How to Play H.O.R.S.E.

What Are the Rules of H.O.R.S.E.?

Basic Gameplay

H.O.R.S.E. rotates through the five poker variants in a predetermined order, each game will be played either for a set number of hands or by a set time period. Normally, the rotation to the next game takes place after each player has completed a full betting round with the current variant. Below we will break down the basic gameplay for each poker variant:

Hold’em (H)

The first game to start off the action in H.O.R.S.E. is non the less than the most popular poker variant Texas Hold’em. In Hold’em each player will be dealt two individual cards (hole cards) dealt face down. You will be able to combine your hole cards with five community cards that will be distributed through four streets; pre-flop, the flop, the turn and the river. After each street a betting round will occur, if there are two or more remaining players left after the final betting round the player with the highest five card hand according to traditional poker rules wins the pot.

Omaha Hi-Lo (O)

In Omaha Hi-Lo each player will be dealt four-hole cards which on later streets will be combined with five in total community cards. The streets in Omaha Hi-Lo are the same as in Hold’em, where you first encounter pre-flop action followed by the flop, the turn and finally the river, with the same amount of betting rounds. Omaha Hi-Lo in H.O.R.S.E. is also played with fixed limits.

Razz (R)

The gameplay structure of Razz is identical with Seven Card Stud the main difference is the objective, Razz is a lowball game where you aim to create the lowest five-card hand whereas in Seven Card Stud the goal is to create the best five-card hand. In Razz players are dealt seven individual cards (three face down and four face up). Razz doesn’t include any blinds, bring-ins and antes are used instead. Razz consists of seven streets and five betting rounds

Seven Card Stud (S)

As we previously mentioned the gameplay of Seven Card Stud is identical with Razz but the objective with the game is reversed, where the goal is to make the best possible high hand according to traditional poker rules. Also, the betting order is reversed, the player with lowest face up card on the third starts the betting round, from fourth street onward to the final street the player with the highest visible card begins the betting round. In Seven Card Stud players are dealt seven individual cards (three face down and four face up). Seven Card Stud doesn’t include any blinds, bring-ins and antes are used instead. Seven Card Stud consists of seven streets and five betting rounds.

Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo or Stud Eight or Better (E)

This poker variant that splits the pot between the best high and the best low hand can be seen as a mix between Seven Card Stud and Razz, however both high and low hands are played simultaneously and unlike Razz the low hand must have five card lower than 8 in order to “qualify” as a low hand. Betting structures and gameplay follow Seven Card Stud’s format. In conclusion Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo incorporates elements from both poker variants but is ultimately its own unique game.

Key Terminology

Rotation: Usually after a full round of play the mixed game format rotates and the next game in order begins. The order always starts with Hold’em followed by, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo (Eight or better).

Lowball: In a lowball game the objective is to make the lowest possible hand. Aces are considered low and straights and flushes doesn’t count.

Split Pot: In any Hi-Lo game, the pot splits between the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand.

Qualifier for low: For the low hand to count it needs to be qualified, the low hand must consist of five cards ranked 8 or lower with no pairs in order to qualify.

Scooping the Pot: If you win both the high and the low hand in a Hi-Lo game, it’s called you are “scooping” the pot. This can happen if a player wins the high hand, and no remaining player has a low hand that qualifies.

Showdown: After the last betting round is finalized in any poker game, a “showdown” will determine the winning hand among the remaining players in the hand.

Betting Structure:

All five poker variants included in H.O.R.S.E. is played with fixed limits, this means that all bet sizes are fixed with lower limits on early streets and higher limits on later streets for each game.

Winning Hands

The wining hands for each game in H.O.R.S.E. are determined differently, we will briefly explain the main objectives for each poker variant:

Hold’em

In Texas Hold’em the player who makes the highest five card hand by using any combination of the two given hold cards with the five community cards. Hold’em follows traditional high-hand poker rankings where the Royal Straight flush is the best possible hand and High Card is the lowest possible hand.

Omaha Hi-Lo

To create the best possible five card hand at showdown you can only use two of your individual cards (hole cards) and combine them with the community cards. When Omaha is played in Hi-Lo format means that the pot will split between the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand. A low hand qualifies if all cards in the five-card hand is ranked 8 or lower.

