The key to Razz is to make the best five-card low hand. Straights and flushes do not count and the Ace is considered the lowest card while the King is the highest card. The best low hand is the Wheel, 5-4-3-2-A.

Razz is played exactly like Seven-card Stud. Players are dealt two cards down, four up, and then the final card down. Your opponents cannot see your three hole cards, and you can only see up to four of your opponents' cards.

Razz is one of the five games in the H.O.R.S.E. rotation. You can't have H.O.R.S.E. without the R in Razz. Razz is also played in 8-Game and one of the three elements of “Triple Stud.”

Your goal is to make the best possible low hand. The first two cards are dealt face-down and the third card, or “third street” is exposed.

HAND EXAMPLE: The stakes are $10/$20 with a $1 ante and a $5 bring-in.

ANTE: Everyone pays the $1 ante and the cards are dealt.

YOUR HAND: You start with a 6-3-2 low. Your opponents can only see the 6s.

Your hand

BRING IN: There are no blinds, so the player with the highest upcard has the bring-in of $5. If multiple players are tied with the highest card, the bring-in is determined according to suit rankings (from lowest to highest): Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, and Spades. Whoever has the bring-in must bet the minimum, in this case $5, or they have the option to complete the bet to $10.

Betting continues clockwise, with the bring-in player having the last option to act.

After the player with the highest card pays the bring in, the betting round begins. Players have the option to fold, call, or raise. They can call the bring-in bet of $5, or double the bet with a raise to $10. Action proceeds clockwise. If everyone folds to a bet or raise, the bettor wins the pot.

When the betting round is complete, the next card is dealt.

The fourth card is dealt up so everyone can see two exposed cards. Our hand is now K-6-3-2.

The player with the best possible low hand showing starts the betting. They have the option to check or bet $10. Action proceeds clockwise around the table. Once a bet is made, players must call the $10, fold, or raise to $20. If no one calls a bet or raise, the bettor wins the pot without revealing their hole cards.

Once all remaining bets and raises have been called, the dealer puts out the next card.

The fifth card is dealt up, so now two cards are down and three are exposed. You improved to a K-6-4-3-2 low. The four spades do not matter because flushes do not count.

The player with the best low hand showing starts the action. The bet is now $20 from here on out. Players have the option to check or bet $20. Action proceeds clockwise around the table. Once a bet is made, players must call the $20, fold, or raise to $40. If no one calls a bet or raise, the bettor wins the pot without revealing their hole cards.

Once all remaining bets and raises have been called, the dealer puts out the next card.

The sixth card is dealt up. This is the fourth and final card that is exposed. You made a low hand consisting of 8-6-4-3-2, but with one card to come there is still potential to improve your hand.

The player with the best low hand showing starts the action. Players have the option to check or bet $20. Action proceeds clockwise. Once a bet is made, players must call the $20, fold, or raise to $40. If no one calls a bet or raise, the bettor wins the pot without revealing their hole cards.

Once all remaining bets and raises have been called, the dealer puts out the final card.

The seventh and final card is dealt face-down. You improve to a 7-6-4-3-2 low. Even though all of those cards are spades, the flush does not count against you.

The player with the best low hand showing starts the action. Players have the option to check or bet $20. Action proceeds clockwise. Once a bet is made, players must call the $20, fold, or raise to $40. If no one calls a bet or raise, the bettor wins the pot without revealing their hole cards.

Once all remaining bets and raises have been called, then the players reveal their hands. The best low hand wins the pot.