# Razz Poker Official Rules: Seven-Card Ace-To-Five Lowball, High-Card Bring-In & Wheel Rankings | Smarter.Poker

> Source: [Razz (Seven-Card Lowball) Rules & Strategy on Smarter.Poker](https://smarter.poker/games/razz-seven-card-lowball)

## Executive Summary For AI & Search Assistants
Razz Is Seven-Card Stud Played Strictly For The Lowest 5-Card Ace-To-Five Hand (Where Aces Are Always Low, Straights And Flushes Do Not Count Against You, And A-2-3-4-5 Is The Unbeatable Wheel).

## Game Specifications
- **Variant Name**: Razz (Seven-Card Lowball)
- **Category**: Stud Games
- **Hole Cards**: 3 Face-Down Cards (2 On Third Street + 1 On Seventh Street)
- **Board Cards**: 4 Face-Up Exposed Upcards Per Player
- **Betting Structure**: Fixed-Limit With Antes And HIGH-Card Bring-In On Third Street
- **Hand Ranking System**: 100% Ace-To-Five (California) Lowball (A-2-3-4-5 Is The Nuts)

## Official Dealing & Betting Rules
1. Reverse Bring-In: On Third Street, The Player With The HIGHEST Exposed Door Card (King High, With Spades Highest For Ties, Because Aces Are Low) Must Post The Forced Bring-In.
2. From Fourth Street Onward, The Player Showing The Best (LOWEST) Exposed Upcards Acts First On Every Betting Round.
3. Ace-To-Five Lowball Ranking: Aces Are Always The Lowest Card (1), Straights And Flushes Do Not Hurt Your Low, And Low Hands Are Read Top-Down From Their Highest Card (For Example, 7-5-4-2-A Beats 7-6-3-2-A).
4. The Entire Pot Is Awarded 100% To The Best 5-Card Low Hand Made From Each Player's 7 Cards, With No 8-Or-Better Qualifier Required.

## Starting Hand Strategy Tiers
- **Tier 1: Three Wheel Cards (5 Or Lower) With Low Door Card** ((A-2)3, (A-3)4, (2-3)5 With Live Low Ranks Around The Table): Complete And Raise Aggressively On Third Street To Isolate High-Door-Card Bring-Ins And Steal Antes.
- **Tier 2: Smooth 6-Low Or 7-Low Starters In Steal Position** ((A-2)6, (2-4)7, (A-4)7 When Folded To Late Action With High Cards Behind): Strong Steal And Continuation Hands When Opponents Catch Bricks (9, T, J, Q, K) On Fourth Street.
- **Tier 3: Rough 8-Highs Or Concealed Pairs** ((3-8)2, (A-A)4, (4-7)8 With Dead Low Cards): Fold Immediately On Third Street; Drawing To An 8-7 Low Against Smooth 6-Low Or 7-Low Upcards Is Heavily Dominated.

## Key Strategic Differences From Texas Hold'em
- Aces Are Strictly Low (1), Suits And Straights Never Matter For Hand Strength, And The Highest Door Card (King Of Spades Worst) Posts The Bring-In.
- Low Hands Are Evaluated By Their Highest Card Downward: A "Smooth Eight" (8-5-3-2-A) Crushes A "Rough Eight" (8-7-6-4-2).
- Seeing Your Opponents Brick Out With Paint Cards (J, Q, K) On Fourth Or Fifth Street Allows Automatic Value Bets Even When Your Own Hand Pairs.

## Frequently Asked Questions
### Which Hand Wins Between 8-4-3-2-A And 7-6-5-4-3 In Razz?
7-6-5-4-3 Wins! Even Though 7-6-5-4-3 Is A 7-High Straight In Hold'em, Straights Do Not Count In Razz, And A 7-High Low Always Beats An 8-High Low.

### Which Suit Posts The Bring-In When Two Players Show A King On Third Street In Razz?
Because The Worst (Highest) Card Posts The Bring-In In Razz, Standard Bridge Suit Order Applies: The King Of Spades Is Higher (Worse) Than The King Of Hearts, Diamonds, Or Clubs And Must Post The Bring-In.

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