Razz Poker: Complete Rules & Strategy Guide 2026

October 2026 · 8 min read

Razz is Seven-Card Stud played lowball — the worst high-card hand wins. No 8-or-better qualifier (unlike Stud Hi-Lo), just the pure best five-card low from seven cards. Aces are always low, and straights and flushes don't count against you. The nut hand is A-2-3-4-5 (the wheel). Razz is part of HORSE, 8-Game, and multiple PSOP events on Phenom Poker.

Razz Rules: How the Game Works

Razz is played with antes and a bring-in (like all Stud variants). Each player receives seven cards total — three in the initial deal (two down, one up), then three more upcards, then a seventh card face-down. Here's the deal sequence:

1. All players ante
2. Three cards dealt (2 down / 1 up)
3. Bring-in: Player showing the highest upcard must post the bring-in (opposite of Stud — highest card brings it in)
4. 4th Street: second upcard dealt, betting
5. 5th Street: third upcard dealt, betting (bets double here in fixed-limit)
6. 6th Street: fourth upcard dealt, betting
7. 7th Street (River): final card dealt face-down, final betting
8. Showdown: best low five-card hand from seven cards wins

Razz Hand Rankings

Lowest high card wins. Aces are lowest. Hands compared from highest card down:

• A-2-3-4-5 (wheel — the nuts)
• A-2-3-4-6
• A-2-3-5-6
• A-2-3-4-7
• A-2-3-5-7 (8-low means the highest card is an 8)

The key: there is no qualifier. Any low hand wins, unlike Stud Eight-or-Better. A 9-low wins if it's the best hand at the table.

Razz Strategy

Starting Hand Selection

Your three starting cards determine your hand's potential. Strong Razz starting hands have three unpaired low cards (8 or lower), with aces being the most valuable. A-2-3 is the premium starting hand — three perfectly low cards gives you a huge lead. A-2-x (where x is 4-7) is still excellent. Hands with a picture card (9+) or a pair need to be played cautiously or folded from early position.

Read Exposed Cards Constantly

This is the most critical Razz skill. Every folded upcard is information. If you're drawing to a 7-low and you see three 7s in opponents' upcards, your out is essentially dead. Track every folded card throughout the hand. Experienced Razz players can tell you exactly which outs are dead on every street without writing anything down.

Steal Antes with Strong Upcards

In Razz, showing a low upcard (ace, 2, 3) signals strength, just as a low upcard in regular Stud signals weakness. When you show an ace upcard, raise aggressively — opponents showing high cards like kings and queens will frequently fold their entire antes rather than play against what looks like a premium Razz hand.

Pair Avoidance and Recovery

Pairing a low card (getting a second 3 on 4th Street when you already hold A-3 hole) is a significant setback. If you pair up but still have strong backdoor potential (your other hole cards are very low), you can sometimes continue. But pairing your best low card often means folding — especially when an opponent is showing a clean three-card low and not pairing.

Razz at Phenom Poker

Razz runs in the PSOP and as part of HORSE and 8-Game events on Phenom Poker. The platform's mixed-game focus means you'll find Razz action even outside of scheduled tournament events. This is rare — most online platforms barely spread Razz at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Reading

• How to Play HORSE Poker
• Stud Hi-Lo Poker Guide
• 8-Game Poker Guide
• Phenom Series of Poker (PSOP)
• Full Phenom Poker Review 2026
• Phenom Poker Rakeback: 50% Weekly Rake Explained
• How to Become a Poker Agent