Basic Razz Strategy

Basic Razz Strategy

Many beginning mixed games players have never encountered the game Razz before. If they have, many do not like the game. Razz has the tendency to frustrate even the greatest poker players in the world. One key to becoming skilled in Razz is developing a solid strategy in the game. Today, we will look at some basic Razz strategy.

As a beginning Razz player, you will want to start with hands where you hold three cards 7 and lower. A-2-3 is the strongest starting hand in Razz. Any hand with an A-2 in it will be strong, especially if the A-2 is in the hole. Any hand with A-3 is also strong. Anytime you hold A-2, A-3, and 2-3 as hole cards, your hand gains value as the strength of your hand is hidden.

Many players will play most three card eights when starting to learn Razz. Many times playing a three-card eight will end as a losing proposition as many players are starting with three card sevens and better. There are a few spots where you may play a three-card eight as a beginning Razz player profitably. First, if most of the up cards at your table are 8 or higher, you may play a three-card eight profitably. Also, if you have a strong three card eight such as 8-3-A or 8-2-A, you may consider playing this hand for no more than a completion bet. The key to playing this hand is that it must improve by Fifth Street to continue in the hand.

Some players will play certain starting hands with a high card showing and an A-2 or A-3 in the hole. This is a sucker play for two reasons. First, you must catch three out of five cards under an eight have a realistic chance of winning your hand. That is 60% of the cards to come. Your odds are long to improve your hand. Next, when you come in with a card higher than an eight, you are telling the other players at the table that your hole cards are strong. If you are fortunate enough to catch good cards, you will not receive any action except from other poor players.

Position in Razz is based on where the bring-in bet occurs. Also, position has the possibility to change on every street. You may start in late position on Third Street, but may be first to act on Fourth Street depending how hands develop. Position does not play as large of a role in Razz as in other games. One spot that you can use position as a beginner player is Third Street. Sometimes you may be able to steal the antes and bring-in with a low card if it is folded around to you or a weak hand such as a nine limps in. Otherwise, don’t adopt a Holdem mentality and call bets with weak hands in late position hoping to outplay an opponent. As stated earlier, your strong beginning position can change with the flip of a card.

You need to keep track of your other opponents up cards in Razz. This allows you to track dead cards. You are at a table holding a 7-4-3. The up cards of other opponents are A, 2, 5, A, and 6, 10, and 8. Many cards that you need are out and your hand is not as strong as it once appeared. In fact, if there is a lot of action ahead of you, you will want to consider folding.

Another skill you need to develop is determining what your opponent could hold and what they could draw. You also need to recognize situations where they are board locked. When a player is board locked, they cannot catch a card to beat you. For example, if you are holding A-4-7-8 with a 2-3 in the hole and your opponent is showing a board of 9-8-6-7, you cannot lose. To look closer at the hand, you already have a perfect seven low. The best hand that your opponent can draw to based on his board is a 7-6 low. When your opponent is board locked, extract as many bets as you can.

Razz is a game of strong boards. When you have a strong board showing, you need to play it aggressively. For example, if you are on Fourth Street showing an A-2 and your opponent is showing a 9-7, you need to bet into them. There are times that your hole cards will become almost irrelevant compared to your board. Part of playing strong boards is knowing whether your opponent is observant enough to put you on a hand and will fold to your play. Don’t play your board aggressively against a calling station without having a hand.

One mistake that many new Razz players make is staying in hands too long or committing to the end once they are involved in a hand. A simple rule of thumb in for beginning Razz players is that if you do not improve by Fifth Street, abandon your hand. Improvement can occur in one of two ways. First, it means that you catch needed cards towards your low. The other is that your opponent could catch bad and put your hand in the lead. Also, if your opponent improves to a strong draw on fourth, you should abandon the hand. For example, you have a three-card seven against a 6 or a 5. Your opponent improves to a six-low or a wheel draw while you catch a king. It is time to fold.

The main point that you should have picked up from this article is that a good Razz player is a disciplined Razz player. Playing bad starting hands and chasing long shot draws are recipes for disaster. A solid Razz strategy such as the one above will put you ahead of the curve in most HORSE games. It will also allow you to pick up extra bets and pots when other players are just trying to survive to make the next game.