Third Street Starting Hands in Razz
Third street is where Razz hands are won or lost before a single card is dealt to the board. Read your three cards, your door card, and the table — then decide in seconds.
The one question on third street
You get two hole cards and one face-up door card, chasing the LOWEST hand. Straights and flushes don't count; aces are low. Ask one thing: how close are my three cards to a smooth low?
The three-baby benchmark
Baseline for a playable hand: three unpaired cards all 8 or lower. The lower and more spread out, the more clean cards you can catch.
Which third-street starting hand is stronger in Razz?
Your door card broadcasts everything
The door card is the one card opponents react to. A 2 or 3 showing looks scary and steals antes; the same hand behind a high door hides its strength.
A hand is only as good as the table
Three babies lose value when rivals show low door cards — those ranks are 'dead' and you can't catch them. Scan the exposed cards before you commit chips.
You look down at these three cards on third street. Is this a premium Razz starting hand?
Trap hands that only look low
A pair is a killer flaw: 6-6-3 is really a two-card hand (6-3) that must fill twice. One baby with two big cards drifts to second-best hands.
Tier list + position
T1 three-to-a-wheel (raise anywhere). T2 three cards ≤7. T3 three cards ≤8 with a low door and clean board. T4 any pair or a card 9+ — fold. Late position lets you steal wider; early position, lead only premiums.
- Playable baseline = three unpaired cards all 8 or lower; three-to-a-wheel is premium.
- Your door card broadcasts your hand — a low door steals, a high door disguises real strength.
- A pair like 6-6-3 is a trap: it's a two-card hand that must fill twice.
- Check your low ranks are live in opponents' door cards before raising — dead cards gut you.
- Judge every hand against the door cards on the table, never in isolation.
Test yourself
Answer them all — 20/24 to pass. Every answer gets an explanation.
What is the objective when building a hand in Razz?
Razz is a lowball game where the lowest five-card hand wins.
How many cards are you dealt on third street in Razz?
Third street gives each player two hole cards and one exposed door card.
What is the best possible hand in Razz?
The wheel (5-4-3-2-A) is the lowest possible hand and therefore the nuts in Razz.
Do straights and flushes count against your hand in Razz?
In Razz straights and flushes do not count, so the wheel is a legal best low.
Which of these is the strongest three-card starting hand?
A-2-3 is three cards to the wheel — the premium Razz starting holding.
What is the baseline benchmark for a playable Razz starting hand?
Three unpaired babies (8 or lower) is the standard for a raisable hand.
Why does your door card matter so much in Razz?
Opponents make decisions based on your exposed door card, so it drives fold equity and deception.
Who is forced to post the bring-in on third street?
In Razz the highest exposed door card is forced to bring in the betting.
You hold two babies in the hole with a king showing. How should you view this hand?
The two low hole cards are what matter for your hand; the king door card disguises your strength.
What does it mean for your low cards to be 'live'?
Live cards are ranks still available to be dealt to you, which keeps your draw strong.
Three other players show baby door cards while you hold 7-5-2. What is the effect?
Exposed low cards reduce your live outs and mean more players can beat you, weakening your hand.
In Razz, what is the rank of the ace?
Aces are always low in Razz, which is why they are premium starting cards.
From early position on third street, how should you adjust your starting range?
With many players left to act, early position calls for a tighter, stronger range.
Which starting hand is three-to-a-wheel and thus premium?
2-3-5 draws directly to the 5-4-3-2-A wheel, making it a top-tier holding.
Why is a low door card useful for stealing antes and the bring-in?
A threatening low door card makes opponents fear a strong hand, creating steal opportunities.
How does 8-6-2 generally play compared to A-2-3?
8-6-2 is playable but ranks below three-to-a-wheel hands like A-2-3.
Which factor does NOT directly improve a Razz starting hand's value?
Flushes don't count in Razz, so suitedness is irrelevant to a starting hand's value.
A hand like 7-4-2 is best described as which tier?
Three unpaired cards all 7 or lower is a strong raising hand in Razz.
Why is judging a starting hand in isolation a mistake in Razz?
The same three cards can be a raise or a fold depending on opponents' exposed boards.
You hold three babies but two of your key ranks are showing in opponents' door cards. This is an example of what?
When your ranks are dead, you have fewer clean cards to catch, weakening a nominally good hand.
What is the main discipline that separates winning Razz players on third street?
Discipline in folding marginal and trap hands is the core of winning Razz.
Why is 6-6-3 considered a trap hand?
A pair wastes a card, so 6-6-3 really plays as 6-3 and needs to fill twice.
