Best Razz Poker Sites for 2010

Razz is played with 2 - 8 players using a standard 52 deck of cards. Unlike other forms of poker, Razz awards the player with the best low hand and not the high hand.  Razz is played using the same structure as Stud poker, except players only play for the best low hand - not the highest hand. In a game of Razz, the best possible hand any player could have is the "Wheel", made up of A-2-3-4-5. Another significant difference in Razz to Stud is that flushes and straights play no part in the game.

How to Play Razz Poker Online

Razz is played with 2 - 8 players using a standard 52 deck of cards. Unlike other forms of poker, Razz awards the player with the best low hand and not the high hand.  Razz is played using the same structure as Stud poker, except players will not need to qualify in order to play for the best low hand. In a game of Razz, the best possible hand any player could have is the "Wheel", made up of A-2-3-4-5. Another significant difference in Razz to Stud is that flushes and straights play no part in the game.

Razz is always played with a fixed limit structure and there are a total of five betting rounds. The first two rounds in a game of Razz require the bets and/raises equal to the small bet, while the remaining three betting rounds require bets to equal the big bet. As an example if the stakes are $2/$4, the first two rounds would require bets and/or raises to be at least $2, while the remaining three rounds would be $4. Unlike Hold'em or Omaha, players will be require to Ante into the hand before any cards are dealt. The Ante will vary from one Razz poker site to another, but is normally fixed at 10% of the small bet. As an example Pokerstars will require a 0.10 ante from players in a $1/$2 game.

Other betting rules players should be aware of is the "Bring-In" which requires the player with the lowest door card to "bring-in" a bet equal to half of the small bet before play resumes. Should a tie occur, the player with the lowest suit places the bet. In Razz, suits are ranked highest to lowest in alphabetical order (e.g Club, Diamond, Heart, Spade)

Playing Razz Poker  - Game Rules

To begin the game, each player will be require to place an Ante into the pot. The dealer will then deal each player three cards. The first two cards are dealt face down, and the third card face up. The first two cards are called hole cards and your up card is called a door card. The player with the lowest door card will be required to bring-in. Once this happens, each player will take his or her turn betting, raising or folding in a clockwise fashion.  Remember, betting in the first two rounds requires a bet equal to the small bet.

Following the completion of the first betting round a fourth card will be dealt to each player still in the hand. The fourth card, and each subsequent card dealt is called a "street". The second round of betting, and each subsequent round will start with the player with the highest hand showing, not the lowest card. At this stage of the game, the highest opening hand would be a pair of Aces. If no pair is showing, the highest up card will start the betting round.

Firth street will be dealt once the betting round is complete. During this round and all future rounds, all bets should be the large. As an example if your playing $2/$4 Razz, the minimum bet required to open would be $4.

The dealer will deal 6th street with the same betting structure as 5th street.

The final card and seventh card will be dealt to each player once betting completes on 6th. This card will be dealt face-down.
Once 7th street is complete, the showdown will take place and the player with the best low hand wins the pot. If a tie occurs, the players will chop.