The Top 5 Secrets For Razz Poker Success

1. Only play 8’s if they are hidden

In Razz poker an 8 low is a good hand on the river, however, when your initial exposed card is an 8 it gives you very little room to maneuver throughout the hand. It’s hard to move people off an inferior hand -such as (58)6 or (92)3-and your ability to take down pots merely by catching another low card is also diminished. There is a world of difference in your opponent’s mind when your hand is (A5)85, and when it’s (85)A5.

2. Most of the time your board is more important than your actual cards

Continuing our theme from point #1, Razz poker differs from typical Stud games in that there is little room for deception when you actually have a powerhouse! You can’t hide an (xx)A235 board, your opponents will be walking on eggshells throughout the rest of the hand.

3. Slow-playing is almost never a good strategy

A lot of players are willing to give the bring-in a free-shot to draw a card when they have a monster starting hand like (23)A. The problem with this thinking is that you have very little to gain. First off, by limping in and not attacking the antes you are basically yelling from the mountaintops that you have a really strong hand. Secondly, you are simply giving the bring-in a free-card!

Most of the time the only way you will get any further action is when three specific things happen: the bring-in has two prime low cards hidden, catches good, and you brick: Which totally evaporates any of the edge you had going into 4^th street! In 99% of all other cases the bring-in will simply fold to any bet on 4^th street. So you win the exact same amount you would by attacking the antes, unless those three specific things occur, in which case you are likely 50/50 to win the hand, and have therefore lost equity.

4. Make sure you keep track of the dead cards

Since you’re not drawing to flushes and straights, or trying to fill-up, many players discount the importance of dead-cards. However, this line of thinking is a critical mistake, and here’s why:

Suppose you are playing in a 6-handed game; you are dealt (45)7 and everyone else has a decent low card showing, 2, 3, 3, 6, 8. Now normally 457 is a fairly good starter, but in this case it’s trouble. Two or more opponents could have a better low already, and if they do, a lot of your catch-up cards are already spoken for.

5. Try to steal the antes and bring-in if only one remaining player has a low card

Stealing the antes and bring-in is an important aspect of becoming a solid Razz player. However, there is a fine line between too aggressive, and not aggressive enough. A good rule of thumb to follow is to attack the bring-in if there is only one player remaining with an eight or lower for an up-card. The beauty of this strategy is that even if the player calls or raises, if you catch good on 4^th street and your opponent bricks you will likely take down the pot right there; giving you two opportunities to win the pot early on.