What is H.O.R.S.E.
Well H.O.R.S.E. is an acronym for a poker game that uses different game variations during each round. Playing H.O.R.S.E. is an excellent way to learn the most popular poker variations.
- H - Holdem
- O - Omaha hi/lo
- R - Razz (seven card stud low)
- S - Stud (seven card stud high)
- E - Eight or better (seven card stud hi/lo)
How To Play
The game is played as one round of each variation. It starts with fixed limit Hold'em, then follows through this order: fixed limit Omaha hi/lo, Razz (seven card stud low), Seven Card Stud (high only), and finally Seven Card Stud hi/lo.
After the Seven Card Stud hi/lo round is complete, the game goes back to the fixed limit Hold'em, and so on.
When the players change from Omaha hi/lo to Razz, the button is stopped. This way, when the game switches back to Hold'em (after Seven Card Stud hi/lo), nobody skips blinds, or pays extra blinds.
All the games in H.O.R.S.E. are played fixed Limit - there are no pot limit or no limit games. The limits (such as $10/$20) are kept the same throughout the entire process, and you play $10/$20 fixed limit Hold'em, then $10/$20 fixed limit Omaha hi/lo, and so forth.
What is Holdem
Photo coutesy of : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_hold_%27em
What is Omaha hi/lo
Photo coutesy of : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omaha_hold_%27em
What is Razz
Photo coutesy of : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Razz_(poker)
What is Stud
Photo coutesy of : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven-card_stud#Variants
Photo coutesy of : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven-card_stud#Variants
What is Eight or better
Photo coutesy of : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stud_poker#Eight-or-better_high-low_stud
Well folks, that is a wrap for lesson # 2. H.O.R.S.E. is a popular game among most pros who get tired of playing nothing but Holdem. I think if you were to give H.O.R.S.E. a try, you may discover a game that you enjoy just as much as Holdem, maybe even enjoy a little more.
All poker strategy opinions are mine, and do not represent any person, or poker site. Why you may want to listen to me? Have I won uber amounts of cash playing poker? NOPE. BUT, I have lost uber amounts of cash playing poker. And there are plenty of people out there who tell you how to play, I am here to tell you how NOT to play.