There are tons of variations of poker. The most popular ones would be the ones that could be found in H.O.R.S.E., namely Texas Hold’em, Omaha eight or better, Razz, Seven Card Stud, Seven Card and Stud Eight or Better. One of the most popular forms of poker would be Razz. Razz poker is a variation of poker that’s not very far from seven-stud poker. They’re pretty much the same aside from the fact that in Razz, the winning hand is the lowest ranking card combination. The ace does not count as the highest ranking card, instead it is considered to be the lowest.

 

 

Razz is played the way pretty much like Seven Card Stud is played. It uses a deck of 52 cards. The game starts off with the players’ antes. The dealer then deals each of the players three cards each, a couple face down and the third one face up. The two cards faced down are called the hole cards, while the one left face up is called the door card. The player with the door card that’s highest in terms of rank shall be required to bet during the stage. Should two or more players have the same ranking door card, the suit of the cards will then determine who the first one to bet is. In Razz, the spade is the highest, followed by hearts, diamonds and finally clubs.  For example, if you manage to be dealt the King of Spades as your door card, you’re guaranteed to make that initial bet. The bet is usually a portion of the bet limit.  Razz makes use of a limit betting rule, meaning players have a fixed amount that they can bet per round. There are a total of seven cards dealt in the game and during the fifth card has been dealt, the normal bet is doubled. During the showdown, the player with the lowest ranking hand wins the pot. The lowest ranking hand in the game is comprised of 5, 4, 3, 2, and A. This counts as a high card 5, not a straight, and A is the lowest ranking card in the game.

 

 

If you want to up your winning chances a bit, you might want to try a few things out while you play. Although they will not guarantee that you will win every time, if you strictly follow these guidelines, your chance of winning will increase. First off is that when you have a good pair on you, you should bet without delay. Doing so will pressure your opponents and possibly cloud their judgment and decide on an early fold. Another thing is that you should always be mindful of the cards being dealt. Being observant during the game will get you hints of cards that possibly have been used, giving you a better idea on whether to fold or to bet. Another thing is that if based on your judgment that your chance of getting a good hand is slim, fold away. It is always wise to avoid fights you can’t win, that way, it won’t cost you much and you can make up for it during the next round. Just play safe and you’ll be winning more often.