Tips for Playing Razz Poker

Razz should be played aggressively in the right situations, yet patience is a key factor in long term success. For complete strategy overview and tips in Razz, read here.

Razz Poker is a fun game, yet requires much patience. The best way to win is to steal the antes when the opportunity presents itself, and this depends on several key decisions:

Starting hands

Put very simply, a starting hand worth betting on in the 3rd Street will have 3 cards between Ace and Five, not including pairs. Playable starting hands for betting in the 4th Street should include 3 cards between Ace and 7, and marginal ones will have 3 cards between Ace and 8. Any hand with cards above 8 is not worth playing.

Up Cards

Observing other player’s up cards is a good way to determine whether or not you have a strong hand. For example, If you have 3 cards from Ace to 9, and there are no other up cards with a value lower than 9, then it is likely that you have the strongest hand in 3rd Street. Even if you receive low pairs, as long as other players are receiving high up cards, you can still probably take the pot.

Folding

If your hand is not strong in the beginning, it is not worth continuing – you will just waste chips. Again, Razz is a game of patience.

Live & Dead cards

Unlike in other poker variations, Razz favors dead cards. This is because you don’t want to get pairs in your starting hand, so any same card on the table for another player will ensure that you don’t get any.

Ante stealing

There are several easy opportunities for a player to steal the ante:

1.When the bring-in player is seated to your left and everyone has folded – complete the bet and take the antes and bring-in home.

2. When you have the lowest up card.

3. When you have the second highest up card and everyone has folded.

Aggressive play

Razz is not a game of slow play. Of course, patience is required, yet when you do get a good starting hand, play it aggressively, because even if you get a poor card you will still be able to call on 4th Street with a good first hand.