Are you a Razz Catcher or an Azz Scratcher?

Who's a Razz Catcher?

The catcher is the player who is usually the player on the right side of the bring-in bettor and has a card 8 or under showing. Only one player has raised, when everyone folds to him. He decides to call this raise to try to catch the player stealing or believing his opponent is a weak player (sort of like a floater in No-limit).

The catcher has determined that the raiser is:

1. Stealing--he raised with an Ace showing, and always raises with an Ace showing.
2. Stealing--he raises with the lowest or second lowest ranking card showing, and he always raises in these situations
3. You know this player will fold if you hit good and he hits bad on 4th street.

Being the razz catcher doesn't require three cards to an eight or lower, it just requires a good card on 4th street while his opponent hits bad.

Give razz catching a try. It works real well when you are running hot.

Who's the Azz Scratcher?

A player who is always waiting for three cards to an eight, or an obvious steal situation.

Someone at the WSOP doesn't like Razz Poker

Harrah's has planned for the Event on Friday the 13th. Why move the one Razz event to Friday the 13th, when there are like 64 other No-Limit events they could move to that day?

I think it's a sign that the Harrah's people don't like Razz since they don't make as much money off of the game. Another insult to Razz...the poker game that "don't get no respect."

Razz: Short-Handed Play

I think the strategy for Razz changes when you are short-handed...meaning you are playing at a table of 3 or 4 total players.

The one key point of difference is that stealing the antes and bring-in bet is not as profitable as when you are at a full table. So at a short-handed table, you should look for opportunities to slow-play--that is, of course, when you have three starting cards to an 8 low..

For example, when there are a total of 4 players at a table:

1. When your up card is the lowest of the board cards, and you have 8 or under...just limp if someone else could have an 8 or lower as well. You want to try to get heads up and win a big pot.

2. When your up card is the lowest of the board cards, and you have only one low card in the hole...if there is just one other low card showing...raise and try to steal.

3. When your up card is the lowest of the board cards, and you have NO low cards in the hole...if there is just one other low card showing...fold.

4. When your up card is the second lowest of the board cards, and you have two low cards to give you 8 or better...limp

5. When your up card is the second lowest of the board cards, and you have one low cards in the hole, raise to steal.

6. When your up card is the second lowest of the board cards, and you have NO low cards to give you 8 or better...fold.

7. Whenever you have three cards to an 8 low just limp...unless you have the only low card showing on the board...just raise and take down the pot.

Again, you may be drawn out when you limp but you have the opportunity to win a big pot since your opponent won't be able to put you on the two low hole cards.

And, if you raise and get called when you have a bad card in the hole, if you hit good on 4th street and your opponent hits bad...bet and you should take down the pot.

Poker: Bad seat ..good seat...myth or fact?

It's a fact. Seats run hot and cold. If you get a bad seat, you gotta leave. I had a string of 21 straight unplayable hands, and when I finally had a hand, I lost. Left that table.

At the new table, I had a good seat, but as soon as I won--everyone left.

At the last table of the night...it was a bad seat...as I had few hands and lost again.

I did stay to watch the player who was getting hot, and the player who took my seat. No change in results--the same player was winning, and the poor guy who took over for me took a beating.

One thing to consider before entering a game may be to watch and see which seats are running hot and which ones are running cold. The trend at an 8 handed table may be 2 seats will be hot, 2 seats will be cold, and the others will just be.

Overall, tonight seems players were checking when they should be betting, raising when they should be calling, and folding instead of calling...unfortunately, I couldn't take advantage of the play...ended down $200--playing at $10-$20 games.

Lost a big hand with a 6-5 low...4 players saw the flop and I raised on 3rd get the others out...but didn't work...Everyone stayed in...I had the 6-5 on 5th street...unfortunately, one player hit the wheel...big pot...and he had just hit a wheel 4 hands earlier. Hot seat....

Didn't have many hands to play. And, unfortunately, the few I played I lost all but one...yet, I'd take the odds I was getting in all of them...just got a bad seat.

It happens.

Online Poker and Cheating: Using Software to Give You an Edge

There are software tools that make it easier to win money at online poker as it tracks the way your opponents play their hands. Why has this become an accepted practice?

1. The online sites should ban all these tools. Why don’t they? Or, just offer all this information to all their players for free?

