Razz

Razz is a low version of seven card stud. It uses the ace to five low hand values.

Pairs count against the player as in all low hand games. In other words, any hand with no pair defeats any hand with a pair; one pair hands defeat two pair or three of a kind, etc. No-pair hands are compared starting with the highest ranking card, just as in high poker, except that the high hand loses. In ace-to-five low, straights and flushes are ignored, and aces play as the lowest card.

Players are dealt seven cards in five rounds, just as in 7  card stud, and must make their best possible 5 card poker hand from the cards they are dealt.

Play begins with a small ante from all players at the table and each player is dealt two cards face down and one card face up.

Betting begins with the player with the highest up card with a forced bet (called the bring in) and then play moves in a clockwise direction with players either calling the bring, completing the bet (raising to the lower limit) or folding. In all betting rounds there is a limit of three re-raises.

Next each player still in the hand is dealt another upcard, followed by another round of betting that begins with the player whose upcards make the best hand.

No straights flushes or full houses will count for this as there are less than 5 cards face up.

Next a third upcard is dealt followed by another round of betting, then a fourth upcard is dealt again followed by a round of betting.
Finally a downcard is dealt followed by the final round of betting and then the showdown.

At the showdown players must make their best 5-card poker hand out of the seven cards they were dealt.

Razz follows the 2 down, 4 up, 1 down pattern of seven card stud.