Razz is also called 7-card-stud-low. It's not a very popular game, but since it has been around for more time that Texas hold'em it is a good idea to learn it.

Razz is played like 7-card-stud, the difference is the lower hand wins. Straight and flushes don't matter, but they can't hurt you either.

Players get 7 cards but the final hand is comprised of only 4 of the seven. There are no flops or community cards.

Let's take a look at how it's played:

• All players place an ante before the cards are dealt. Usually antes are about 1/5 of the low limit bet size. Antes don't count for future bets or calls.
• Players are each dealt 3 cards, two of them face down and one face up.
• The player with the highest card showing makes the first bet – this is called “bringing in” - it is mandatory.
• In case two or more players have the same high card the player closest to the dealer brings it in. this first bet has to be 1/5 of the low limit bet size of the pot.
• The bring in does not count toward betting and calling in the game – if you don't get raised you don't have to place more bets in the pot.
• In the first two of the five betting rounds the bets will be equal to the low limit bet size
• In the following 3 rounds the bets are equal to the high limit bet size.
• No more than than 3 raises are allowed per betting round.
• Betting and raising goes clockwise around the table.
• The first betting round takes place after the players have been dealt their 3 cards – 2 face up and 1 face down – bets and raises are in small bet amount.
• In betting rounds two and three 3 more cards will be dealt face up to each player – betting rounds follow each card – bets are in small bet amount.
• In the fourth betting round one other card is dealt, face up, to each player. A betting round follows – the bets are in small bet amount.
• In the fifth betting round the last card is dealt to each player, face down. The final betting round follows.
• In the showdown players who didn't fold show their cards. The person who made the last bet is the first to show his hand and the other players follow clockwise.

Let's take a look at what you need to win Razz.

For evaluating which is the lowest hand you need to look at each payer's hand and compare the highest cards. The lowest high card wins the pot.

In razz you want to make the best 5-card low hand. The 5-card low hand is made using combinations of the 7 cards each player is dealt. Aces are low and straights and flushes don't matter.

You can win with a 4 - 7 – 8 – 10 – J – Q hand if your opponent has 3 – 5 – 6 – 9 – K.

Here are the top five dream-hands for any Razz player:

A – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5
A – 2 – 3 – 4 – 6
A – 2 – 3 – 5 – 6
A – 2 – 4 – 5 – 6
2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6