Description: A variation of seven card stud played low. You want the worst hand possible where straights and flushes don't count, so the best hand is A2345 of any suit. Aces play low except when paired. Pairs are often (but not always) fatal.
General Strategy: In tournament conditions, you are shooting for and 8-7 or better, meaning that your highest card should be an 8 among the five worst, with no pairs. A strong hand is generally a 6-5 or a 7-4. Your starting three cards should include two good cards (7 or less). You can bluff if your high card or low pair is concealed, but you should generally discontinue play under those circumstances. Razz is a fairly uncomplicated poker game where you're just waiting for some nice low cards.
GOOD CARDS: A-8
BAD CARDS: 9-K
PAIRED UP: Any pair on the board
FAST PLAY: Bet, raise and re-raise to get as many other players out as possible.
SLOW PLAY: Just check and call along to keep other players in the game and increase the pot odds.
A WHEEL: A2345 is called a wheel and it is the best low poker hand.
THREE LOW CARDS: Any three unpaired good cards (8 or lower), such as 7-4-2.
TWO LOW, ONE BAD: Any three unpaired cards where 2 are low, and one is 9 or above. A concealed bad card is okay provided you draw nice low cards thereafter
A PAIR: You should generally fold a starting hand with a pair. It's like trying to win with six cards while all of your opponents get seven. The odds are against you right from the get-go.
JUNK: Any hand with two cards above 8, or a pair with at least one bad card above 8.
When you have three low, unpaired cards below nine, chase out the competition with fast play and hope for more low, unpaired cards.
Bluffing is possible and easy when your hand "appears" unbeatable even though your concealed cards suck. Just remember that anything above 8-7 is probably beatable if you are called in a show-down.
Never continue play if two of your first three cards are above 8 or are paired up.
Fold if you have a pair or a high card and your hand appears beaten by your opponents. Regardless of what they actually have, most sensible players will bet like crazy, and with a crappy hand like yours, you'd be crazy to call them.
Watch the board to eliminate cards that you probably won't get, like a bunch of revealed Aces.
Don't wait for miracles, especially if someone is raising you. Chasing an 8-7 with bad cards or a pair is an easy way to lose all your chips quickly.
Your first four cards determine whether you should proceed. Obviously, four low unpaired cards are great. Also, three very low cards and one high, or three very low and a pair are okay. If you decide to take a fifth card on a weak opening hand, it better be a great one or you should fold immediately.
No one ever wins with a pair as part of your five best cards. An occasional Q or J, perhaps, (in a two man show-down) but never with a pair.