Play RAZZ Poker to Win! #1

This month, I seem to be playing more RAZZ than anything else. With the exception of yesterday, I have been winning consistently. Much of my winning streak can be traced back to reading Play RAZZ Poker to Win by Mitch Cogert. As Mr. Cogert points out, there has been very little written about Razz up to this point. As he also points out, Razz is a game where the weaker players can be exploited. At the beginning of the month, I was winning almost every session. That has leveled off, and has even started to decline. So, I have to ask myself, is the decline because variance is catching up, or is the decline because I am forgetting to follow the rules established in the book? Well, as much as I hate to admit it, I am playing more hands than I should. I am staying longer than I should, and mostly, I am playing to get lucky, instead of making the other guy play to get lucky.

I want/need to get better and consistent at the game. This can become/is my go to game. If I am down for the month, this can be my come back game. It is simple enough, but there are occasions when Fancy Play Syndrome works. There are also occasions when the nuts are viable, and punishing a caller is possible.

SO, let's devore this book. Let's make the tenants my gospel, and learn to beat the game consistently. I have pointed out in my Poker Tips postings, way back 4 and 1/2 decades ago, in Mr. Kirk's 5th grade class, I was taught; to write things out, was one of the best ways to commit to memory. In these postings, I am going to start from the beginning of the book, write out the tips that I need to remember, and then write my thoughts on those tips.

Here we go...

The Forward (told you I was going to start at the beginning) has an interesting paragraph about the "old days" of TV poker when the same pros seemed to be appearing at the final tables a lot. These pros were playing against people with a basic understanding of the game, some basic strategy understanding, but the "extra" strategy set the pros apart...in the old days. But now, with books, videos, internet tips, and more; that "extra" advantage has disappeared, and it is more common than not that a final table is filled with new players who have leapfrogged the years it took for pros to gain the advantage over players with basic strategy skills.

To quote the book, "Razz poker is the one remaining game where the knowledge base remains small because most players have climbed on the bandwagon of the bigger and better known games. Yet, to win at RAZZ pokerand in the "R" in HORSE poker, you need to know what the other players don't".

Mr Cogert then lists the top 21 RAZZ hands possible. These are important to know, especially on those rare occasions when you can spot the times you are playing a smooth 8, vrs your opponents rough 8. This is one of those little opportunity plays that only pop up maybe once a session, but can be highly profitable. Here is the list...

Hand 1 --- A-2-3-4-5
2 --- A-2-3-4-6
3 --- A-2-3-5-6
4 --- A-2-4-5-6
5 --- A-3-4-5-6
6 --- 2-3-4-5-6
7 --- A-2-3-4-7
8 --- A-2-3-5-7
9 --- A-2-4-5-7
10 --- A-3-4-5-7
11 --- 2-3-4-5-7
12 --- A-2-3-6-7
13 --- A-2-4-6-7
14 --- A-3-4-6-7
15 --- 2-3-4-6-7
16 --- A-2-5-6-7
17 --- A-3-5-6-7
18 --- 2-3-5-6-7
19 --- A-4-5-6-7
20 --- 2-4-5-6-7
21 --- 3-4-5-6-7

Now, here is where I am going to add my commentary to the contents of the book. All of these hands are (on average) winning hands. If you get one of these hands, you can bet pretty confidently that you will be taking the chips (and remember, chips are CASH, don't confuse chips with something that does not matter...Money counts). Occasionally, you will be beat with one of these hands, but for the most part, the money you win aggressively betting these hands will outweigh the money you lose when you are sucked out on. As always, when you are reraised, carefully examine the board and drop down to just calling when re-raised (unless you can spot those times when your smooth hand is ahead of their rough same top card). But I digress, my addendum to the book is a statement about the "basic" strategy of playing any three unpaired 8 and lower cards put you in a dangerous area. Pros wait for one of the top 21 hands, and get aggressive then. "Basic" strategy players will think a 5 to an 8 hand is worth playing aggressively. Be the pro that knows that little bit extra strategy, including when to fold em, when to hold em and most importantly, when to exploit the weakness.

Next, he starts a chapter called, "STARTING HANDS RULES TO KNOW". He says, "Knowing how to play starting hands is crucial". And as all poker games, of course, this is true. He starts the chapter by listing a "simple but excellant classification of the hands you should consider playing". These come from the book, "SKLANSKY ON POKER"...

Excellent hand...Three cards to the best low hand ---
A-2-3-4-5
He calls this a bike, I call it a wheel

Good Hand...Three cards to a 6 or a 7-4
(the 7-4 is called a smooth 7, a 7-6 would be a rough 7)
The concept of smooth and rough will make or cost you a lot of money
Depending on how well you understand

Fair Hand...Three cards to a rough 7 or smooth 8

Poor Hand...Three cards to a rough 8 or a three card 9

Now, here is where I am going to add my commentary to the contents of the book. Even knowing and GROKING (I LOVE that word) all of these rankings, and standards will put you WAY ahead of the average RAZZ player. The concept of smooth and rough cost me a ton before I read this. These are the minimum standards for your play. Irreguardless of what your opponents have as an up card, playing anything else is NOT proffitable in the long run.

There is one exception to this rule (again, this is my commentary, not something I have read in any book). That exception is having 2 wheel cards hidden, a paint card exposed. You are the bring in, and the table folds around to the player on your right. Just the two of you left, you have already spent your bring in. He has a low card, and it is mandatory for him to raise. You have position, and seeing the next card could even the board. Worth a call then. Other than that...GROK, really GROK these starting hand guidelines.

Coming next...11 rules to consider when playing your starting hands!