And, if none of the above, the online site should have some type of icon next to the players who are using these devices at the table. So, everyone is aware of the situation.

2. These tools have become a widespread and accepted form of cheating. Poker is a great game and it should be an even playing field. This hurts the game.

3. Everyone who uses these tools knows they are cheating. Proof: Think back to the first time you used any of these programs. Did you think, “This is a waste of money,” or “Wow, this is going to give me an edge and help win the other guy’s money!”

4. These tools do not help to attract more players nor do they help in the reputation of online poker. Our respected poker leaders should speak out against this nonsense.

5. What if this existed at your local card room, but the card room only allowed one player at each table to use a similar tool? You wouldn’t be too happy. And, you might leave. In fact, you mentioned that you only want to play at a table where there is a fish–makes sense, but you should have to figure it out on your own.

Of course, your card room doesn’t allow devices at the table to help you win. You can’t even use your cell phone.

Conclusion:

I know we all love technology but these tools don’t help the game they just help you take advantage of those players unaware, with information that gives you an unfair edge.

Players complain that the sites rip people off. Well, I think players are ripping other players off as well.

Confession:

I bought one of these packages months ago–and it helped my limit cash game a lot…it was ridiculous how “smart” I became in my decision making. At first, I was really happy with my winnings, but later on, I had 2 thoughts:
1) I was angry that other players were probably taking advantage of my poker habits using these programs for months–meaning I felt cheated and 2) I felt like I was cheating.

As a result, I have eliminated all ring games except one that I know they don’t track–called Razz. (Yeah, I know no one likes the game.) I do play in tournaments, without the software…and have stopped using it all together.

I’m sure you and/or your visitors will shoot me down on this, but just because the other guy is doing it, doesn’t make it right. Sounds really moralistic for a poker blog, I know.

Note: I posted this as my response to the discussion of multi-tabling in online poker at a great strategy site I just discovered called www.notedpokerauthority.com

A quiet night...need more Razz poker players..

I played at the $5-$10 table for about an hour and picked up $100.

Left the game to watch Arizona lose to West Virginia. Then saw Kobe take over in the last few minutes against Utah--he clearly wanted to win this game.

Came back late and there wasn't much going on at the Razz tables. There was an opening at the $15-$30 table so I was there for a little before players left, so I left. That is a tougher game since the antes are $3 plus a bring-in of $5.

I ended up at an $8-$16 game that was nearly full, but everyone left again. Played one hand and lost.

Net--won $40.

Insight #2: A Poker Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste...

One of the interesting facts about Razz Poker is how little knowledge there is as to the probabilities--unlike other poker games.

If you ask a No-limit player a basic question about the game, he will know the answer. For example, ask a No-limit player if a small pair is favored over A-K, and he'll say it's "a coin flip, but the pair is the slight favorite." Heck, even my Mom knows that fact.

Ask a Razz player a basic question, like are your 3 cards to a 6 favorite over 3 cards to a 8, when there are no duplicates of your hand on the board? He doesn't have a clue, and he doesn't even care. But, he will get angry if he loses his hand since he thinks he has the better starting hand. If his opponent has a couple of duplicates on board, the 3 cards to a 6 will be the underdog!

To play winning Razz poker, you need to know the percentages because you want to maximize situations where you are the favorite.

Here is a test of your Razz knowledge:

You have (A-3) 7,5, Q
Your opponent has (x-x) 4,7, 9

You suspect he has a made 9 hand against your 7-5 draw. When he bets on 5th street, what should you do?

a) Raise--you are in the lead so you want to jam the pot
b) Call--you are not in the lead, so you want to keep the pot size small.
c) Fold--you are not in the lead, so you should fold.

Despite the experts claim that you should raise, they are all wrong!! Your opponent is most likely a 61% favorite to win the hand.

But you should not fold, as the pot odds on 5th street will require you to call even though you are behind.

Run a few hundred simulations to learn the probabilities and the odds. Or, check out my book, as I've done all the work for you.

Funny thing happened to prove my point. While playing Razz last night I mentioned my book. A player said that there's no need for a book, since Razz is "common sense." He lost all his money real fast as he clearly didn't have the common sense to learn when he was ahead and when he was behind.

Play Razz Poker to Win, not to lose. Hmm...Good title for a book.