Razz

Razz is a lowball game where the goal is to create the lowest five-card out of the seven individual cards you will be dealt in a hand of Razz. The lowest hand in Razz is (A-2-3-4-5) also known as the “wheel” is the best possible hand, straights and flushes doesn’t count.

Seven Card Stud

Seven Card Stud uses the same traditional high-hand rankings as Texas Hold’em; by using any combination of the seven individual cards you been given to create the best possible five-card hand.

Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo

In Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo the pot will be split between the best high hand and the best low hand. The high hand follows traditional poker rankings, and the low hand must be unpaired cards ranked 8 or lower. The highest ranked hand in a showdown wins half of the pot and the lowest ranked qualified hand wins the other half of the pot. There are scenarios where no hand qualifies as a low hand, if this happens the highest hand wins the whole pot.

What Makes H.O.R.S.E. Special?

Unique Rules

H.O.R.S.E. stands out as poker game due to its rotational format where players must master five different poker variants. The rotation keeps the game exciting and challenging at the same time, for the players to switch between the different strategies that each game requires. The mixed game format will test a broad range of skills where each game has unique structures and game mechanics.

Strategic Depth

Absence of community cards in Seven Card Stud and Razz opens up for bluffing opportunities but unlike Hold’em and Omaha it’s not so much about position, you are trying to tell a story with the visible cards you have in front of you. Position and emphasis of aggression is greatly rewarded in for example Texas Hold’em and Omaha whereas in Seven Card Stud and Razz you need to rely more on your observation and hand-reading skills. Furthermore, in Omaha Hi-Lo and Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo the goal for the players is to maneuver both high and low hands, adding another layer of strategy. Professional players appreciate the strategic depth H.O.R.S.E offers, to succeed in H.O.R.S.E. you can’t only rely on one single skillset, you have to be versatile and able to adapt to all the five disciplines.

Player Popularity

H.O.R.S.E is the most popular and well-known mixed game format especially for high stakes players. The H.O.R.S.E. event in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is considered one of the most prestigious to win. The mixed game format is particularly appealing to seasoned players who are looking for a challenge far beyond most poker variants. Moreover, casual player is also drawn to this poker variant, H.O.R.S.E can provide a refreshing change from the one game format with the rotation of various games. Players who are looking to expand their overall poker knowledge and versatility also finds H.O.R.S.E. appealing.

Where Can You Play H.O.R.S.E. Online?

Online poker has made H.O.R.S.E more accessible than ever, with just a few clicks away players can now join the popular mixed game format in the comfort of your own home. We will present the best online platforms, the availability of tournaments and special promotions for H.O.R.S.E.

Best Online Platforms

PokerStars

PokerStars is one of the largest and most established online poker platforms. When it comes to mixed games, PokerStars is without a doubt one of the best platforms available, offering a rich selection of games, trustworthy software and a large global player pool. PokerStars offer options for both cash games and tournaments on a regular basis. The sites large player base ensures a range of competitive to casual games at various stake levels. PokerStars also offer a unique feature where you can arrange your own private home games. H.O.R.S.E. is one of the available poker variants you can choose for the PokerStars home games. For beginners PokerStars also has a poker school that offers articles, videos and quizzes where you can improve your mixed game skills.

PartyPoker

Globally recognized, PartyPoker is on of the most trusted and respected poker platforms, praised for its wide variety of games, tournaments and intuitive interface. Partypoker mainly focuses on the popular poker variants Texas Hold’em and Omaha and as of now PartyPoker doesn’t offer H.O.R.S.E. cash games in its standard lobby, however they do offer some of the individual games that’s included in the mixed games such as Omaha Hi-Lo and Seven Card Stud as options in cash games and tournament formats. Mixed formats such as H.O.R.S.E. is occasionally included in PartyPokers special event series.

888poker

As one of the most trusted poker sites globally, 888poker provides an extensive game selection of cash games and tournaments for players around the world. 888poker as for now doesn’t feature a dedicated section for H.O.R.S.E. games as the more popular poker variants Texas Hold’em and Omaha is their primarily focus. However, you can play and practice most of the included games in H.O.R.S.E. individually on the site, and occasionally mixed games are included in tournament formats for the site’s special events.

Availability of Tournaments

PokerStars is one of the few online poker sites that includes H.O.R.S.E in their regular weekly tournament schedule, often with guaranteed prize pools. PokerStars also offer their two major event series: World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) or Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) which usually includes prestigious H.O.R.S.E events. PartyPoker’s premier tournament series, Powerfest occasionally offer H.O.R.S.E. and other mixed games during this series.

