What would be the best limit to start at?

[BH2O]

Razz is a blast, but wouldn't it be better to start with stud8 at first? The high and low seems to keep my variance down a good bit.

[SGspecial]

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Razz is a blast, but wouldn't it be better to start with stud8 at first? The high and low seems to keep my variance down a good bit.

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Split pot games do have lower variance than their Hi only cousins, but razz naturally has lower variance than omaha, HE, or stud. On top of that if you stay out of marginal situations that usually need to go to showdown to get paid off (like marginal bring-in defense), and forgo thin value-only bets, you can reduce the variance in razz substantially. You may even improve your game and develop more than one gear [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[BH2O]

Great now you tell me how to lower variance in razz. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] I started with stud8 to build my bankrole, but would much rather have learned razz first.

[Praxising]

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Split pot games do have lower variance than their Hi only cousins, but razz naturally has lower variance than omaha, HE, or stud.

[/ QUOTE ] Can you say why, please? I read (it's in my early notes - and don't know from where)that Razz is higher variance - I thought it was because so many times you end up having to go to the river when you have a better draw. But if what you say is true, and I imagine it is, then if I knew why it could really help my game.

[SGspecial]

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Can you say why, please? I read (it's in my early notes - and don't know from where)that Razz is higher variance - I thought it was because so many times you end up having to go to the river when you have a better draw. But if what you say is true, and I imagine it is, then if I knew why it could really help my game.

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The explanation is in your location [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

You're a razzmaniac, right? Well, if you play razz like a maniac you're going to get into a lot of big pots with people who think you're a maniac and want to call you down or raise you when they hit a big draw, etc. Then you experience high variance in razz (and post about it in the forums), even if you're good enough to make that style work and be a winning player. If you play more conservatively, you can stay out of many high variance situations. Even going to the river with the best draw isn't all that high variance because you typically stand a much better chance of hitting in razz. You may only win 1 out of 3 pots in that scenario, but you often have to play much thinner draws in other games, or you are RAISING with big draws rather than calling. Two bets > one bet, so the variance in razz is somewhat lower.

[Praxising]

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Even going to the river with the best draw isn't all that high variance because you typically stand a much better chance of hitting in razz. You may only win 1 out of 3 pots in that scenario,

[/ QUOTE ]Thank you, this all makes a lot of sense to me.

I understand that I have to be getting better than three to one on my money to go to the river on a good draw if I am only going to win one out of three times.

But am I? Going to win one out of three? And if I am, how do we know that? I just can't find these things written anywhere, it seems to be some kind of poker folk wisdom. (I am a huge admirer of folk wisdom, BTW.)



oh yeah - and my razzmania only applies to my love for the game - a try not to play too many real big pots - well - unless I have a nice 5 or 64, acourse!

[RustyBrooks]

You can generally calculate whether you'll be ahead on the next card, given an assumption about your opponent's current strength. It's basic arithmatic, I can lead you through it if you're interested.

[Praxising]

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You can generally calculate whether you'll be ahead on the next card, given an assumption about your opponent's current strength. It's basic arithmatic, I can lead you through it if you're interested.

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Can I do it in 15 seconds or less?

Seriously, I'd like to see a simple way to do it, not for my math-broken self, but I think a lot of folks would like that. (Understand my math ability stops at being able to figure out on a food label if the calories in the fat are greater than or less than 20% of the total calories, or how much off the price I'm getting if I save 30% - if you can make it that simple I'll be eternally gratful.)

[SGspecial]

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oh yeah - and my razzmania only applies to my love for the game - a try not to play too many real big pots - well - unless I have a nice 5 or 64, acourse!

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Now now, I didn't mean that you played like a maniac, just that those players who do will experience much more variance than conservative players. Also I just pulled the 1 time out of 3 figure out of thin air, but to give you a reference if you have a wheel draw on 6th you will suck out on a made 96 about 1/3 of the time.