Razz Drinking - Drinking Game Rules & How to Play

Razz Drinking is a drinking game in the Card Games category for 3-8 players that takes about 15-30 min with a hard difficulty level.

Lowball stud poker with drinks

Equipment Needed

Setup

Shuffle the standard deck and deal each player seven face-down cards. Place the rest of the deck in the center as a draw pile, face-down. Players will reveal one card at a time during the game to build their hands. Have drinks ready for penalties and assigned sips, ideally within arm's reach of each participant.

How to Play Razz Drinking

  1. Set up the game according to basic rules
  2. Players take turns or play simultaneously
  3. Penalties result in drinking
  4. Success means assigning drinks
  5. Continue until winner emerges
  6. Loser faces final penalty
  7. Winner earns bragging rights
  8. Adjust rules as needed for your group

Tips & Strategies

Remember, in Razz, the lowest hand wins, so avoid collecting pairs or high cards as they'll hurt your chances. Pay close attention to the face-up cards other players reveal, as it can help you strategize whether to fold early or keep betting. Assign drinks strategically; targeting players who seem close to folding might push them over the edge. Keep your own drink manageable since penalties can add up quickly if your hand tanks.

Variations

1) Double Trouble: Players with matching face-up cards (pairs) must drink twice whenever they lose a round. 2) Blind Razz: All cards are dealt face-down, and players reveal one card at a time only during the betting rounds, making bluffing critical. 3) Dealer's Choice: The dealer picks one additional rule for the round, such as everyone drinking for any card above 8 that's revealed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if two players tie with equally low hands?
In Razz, ties are broken by the lowest kicker card in the hand. If the kicker cards tie as well, both players must drink for the round.
What’s the penalty for folding?
Folding means you exit the round, but you must drink once as a penalty for giving up.
Can you bluff in Razz?
Yes, bluffing is key in Razz. You can bet aggressively to make others think your hand is strong, but be careful since bad bluffs lead to drinking penalties when revealed.
What’s the final penalty for the losing player?
The player with the worst hand overall in the last round must finish their drink or take a predetermined number of sips, depending on your group's rule adjustment.

Players: 3-8 | Duration: 15-30 min | Difficulty: hard

Related Drinking Games

From Our Blog

Browse more Card Games drinking games or see all drinking games.