Special Promotions

You will usually not find bonuses or promotions dedicated solely for the poker variant H.O.R.S.E., but players can still find opportunities to play mixed games through general bonuses, tournament series or loyalty programs.

Key Tips to Succeed in H.O.R.S.E.

Starting Hand Selection

Below you will break down a guideline of starting hands for each poker variant in H.O.R.S.E. Hand selection is the foundation where you build your strategy upon, a solid hand selection will give you a significant edge in any poker variant. Each variant requires a different approach and mastering the hand selection in H.O.R.S.E is crucial to your overall success.

Hold’em

In Texas Hold’em strong starting hands is high connected cards or pairs, position and table dynamics plays a crucial role in determining how profitable certain hands are in different positions.

Hands to play: High pairs and high broadway cards are premium hands that you can play from any position. Middle pairs and suited connectors you can profitably play from most positions but proceed with caution from early positions.

Hands to fold: Weak aces off-suit especially in early positions and low unconnected unsuited cards has little value and should be folded.

Omaha Hi-Lo

Because the pot is divided by the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand in Omaha Hi-Lo, balanced hands with the potential to win both pots are ideal.

Hands to play: Aces with low suited cards such as A2XX or A3XX are ideal as they give you the best opportunity to “scoop” the pot and win both the high and low hand. Hands like AAK2 or AK23 suited are also good candidates to win both the high and the low pot.

Hands to fold: Fold hands with aces or hands with little chances to win the low pot. In general, you should fold unconnected off-suit hands which has small potential of winning either of the pots.

Razz

With the aim to make the lowest possible five-card hand where aces are low and flushes and straights don’t count the lower and more connected starting hands the better:

Hands to play: A starting hand consisting of three cards lower than 8 is considered a strong starting hand in Razz. Premium hands include A23, 234, or 245.

Hands to fold: High face cards are weak starting hands that will ruin your chances of making a low hand, also paired hands are weak hands that should be folded.

Seven Card Stud

In Seven Card Stud you aim to make the best five-card high hand, the direct opposite to Razz.

Hands to play: High pairs or better are strong starting hands that you should play aggressively. Three cards to a straight or a flush or both are also strong starting hands with high potential.

Hands to fold: Low pair without connection and completely disconnected hands like 8Q3 should hit the muck immediately.

Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo (Eight or Better)

Similar to Omaha Hi-Lo where the pots splits between the best high hand and the best low hand the ultimate goal is to win both pots.

Hands to play: The strongest hands in Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo are strong low hands with high potential such as A23 suited or A2K, both gives you a good opportunity to win both the high and low pot. High pair with a low side card also offer a good chance to win both pots.

Hands to fold: High cards without low potential such as KOJ doesn’t offer any value to win the low pot, also disconnected hands with small chances of winning either the high or the low hand should be folded directly.

Betting Strategy

Hold’em and Omaha Hi-Lo are the two poker variants in H.O.R.S.E. consisting of community cards, these games also reward selective aggression with strong hands ideally in late position where you can control the action. A well-balanced betting strategy with strong hands and bluffs where you keep your opponents guessing is effective especially in Hold’em and also occasionally in Omaha Hi-Lo.

In Razz and Seven Card Stud however position and aggression are a less effective betting strategy, your card strength and especially your visible cards will indicate if you should be betting or not. You should be willing to put money in the pot with high cards, strong pairs or better from early rounds, never bluff if your visible cards appear weak.

In Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo you also need to be selective when to be aggressive, wait for opportunities when you have a hand that both can win the high and the low pot. In all Stud variants including Razz observation is key, your betting strategy should be based on the combination of each opponents’ tendencies and how they play in relation to their visible cards.

Common Mistakes

The most common mistakes new players make in H.O.R.S.E is not adapting well enough to each poker variant; the mixed game format requires versability and adjustment of strategies for every new game. Overvaluing starting hands is a common pitfall, where players incorrectly assumes that strong hands in one game are equally valuable in others. Therefore, its crucial to have a good grasp of the starting hand selection for each individual game.

