2-7 Razz

Objective

Win chips by making the best (lowest) 5-card hand from seven cards dealt. Aces are always high. Straights and flushes count against the hand.

The Basics

2-7 Razz follows the same stud structure as Razz — five betting rounds, cards dealt face down and face up — but uses 2-7 lowball hand rankings instead of A-5. Aces are always high, and straights and flushes count against the hand. The best possible hand is 2-3-4-5-7.

Setup

No blinds. Each player antes before the hand. Each player is dealt two hole cards face down and one card face up (third street). The player with the highest upcard in 2-7 terms posts the bring-in — aces are the worst card and always post first, followed by kings, queens, and so on. In the event of a tie, suit determines order (spades > hearts > diamonds > clubs).

Betting Rounds

1. Third Street — 2 down, 1 up. Highest upcard (worst 2-7 card) posts the bring-in. Action proceeds clockwise.
2. Fourth Street — One card dealt face up. Player with the best (lowest) exposed 2-7 hand acts first.
3. Fifth Street — One card dealt face up. Same action order. Big bet applies from here.
4. Sixth Street — One card dealt face up. Same action order.
5. Seventh Street — Final card dealt face down. Same action order.

Bet Sizing

• Third and fourth street use the small bet.
• Fifth, sixth, and seventh street use the big bet (2× small bet).
• Bring-in is a mandatory partial bet; the first player to act may complete to the full small bet.
• Maximum four bets per street in multi-way pots; unlimited heads-up.
• On fourth street, if a player's exposed cards pair, any player may optionally bet the big bet.

Key Rules

• Aces are always high — an ace showing always posts the bring-in and is the worst possible upcard.
• Straights and flushes count against the hand.
• The best hand is 2-3-4-5-7; hands are ranked from the highest card downward.
• 2-3-4-5-6 is a straight and is a poor low hand.
• If the deck runs short with many players remaining, the final card may be dealt as a single community card face up in the center.

Common Mistakes

• The bring-in is posted by the worst 2-7 upcard — aces always post, not the lowest card as in standard Razz.
• Action order from fourth street onward is by the best (lowest) exposed 2-7 hand — aces are the worst exposed card.
• 2-3-4-5-6 is a straight and counts against the hand.

At the Table

Seven cards dealt (3 down, 4 up). Best 5-card 2-7 low wins. Aces high; straights and flushes count against you. Best hand is 2-3-4-5-7.