Lowball poker guide · 2026

Razz Poker: Rules, Strategy & Where to Play in 2026

Razz poker is a seven-card Stud lowball game where the lowest five-card hand wins. Aces are low, straights and flushes do not hurt your hand, and 5-4-3-2-A is the best possible Razz hand. This guide covers the rules, hand rankings, five betting streets, starting hands, live cards, beginner strategy and where eligible US players can play Razz online.

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Seven-card Stud lowball

What Is Razz Poker?

Razz is a lowball poker game built on the same seven-card dealing structure as Seven Card Stud. Each player can receive up to seven cards, three face down and four face up, but only the best five-card low is used at showdown. There are no normal community cards.

The lowest hand wins

Razz uses ace-to-five lowball rankings. You want five different low ranks, and the highest card in your five-card hand is the first card used to compare lows.

Aces play low

An ace counts as the lowest rank. That is why A-2-3-4-5, usually called the wheel or a five-low, is the strongest possible Razz hand.

Straights and flushes are ignored

A straight or flush does not make a Razz low worse. Pairs are different: repeating a rank damages the hand because you want five distinct low cards.

Razz is not an eight-or-better game. A nine-low, ten-low or even weaker low can win if it is the best hand at showdown. There is also no high half of the pot in standard Razz.
Lowball made simple

Razz Poker Hand Rankings

Read a Razz hand from its highest card downward. The lower that highest card is, the stronger the low. If both hands have the same highest card, compare the next-highest card, then the next one until the tie is broken.

Best possible Five-Low 5-4-3-2-A

The wheel. Aces are low and the straight is ignored, making this the strongest possible Razz hand.

Excellent Six-Low 6-4-3-2-A

Any six-low beats every seven-low because six is lower than seven when the hands are compared from the top.

Very strong Seven-Low 7-5-4-2-A

A seven-low beats every eight-low. When two players both have seven-lows, compare the second-highest card.

Common value Eight-Low 8-6-4-3-A

Unlike an eight-or-better split-pot game, an eight is not a qualification line in Razz. It is simply one family of low hands.

Weaker low Nine-Low 9-7-6-4-2

A nine-low loses to every unpaired eight-low or better but can still win the entire pot against weaker holdings.

Avoid pairing Paired Hands A-A-4-3-2

Pairs reduce low-hand quality. A clean unpaired five-card low is preferred to a holding that must use a duplicated rank.

Example: seven-low beats eight-low

7-6-4-2-A beats 8-5-3-2-A. Start with the highest card: seven is lower than eight, so no further comparison is needed.

Example: compare the next card

7-5-4-2-A beats 7-6-3-2-A. Both are seven-lows, so the second-highest card decides it: five is lower than six.

Suits do not break a showdown tie. If two players have the same five-card low, the pot is split according to the table rules.
Five betting streets

How to Play Razz Poker: Rules and Betting Streets

A Razz hand normally starts with an ante from every player. The first three cards form third street, followed by one new card on each street through seventh. Razz is most commonly played fixed limit: smaller betting increments are used on the early streets and larger increments begin on fifth street.

3rd Two down, one up

Each player gets two hidden cards and one exposed door card. The highest exposed card makes the forced bring-in under standard Razz rules.

4th One card face up

Another exposed card arrives. The player showing the lowest exposed board normally acts first from this street onward.

5th One card face up

The third exposed card is dealt. In standard fixed-limit Razz, this is where the larger betting increment normally begins.

6th Final exposed card

Each remaining player receives a fourth face-up card, creating the last public information before the river.

7th Final card face down

The river is hidden. After the final betting round, remaining players compare their best five-card lows at showdown.

Who posts the Razz bring-in?

The highest exposed card on third street posts the bring-in in standard Razz. Exact bring-in sizing and procedures for tied door cards depend on the table rules.

Who acts first after third street?

From fourth street onward, the lowest exposed board normally acts first. Because boards change, betting position can change from one street to the next.

If you already understand Seven Card Stud, the dealing pattern will feel familiar. The critical change is the objective: Stud plays for high, while Razz plays only for low.

Third-street selection

Best Razz Starting Hands

Good Razz starting hands contain three low, unpaired cards with strong potential to improve. But the same three cards can change value depending on the exposed cards around the table, your position and whether the ranks you need are still live.

Premium: three wheel cards

A-2-3, A-2-4 and A-3-4 are excellent starts. They are low, unpaired and capable of developing into the strongest possible lows.

Strong: three cards 7 or lower

Unpaired three-card sevens such as 2-4-7 can be strong when important ranks remain live and opposing boards are not threatening.

Playable: smooth eights

Hands such as A-3-8 can be playable in the right situation, especially when your low cards are live and players behind show weak door cards.

Usually weak: pairs and highs

Starting with a pair or multiple high cards leaves more work to do. These hands generally need favorable table conditions to continue.

What does “live” mean in Razz?

A rank is live when few or none of its cards are visible in opponents’ exposed boards or remembered from folded hands. For example, if you start A-2-6 and several threes and fours are already exposed, some of your cleanest improvement cards are gone. Card memory therefore has direct strategic value.

Beginner fundamentals

Razz Poker Strategy: Seven Tips for Better Decisions

Razz strategy is heavily information-driven. You can see multiple cards around the table, so your decisions should reflect not only your own low but also how strong or weak every visible board appears.

1. Start low and unpaired

Three low cards with different ranks give you the cleanest path to a strong five-card low. Starting paired creates an immediate disadvantage.

2. Track dead low cards

If several cards you need are exposed, reduce the value of your draw. Conversely, seeing many high cards elsewhere can make your low-card outs more live.

