Smacking the pony

[TightEnd]

HORSE tournaments intrigue me, they are popping up on several sites and I want to play them properly

Hold Em, can manage that. Not necessarily well, but I can manage.

Omaha, ok

Stud, not great but serviceable



but Razz....I struggle, not a clue, a fish (literally) out of water.


Who would like to post on here with help on how to play Razz....basics, advanced, pitfalls...anything that might help me please?

Thanks in advance.

[Sheriff Fatman]

I can recommend a book - 'Sklansky on Poker' covers Razz.  I can lend it to you if you like.

Sheriff

[CRIPPIN]

Razz!! Mental game, only advice is get Phil Helmuth's book 'Play Poker Like the Pro's', bit of a crap book but will give you the best starting hands in these wierd games.

[MrMoves]

Ideally you want 3 low cards to start out with.  A,2,3

You're looking for A,2,3,4,5 for the wheel, which is the nuts in Razz.  Forget flushes.

Don't be afraid to bet into or raise opponents who hit a few high exposed cards or pair their exposed cards.  Even if your downcards are crap.  Like 7 card stud, in reverse.

Razz is my favourite "for fun" game.

[TightEnd]

In the few HORSE events I have played Razz in I seem to underestimate my hand and am surprised when winning hands are revealed...what I consider to be total junk from early on. Perhaps because any hand can win, there's no "must be lower than an 8" component to it.

Is this to be expected? In other words, can few other people play it properly either?

[Sheriff Fatman]

Of all the disciplines - its actually the simplest game to play as most of the information is in front of you.  Not sure why you fear it so much but its worth just ploughing through a few hours at a low limit Razz table for a bit.  Once you see how bad the other players are you'll feel better!

Compared to Stud Hi/Lo its a much simpler game, albeit a frustrating one at times, especially when you start hitting trips, 3 pairs, etc!

The first step is not to fear it so much!  The second is to realise that no matter how bad you think you are, the majority of other players are worse!

Sheriff

[Jon MW]

Razz is a brilliant game, and quite probably the only round of HORSE that I'm ever confident in being profitable on - this doesn't necessarily indicate that I'm any good, just that others are even worse.

MrMoves suggestion of betting into opponents who have high cards or pairs exposed is a good one, someone suggested to me that you can't bluff in Razz but this is rubbish. If your hand looks like it could be the best, and you back it up with betting as if it's the best then most players seem to believe it and fold - and if they don't it's a very good indication that they actually have something half decent.

This might not be the general perception but it's the basis of most of my profit in Razz.

[M3boy]

Razz is my favorite level in HORSE tourneys - such a simple game, but few seem capable of playing it!!

Stud - not bad
Stud HiLo - better at
Omaha - I like
Limit Holdem - my worse by far! I usually sit out most of this level! lol

[Bongo]

Razz for fun?

I tried some of the lowest limit games on full tilt and i was tearing my hair out in frustration!!!

[ifm]

Razz is my favorite level in HORSE tourneys - such a simple game, but few seem capable of playing it!!

Stud - not bad
Stud HiLo - better at
Omaha - I like
Limit Holdem - my worse by far! I usually sit out most of this level! lol

Same as me, always get hammered at limit.