Razz Poker

Most poker players are experience in all the other variants of poker such as Holdem and Omaha. But there is one variant which they find difficult or have little exposure to: Razz. The key to a good game of Razz is to play strong boards. Here are a few tips you could follow the next time you decide to give this poker variant a try.

One distinct quality of Razz is that it is a Poker game where the worst hand wins. Most times, you can force other players out of a hand just based on what you are showing on your board. One important requirement of this is that your opponent is clever enough to be able to put you on a better hand and if they are willing to fold. Don’t try bluffing your way if you are playing against a calling station. This is completely pointless.

Let’s look at an example of a typical round of Razz. Let’s say you are on fifth street and are showing 9-8-7.  At this point, you could have a made nine at best.  If you catch perfect and you hold cards are good, then you may be able to draw to a seven. Your Online Poker opponent’s board is showing 8-8-J.  You should ask yourself, what is the best they can hope to draw to?  At best they can make an eight, and right now they are still drawing.  In this type of situation, you would have to bet to force them out of the pot.

Normally, the best starting hand in this game is A-2-3. In a full-ring game, one strategy you could use is to play only three card 8s or lower. This means any three card 8s or lower that are not paired. You may want to avoid making pairs and evaluate other door cards in relation to the strength of their hand. For example, you hold 3-4-5 and see four dead door cards of 3-4-4-5 behind you. This is a strong hand because it will no longer be likely to pair your hole cards.

Another key strategy in Razz you may want to try is stealing the antes and bring-in bets. Let’s say a player is to the right of the bring-in bettor, and everyone else folds. In this case, a raise with a lower exposed card is a good play. If you have a 9 showing, and the bring-in bettor has a K showing, you should raise if everyone else folds.

If you show a hand that looks stronger compared to that of your opponent, he may as well be forced to fold at your bet. But another part of the equation is determining what they could draw to.  You need to have the ability to put them on potential hands.

In the case of playing your board, you bet based on your perceived strength and not on the actual strength of your hand.  It is just another form of bluffing, and can be a very profitable form for this game. You will read more of these Razz Poker Tips as you read through the site.

A poker game called H.O.R.S.E, which is basically a game of five rotating poker variants of Holdem, Omaha 8 or Better, Razz, Stud, and Stud 8 or Better, has been growing in popularity since 2006. While most poker players can play most games, they have the least experience and exposure to Razz. So when faced with it, they end up making many bad plays. Here are a few things you can look for during the Razz round.

When playing razz, it’s important that you start with 3 little cards and not play any card bigger than an eight in your hand. There are only two exceptions. One is if you have a nine showing when the hand is dealt, everyone else’s up card is bigger than a nine, and you have two low cards in the hole. Two is if you are in steal position with a baby showing, and the remaining player (or even the remaining two players) has a big card showing. You can raise in this spot to steal the antes despite what your hole cards are. If an opponent calls, hope that they catch a big card. If he ends up with a baby and you have a big card, just fold.

Depending on how the Poker game is structured, a lot of your opponents may opt to sit out a number of hands in the Razz round. This is more common in cash games than in tournaments. Thus, players end up playing only a hand that is really strong. There will be times when one may choose to play a marginal hand against these players, hoping they may catch bad and then fold. It is not that you should call down this player if you have a King and he has an ace. But if you are showing a 9 or 10 and he has a card from 5 to 8, then you can come in and see 4th street. At this point, they will fold to a bet if they catch paint and your hand improves.

If a player calls a completion bet on third that was a bring-in or has a card 10 or higher, they may be holding a couple of really strong low cards.  What you need to do is pay close attention to how they improve and if you are improving. Bet your hand strong.  If by 6th street you feel that they indeed may have a better hand than you, slow down or fold if you can’t outdraw them.

If someone hits a pair on their board and they call a bet from you, you can bet that their hole cards are strong if not perfect.  Push your advantage unless they improve or you fall behind.

Don’t ever try and bluff a calling station.  Some players will not fold their hand even if you are showing A-2-3-4 and they are showing K-7-8-9.  Remember that most players that play H.O.R.S.E. tend to specialize in some games but are average in some Poker Games.

Read more Razz Poker Tips
to help you improve your gaming power.