Playing to many hands, being passive and chasing marginal draws is costly in Hold’em. In late position you can open up your range and use the position to your advantage but overdoing it can lead to unnecessary loses. In Stud games and Razz, a common mistake is not paying enough attention to your opponent’s visible (face-up) cards, potentially missing important clues about the strength of other players hands. New players tend to ignore the pot odds in Split-Pot Games leading to poor decisions on later streets.

Advanced Strategies

In the Stud variants and Razz, it’s crucial to reassess your hand strength for each new street and simultaneously evaluate the strength of your opponent’s holdings and adjust your strategy going forward accordingly. At some point in the hand usually on the fifth street you will have to make a decision if you should go all the way with your hand or not, even if your starting hands where strong but you don’t improve a long the way you might have to give up. In these variants, your card strength plays a pivotal role, and your ability to adjust strategy street by street is critical. Furthermore, patience and observation are more valuable than position and aggression in these games.

You also need to factor in that each game in H.O.R.S.E. is played with fixed limits, this especially affects Hold’em whereas most players are used to play Texas Hold’em with no limit. When playing Limit Hold’em you need to tighten up your game and mainly stick to premium hands, such as high pairs and suited connectors and strong broadway cards. Positional awareness is still essential when playing with fixed limits, play aggressive in late position and proceed cautiously from early positions.

In the Hi-Lo games you should always aim for both the high and the low hand so you can “scoop” the pot, to only go for half of the pot will hurt your bankroll in the long run. You should also avoid to chase the low hand if your chances of winning the high hand are slim.

Final Thoughts on H.O.R.S.E.

With five poker variants in rotation, H.O.R.S.E demands more from players than any single game. Requiring players to excel in versatility and challenges them to adapt quickly and effectively across multiple poker formats, the ability to adjust strategy seamlessly between each game is what separates the best H.O.R.S.E. players form the rest. To gain an advantage from each poker variant you need to be on top of your game, to use position and aggression wisely in Hold’em and Omaha, to pay attention to details in Stud games and to maximizing value by aiming to “scoop” the pot in the Split Pot games. Navigating through the complexities of H.O.R.S.E is widely regarded as the ultimate challenge for a poker players overall ability and understanding of the game.

There is no surprise that H.O.R.S.E. is considered to be one of the most prestigious events to win in the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Even if H.O.R.S.E. is especially popular among high stakes players, the mixed game format can suit any player who is looking for a challenge or a refreshing change from the monotony of other single poker variants. Online poker is more accessible than ever and with just a few clicks you can play H.O.R.S.E games in the comfort in your own home.

FAQs

What is H.O.R.S.E.?

H.O.R.S.E. is a mixed game format with the five poker variants: Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo (Eight or Better). Each game rotates in a chronical order, usually when a full round is complete the game changes to the next poker variant in the sequence.

What does HORSE stand for?

H.O.R.S.E. is an acronym for the five poker variants included in the mixed game format:

· H: Texas Hold’em

· O: Omaha Hi-Lo

· R: Razz

· S: Seven Card Stud

· E: Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo (Eight or Better)

What makes H.O.R.S.E. unique?

H.O.R.S.E. stands out as poker game because it combines five different poker variants into one format. The rotation of games is both exciting and challenging for the players who constantly needs to adapt new strategies between the shifting poker variants. The mixed game format in H.O.R.S.E is considered as the ultimate test for a poker players overall knowledge and skill.

What skills are required to master H.O.R.S.E.?

H.O.R.S.E. requires a deep knowledge of all the five poker variants in the rotation, players need to adapt quickly between different strategies. To master the mixed game format players must also develop sharp observation skills, patience and the excellent reading abilities across a variety of games.

What are common mistakes players make when playing H.O.R.S.E.?

New players often fail to adapt quick enough to every new poker variant, misjudging the strength of starting hands is a common mistake by beginners, strong hands in one game are not necessarily strong in other games. Not paying enough attention to your opponent’s visible cards in Stud games is also a common mistake. If you are not paying enough attention you are risking of missing out critical clues about the strength of your opponents’ hands.

Where can I play H.O.R.S.E.?

H.O.R.S.E. games are available to play online but most poker sites don’t run cash games or tournaments on a regular basis, however many of the most established poker sites have most of the poker variants included in H.O.R.S.E. as single game options. PokerStars is one of the few sites that offer both H.O.R.S.E. cash games and tournaments regularly. You can also find H.O.R.S.E. games in live setting in casinos, poker rooms or in more casual settings such as home games by poker enthusiasts.