This Fish Chums
Visionary
Silver Level
It's been a while since I've been able to play HORSE or even solo Razz for a long time, but here is a very basic strategy I created a while ago for playing Razz.
First, assume every hand will have at least one 8-high or better hand. That means, if you're looking at only having 9 high or above, it's best to fold away. Anything over 8 should be considered a non-playable card.
When deciding if you are going to play a hand, it's best to only play hands where your three cards are all 8 and under (and not paired). So you're starting out with 3 playable cards because they are all 8 or lower. If you have A29, just fold and wait for a better hand.
I almost never bet pre-flop. Even A23 turns to crap if you get runner runner high cards. Or worse, you land a couple paired low cards.
Assuming you're playing 3 cards below 8, if your 4th card is also low, you can start raising on the hand.
If you're 4th card is high (or paired), stay in the hand, assuming you can do so cheaply.
By the time you hit card 5, you want 4 of the 5 cards to be 8 or lower. Think about it this way, you're two highest cards get thrown out so if after 5 cards you already have 2 high cards, you have to hit runner-runner low cards in order to make a hand (without pairing).
Always keep in mind, it takes 5 out of 7 cards to be low. It's a question of how many low cards do you have, and not how many high cards do you not have, if that makes sense.
First, assume every hand will have at least one 8-high or better hand. That means, if you're looking at only having 9 high or above, it's best to fold away. Anything over 8 should be considered a non-playable card.
When deciding if you are going to play a hand, it's best to only play hands where your three cards are all 8 and under (and not paired). So you're starting out with 3 playable cards because they are all 8 or lower. If you have A29, just fold and wait for a better hand.
I almost never bet pre-flop. Even A23 turns to crap if you get runner runner high cards. Or worse, you land a couple paired low cards.
Assuming you're playing 3 cards below 8, if your 4th card is also low, you can start raising on the hand.
If you're 4th card is high (or paired), stay in the hand, assuming you can do so cheaply.
By the time you hit card 5, you want 4 of the 5 cards to be 8 or lower. Think about it this way, you're two highest cards get thrown out so if after 5 cards you already have 2 high cards, you have to hit runner-runner low cards in order to make a hand (without pairing).
Always keep in mind, it takes 5 out of 7 cards to be low. It's a question of how many low cards do you have, and not how many high cards do you not have, if that makes sense.