3. Watch opponent boards

A player showing 2-4-6 is visibly much smoother than someone showing K-Q. Board texture helps estimate who is likely ahead and who may be vulnerable.

4. Use strong door cards

A low exposed card can make your board look dangerous. In the right spot, that visible strength can help you pressure players whose boards have paired or caught high.

5. Reassess on fifth street

The betting increment normally increases on fifth street in fixed-limit Razz. Continuing with a rough draw becomes more expensive once the big bets begin.

6. Do not chase one perfect card

A hand that needs one specific rank may be far less attractive than it appears, especially when some copies are already exposed around the table.

7. Read lows from the top

Train yourself to compare the highest card first, then the next-highest. This makes showdown values and opponent board strength much faster to assess.

Razz can look simple because the lowest hand wins, but visible-card tracking makes it one of poker’s most information-rich formats. The cards that are no longer available can matter almost as much as the cards in your own hand.
US sweepstakes poker

Where Can Eligible US Players Play Razz Poker Online?

Eligible US players can find Razz at Clubs Poker. The room supports Razz directly and also includes it in mixed-game formats such as HORSE and Stud-based rotations. Poker formats, tournament schedules and table traffic can change, so check the live lobby for current Razz availability.

Razz + HORSE + mixed games

Clubs Poker

Clubs Poker is a player-vs-player sweepstakes poker room with support for Razz and a broad range of related formats. Players who enjoy lowball can also explore Seven Card Stud, Stud Hi-Lo-based rotations, HORSE, draw poker and other mixed games when available.

Razz available as a supported poker format
HORSE rotations include a dedicated Razz round
Stud and mixed-game formats available in the same poker room
Tournament and mixed-game availability can rotate with the schedule
18+ minimum age, subject to higher local requirements where applicable
Check the current lobby for Razz tables, tournaments and mixed-game rotations before playing. Availability can vary by time and location.
Restricted territories: California, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Washington and West Virginia. Game or service availability can vary by jurisdiction.
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Know the differences

Razz vs Seven Card Stud, Stud Hi-Lo and 2-7 Lowball

Razz shares its dealing structure with Stud, but its hand-ranking system changes the objective completely. It also differs from deuce-to-seven lowball, where straights and flushes matter and aces normally play high.

Feature Razz Seven Card Stud Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better 2-7 Lowball
Main goal Lowest five-card hand Highest five-card hand High and qualifying low can split Lowest deuce-to-seven hand
Ace treatment Ace is low Ace can be high or low in a straight Ace is low for the low half Ace is normally high
Straights / flushes Ignored for low Strong high hands Ignored when evaluating the low half Count against a low hand
Low qualifier None Not applicable Eight-or-better required None
Best hand 5-4-3-2-A Royal flush Best high / A-2-3-4-5 low 7-5-4-3-2

Razz is one of the five games in HORSE poker, and it also appears in broader rotations covered in the mixed games poker guide.

Frequently asked questions

Razz Poker FAQ

What is Razz poker?

Razz is a seven-card Stud lowball game. Each player can receive up to seven cards, and the lowest five-card hand wins the pot at showdown.

What is the best hand in Razz?

The best possible Razz hand is 5-4-3-2-A, known as a five-low or the wheel. Aces play low, while straights and flushes do not count against the hand.

Do straights and flushes count in Razz?

No. Straights and flushes are ignored for Razz low-hand evaluation. Pairs are undesirable because a strong Razz hand uses five different low ranks.

How many cards do you get in Razz?

A player can receive seven cards in a complete Razz hand: three face down and four face up. Only the best five-card low from those seven cards is used at showdown.

Who posts the bring-in in Razz?

On third street, the player with the highest exposed door card posts the forced bring-in under standard Razz rules. Exact sizing and tie procedures depend on the table rules.

Who acts first after third street in Razz?

From fourth street onward, the player showing the lowest exposed board normally acts first. Because the boards change, the first player to act can also change from street to street.

Does Razz have an eight-or-better qualifier?

No. Razz has no eight-or-better qualifier. The lowest hand wins the whole pot even if the winning low is a nine, ten or higher.

What are good Razz starting hands?

Three low, unpaired cards are the foundation of a strong starting hand. Three wheel cards such as A-2-3 are premium, while unpaired three-card sevens can also be very strong when the needed ranks remain live.

Is Razz the same as Seven Card Stud?

No. They use a similar seven-card dealing structure, but Seven Card Stud awards the pot to the best high hand while Razz awards it to the lowest five-card hand.

Is Razz part of HORSE poker?

Yes. Razz is the R in HORSE. The standard rotation is Limit Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo Eight-or-Better.

Where can eligible US players play Razz poker online?

Clubs Poker supports Razz and also offers related mixed-game formats such as HORSE. Table, tournament and location availability can change, so check the current lobby and eligibility rules before playing.

Edvina Kaminskaite
About the author

Written by Edvina Kaminskaite

Owner and Editor, American Casino Sweeps

Edvina writes about sweepstakes poker, casino platforms and poker game formats for American Casino Sweeps.

Updated: August 23, 2026 Guide type: Poker rules & strategy

Poker formats, table availability, tournaments, promotions and state eligibility can change. Confirm platform rules and lobby information before registering or playing.

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Ready to learn Razz poker?

Start by reading low hands from the top, choosing three low unpaired starting cards and tracking exposed ranks. Then move into HORSE and other mixed games where Razz becomes part of a broader rotation.

Read the HORSE Poker Guide Read the Clubs Poker Review