with big limit betting (e.g., $4 in a $2/$4 game).
• The lowest visible hand still acts first.

By now, the picture of who’s ahead becomes clearer. A player showing 2-4-5 likely has a strong low. If you’ve caught a high card or paired up, this might be a good place to fold and cut your losses.

Sixth Street

Each player still in the hand receives a fourth face-up card. Everyone now has six cards, four visible, two hidden.

Action continues:

• The lowest board acts first.
• Big limit betting remains in effect.

This is a key decision point. Players will often fold here if they’ve hit a second pair or caught another high card. Those with smooth low boards (e.g., 2-3-4-7) will push the action.

Seventh Street (or the River)

The final card is dealt face down to each remaining player.

• There’s one last round of betting.
• Action again starts with the lowest visible hand.

At this point, players have all seven cards. They must now build the best possible five-card low hand. Because the river is face down, it brings back a little mystery. Bluffing and value betting can make the difference.

The Showdown and Finding a Winner

If two or more players are still in the hand after the final round of betting, it’s time for the showdown.

• Each player reveals their five-card low hand. The winner is the one with:
• The lowest possible five-card combination
• No pairs
• The lowest high card (if needed to break ties)

Examples:

A-2-3-4-5 beats 2-3-4-5-6

2-3-4-6-7 beats 3-4-5-6-8

Note: If two players have the exact same hand, the pot is split.

Running Out of Cards in Razz Poker Games

In full-ring games with lots of action, it’s possible to run out of cards before everyone receives their seventh card.

If you run out of cards in Razz:

• A single community card is dealt face up in the center of the table.
• All remaining players share that card as their final seventh.

This rule ensures fairness when the deck can’t provide each player a unique final card.

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3 of the Best Razz Poker Strategies for New Players

Razz rewards smart, patient play more than big bluffs or flashy moves. If you’re new to the game, learning a few key strategy principles will help you avoid costly mistakes and start building confidence. Here are three razor-sharp tips to improve your Razz game immediately.

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Try Our Most Popular Online Poker Games

Razz poker is a fun challenge, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. If you’re new to poker or prefer faster-paced, more familiar formats, games like Texas Hold’em or Pot-Limit Omaha might suit you better. They offer bigger player pools, simpler rules, and more excitement per hand.

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