Which hand is a clear Tier-4 fold in most spots?
One baby with two high cards is a weak, trap-prone holding that should usually be folded.
What should you do with a marginal three-low hand when many low door cards are already dead?
Dead low cards reduce your improvement outs, so marginal hands should often be folded.
Review — all 24 questions & answers tap to expand
-
What is the objective when building a hand in Razz?
Answer Make the lowest five-card hand
Razz is a lowball game where the lowest five-card hand wins.
-
How many cards are you dealt on third street in Razz?
Answer Three cards (two down, one up)
Third street gives each player two hole cards and one exposed door card.
-
What is the best possible hand in Razz?
Answer 5-4-3-2-A, the wheel
The wheel (5-4-3-2-A) is the lowest possible hand and therefore the nuts in Razz.
-
Do straights and flushes count against your hand in Razz?
Answer No, they are ignored for low
In Razz straights and flushes do not count, so the wheel is a legal best low.
-
Which of these is the strongest three-card starting hand?
Answer A-2-3
A-2-3 is three cards to the wheel — the premium Razz starting holding.
-
What is the baseline benchmark for a playable Razz starting hand?
Answer Three unpaired cards all 8 or lower
Three unpaired babies (8 or lower) is the standard for a raisable hand.
-
Why does your door card matter so much in Razz?
Answer It's the card opponents see and react to, signaling your low potential
Opponents make decisions based on your exposed door card, so it drives fold equity and deception.
-
Who is forced to post the bring-in on third street?
Answer The player with the highest door card
In Razz the highest exposed door card is forced to bring in the betting.
-
You hold two babies in the hole with a king showing. How should you view this hand?
Answer Genuinely strong and deceptively disguised
The two low hole cards are what matter for your hand; the king door card disguises your strength.
-
What does it mean for your low cards to be 'live'?
Answer Copies of those ranks have not already appeared in opponents' door cards
Live cards are ranks still available to be dealt to you, which keeps your draw strong.
-
Three other players show baby door cards while you hold 7-5-2. What is the effect?
Answer Your hand is weaker because your ranks may be dead and competition is stiff
Exposed low cards reduce your live outs and mean more players can beat you, weakening your hand.
-
In Razz, what is the rank of the ace?
Answer Always low
Aces are always low in Razz, which is why they are premium starting cards.
-
From early position on third street, how should you adjust your starting range?
Answer Tighten up and lead mainly with premium hands
With many players left to act, early position calls for a tighter, stronger range.
-
Which starting hand is three-to-a-wheel and thus premium?
Answer 2-3-5
2-3-5 draws directly to the 5-4-3-2-A wheel, making it a top-tier holding.
-
Why is a low door card useful for stealing antes and the bring-in?
Answer It represents a strong low and gives you fold equity
A threatening low door card makes opponents fear a strong hand, creating steal opportunities.
-
How does 8-6-2 generally play compared to A-2-3?
Answer Solid but a tier below the premium wheel draw
8-6-2 is playable but ranks below three-to-a-wheel hands like A-2-3.
-
Which factor does NOT directly improve a Razz starting hand's value?
Answer Your three cards being suited
Flushes don't count in Razz, so suitedness is irrelevant to a starting hand's value.
-
A hand like 7-4-2 is best described as which tier?
Answer Strong — three unpaired cards 7 or lower, a clear raise
Three unpaired cards all 7 or lower is a strong raising hand in Razz.
-
Why is judging a starting hand in isolation a mistake in Razz?
Answer A hand's strength depends on the door cards around the table
The same three cards can be a raise or a fold depending on opponents' exposed boards.
-
You hold three babies but two of your key ranks are showing in opponents' door cards. This is an example of what?
Answer Dead cards reducing your hand's real value
When your ranks are dead, you have fewer clean cards to catch, weakening a nominally good hand.
-
What is the main discipline that separates winning Razz players on third street?
Answer Folding trap hands like pairs and one-baby-two-high holdings
Discipline in folding marginal and trap hands is the core of winning Razz.
-
Why is 6-6-3 considered a trap hand?
Answer The pair makes it effectively a two-card hand that must improve twice
A pair wastes a card, so 6-6-3 really plays as 6-3 and needs to fill twice.
-
Which hand is a clear Tier-4 fold in most spots?
Answer A-9-J
One baby with two high cards is a weak, trap-prone holding that should usually be folded.
-
What should you do with a marginal three-low hand when many low door cards are already dead?
Answer Lean toward folding since your outs are diminished
Dead low cards reduce your improvement outs, so marginal hands should often be folded.