Razz Poker Rules

What is the best hand in Razz?

The wheel: 5-4-3-2-A. Aces play low in Razz, so 5-high (with no pair) is the nuts. Other strong hands: 6-4-3-2-A (6-low), 6-5-3-2-A, 7-4-3-2-A. Razz hands are ranked from the highest card down — compare the top card first, then the next, etc. Straights and flushes do NOT count against you in Razz, unlike 2-7 lowball. So 5-4-3-2-A counts as 5-high, not a straight.

What is the worst hand in Razz?

Four-of-a-kind kings with a king kicker (K-K-K-K-K is impossible, but K-K-K-K-x is the practical worst). More commonly: any paired hand loses to any unpaired hand. The worst unpaired hand is K-Q-J-T-9. In practice, if you must play to showdown, you want any unpaired 5 cards 8 or lower. Anything containing a pair, two-pair, trips, etc. is treated as 'high' — pairs are bad in Razz.

Do straights and flushes count in Razz?

No. Razz uses 'A-5 lowball' rankings (sometimes called 'California lowball'). 5-4-3-2-A is a wheel and counts as 5-high — the best hand. A flush like 7-5-4-3-2 of hearts is a 7-low (not a flush). This differs from 2-7 (Deuce-to-Seven) lowball where straights and flushes DO count against you. In Razz, ignore suits entirely except for tiebreakers in bring-in.

How is Razz dealt and how does betting work?

Razz is 7-Card Stud structure: 2 hole cards + 1 up (3rd street), then 4th-6th street each get one up-card, and 7th street is dealt face-down. The HIGHEST up-card on 3rd street posts the bring-in (opposite of Stud Hi where the LOW card brings in). After 3rd street, the LOWEST showing hand acts first on every street. Razz is almost always played as fixed-limit poker — bet sizes are capped per street.

What is a good starting hand in Razz?

Premium: any 3 cards 8 or lower including an Ace (e.g., A-2-7, A-3-6, A-4-8). These are 'three-card 8' or better hands and play strongly. Good: any 3 unpaired cards 9 or lower. Marginal: 3 cards with one 10 or J showing. Trash: any pair, or any hand with two cards Q or higher. If you're forced to bring-in with a K showing, fold to any raise — you're starting with the worst card in the deck.