We’re all familiar with the classic game of poker, but what about the variant razz poker? Most people are unfamiliar with this version of the game, so let’s find out more.
Razz poker is a version of a seven-card stud played by five players, using a stripped deck. In razz, each player receives seven cards but there are no betting rounds before the final (seventh) card is dealt with each player. To win a hand in razz, a player must have the lowest combination of cards possible. The best possible hand in Razz is a five-high followed by a six low (5-6-7-8-9). This is sometimes referred to as “playing the rag”, short for “rag ace”.
The game of razz poker started on the riverboats that traveled the Mississippi river before becoming legal in all parts of the united states. Games such as poker dice and many others were very popular on those riverboats before they became legal throughout the country. Razz is also a cousin to razzle, an early pinball game with similar rules to those of razz poker.
Razz is one of the most difficult forms to master in poker, but at the same time, it’s one of the most interesting. It’s very different from other games because if you are not used to it, you could end up making mistakes that may cost you a lot! Therefore, before playing this game if you want to win big money.
The first one is very important: many people wonder how many cards you should draw during the game. To begin with, we recommend that you draw one card only in the first round. By doing so, your goal is to get a low hand (8 or lower). If you succeed, you will allow yourself to play more rounds and increase your chances of winning. Otherwise, if you end up with an 8 or more, the best thing to do is to discard it. If you draw too many cards in the second round (4-6), it’s better to stick with your hand and play for one more round, but only if it has a value of 7 or less. Otherwise, keep what you have and go to the next round.
In general, the more rounds you get in Razz, the better. In other words, try to get as many rounds as possible. If you don’t have a low hand at the end of the third round, discard it and try to make up for your mistake by playing more rounds.
This is especially true if you are not used to this game; if you keep drawing cards during each round, your chances will be much higher to lose all your money!
Some players wish to play razz poker for serious cash but only have the option to play online. This is where razz poker online comes into play. Some sites offer this game and it is a good alternative for those who would like to make some money from the game of razz poker.