Razz mania

Since Full Tilt Poker added Razz to its game selection, I thought I would give it a try, even though it seemed the game was giving Howard Lederer migraines at last year's WSOP. It's a bizarre game to be sure, going against everything I know and believe about poker. Low hand wins? Whaaa? I wonder why it isn't just called Seven Card Stud Low. I'm sure there's a good story as to why it's called Razz, but I'm not privy to it.

As I desperately sought any advice on how to play the game, I came across some passages from my own poker library -- a brief section in the Lowball chapter of Super System and a more meaty offering in Phil Hellmuth's Play Poker Like the Crybaby Pros -- to give me some guidance. While I'm not killing the games by any means, I think I have a handle on Razz now. So I've set myself a goal. If I can win at least $1,500 playing Razz on FTP in the next three months I will buy into the Razz championship at the WSOP. I see two distinct advantages to that tournament, and both are related to the sparse attendance it draws. With fewer entries (191 last year I believe), Razz gives a player the best chances to 1) make a final table and get TV time and 2) win a WSOP bracelet. I wouldn't complain about either.