The Game of Razz
The Game of Razz…Are you Patient Enough? Ever since the World Series of Poker in 2004, Razz has been growing in popularity. In a HORSE tournament, Razz is the “R” game and is building a reputation as a challenging and interesting pastime. Of course, there are those who hate the game as well, but most poker fans agree that if you are a patient player, you’ll do well at Razz.
Razz is played much like Seven Card Stud except that the lowest hand wins. Aces are always low and the very best hand in the game, called the wheel or bicycle, is A2345.
Razz is pretty easy to teach to newcomers and they can pick up the basics easily. It is quite straightforward because many of the cards are up cards, which means the whole table can see them. On the downside, Razz does not usually attract large pots and it is not a game that encourages bluffing too much. You get a pretty good idea of what all your opponents have by looking at the table, so the bluff is not really useful.
If you think of yourself as patient, or maybe if you want to develop your patience, here are some strategies to give yourself a chance of winning at Razz poker. It is vital that you don’t rush into a large bet too early in the game.
In the first few rounds of Razz, it is clear which hands are likely to be winners. Since two cards are dealt face down, followed by one up card, any player with an up card of 9 or higher will probably fold. On the other hand, if you have three cards that are between 5 and A, it is definitely a betting hand. The best hand you can get in the first three rounds is A23, but any combination of three low cards is good, providing you don’t have a pair. If one of your first three cards is a 6, 7, or 8, you can still bet the hand but be aware of what the other players are holding.
As the remaining rounds of the game continue, it is important to watch closely what is dealt to your opponents. If you have, as an example, A45, and you see any other A’s, 4’s or 5’s dealt, you can feel that your hand is stronger because you have less chance of drawing a pair that could ruin a good starting hand. But, if the other cards you need for your good hand, like 2,3 or 6 are dealt to your opponents, that tends to make your hand weaker because there is less chance you will fill out the wheel.
Bluffs should only be used with caution in Razz. For the most part, you can tell what kind of hand the other players have and should assume that they are not bluffing. Exercise your patience and don’t fall into the trap of bidding up your own weak hand just to keep the other guys honest. If their hands look good, they probably are. The exception to this rule comes if you know the guys at the table well. As in any type of poker, if there is a player who will bet on absolutely anything, jump on that knowledge and take him for what you can get. Likewise, a very timid player may not bet even when he has a strong hand showing, so you may be able to win with poorer cards.
Be patient, pick your opportunities carefully, and have fun with Razz.
