Razz Poker Strategy Articles

A list of the Razz poker strategy articles available on our site:

How to Play Razz - A tutorial for players new to the game of razz poker.

Starting Hands in Razz - Strategies for getting the edge by only playing good starting hands.

Playing 3rd Street - You started with a good starting hand. So what do you do on third street?

Playing 4th Street - How to best play your cards on fourth street in a razz poker game.

Playing 5th Street - How to best play your cards on fifth street in a razz poker game.

End game - 6th and 7th street - The endgame, so to speak. How to win at razz poker on sixth and seventh streets.

Razz Strategy Facts

1. Razz strategy is harder to find than other kinds of poker strategy. Most of the poker players I know don't even like to play razz. They get too frustrated when they get dealt A23 as their starting hand and then start getting hit with bricks. Since fewer people play razz, fewer websites feature strategy sections for the game. But I happen to like razz, so I'm thrilled to offer this section.

2. Any razz strategy should take into account that this is a drawing game. In Texas holdem, if you're dealt AA as your hole cards, you're a big favorite preflop no matter what happens. Even if you miss the flop, chances are still good that you'll win a lot of money with AA. The corresponding "power" starting hand in razz is A23, but that hand will lose a lot more often in razz than in Texas holdem. Being good on third street in razz is essential, but it's not as big an advantage as being good preflop in Texas holdem.

3. Razz strategy also needs to take into account what other cards are showing on the table. In any stud poker game, you get to see a relatively large percentage of the cards in the deck while you're playing. At a table of six players, all of whom go all the way to 7th street, you'll be looking at 24 out of the 52 cards in the deck, right there on the table. This make stud games easier than other poker games IF you can pay attention to and remember which cards are oiut.

4. Razz strategy books are just about as rare as pages on the Internet on the same subject. One book that is probably worth taking a look at is Sklansky on Poker. That book combines two previous books from David Sklansky, one of which is Sklansky on Razz. His personal life might have been a little bit colorful lately, but his poker writing has always been pretty worthwhile. Championship Stud: 7-Card Stud, Stud/8, Razz is probably also worth a look, but it's out of print.

5. Razz strategy is pretty straightforward compared to most other games. Get the goods, then bet the goods. Tight aggressive player works as well in a razz poker game as it does in most other poker games. Like most poker games with lots of cards, you'll play fewer starting hands if you're playing well. And judicious blind-stealing is almost necessary for a winning razz strategy.

See Also: