What is HORSE Poker?

Introduction to HORSE Poker

HORSE Poker combines five poker variants into one thrilling game. Its challenging multi-game structure tests a player’s versatility and adaptability.

You must adapt to different rules and strategies to play it correctly.

The name “HORSE” is an acronym. It refers to five poker variants played in rotation during the game:

• H – Texas Hold’em
• O – Omaha Hi/Lo
• R – Razz
• S – Seven Card Stud
• E – Eight or Better (Stud Hi/Lo)

HORSE requires a mastery of multiple poker formats. You must have a holistic understanding of poker mechanics and be able to adjust to changing dynamics quickly.

Skilled players who thrive on strategic depth and adaptability love to play HORSE. Its multi-game nature creates a dynamic and unpredictable atmosphere.

History and Origins of HORSE Poker

Poker players always like to challenge themselves. The concept of mixing poker variants goes back to the beginnings of poker. These games allowed players to show off their skills and add more thrill to their experience.

The mix of current Horse Poker came around in the late 20th century. Cash games in places like Vegas introduced mixed games to offer variety and a level playing field.

HORSE was one of the most popular choices among elite players. In 2002, it achieved mainstream recognition when it became part of the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

The $50,000 HORSE event started in 2006 and became one of the most prestigious tournaments in the WSOP. Poker legends like Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, and Chip Reese ranked this variant among the best.

HORSE is now widespread in high-stakes tournaments worldwide.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Play HORSE Poker

Each game in HORSE is played for one round only before transitioning to the next. In some cases, each round lasts for a predetermined time before moving on to the next.

Game Rotation in Horse Poker

1. Hold’em (H): The first game follows standard Texas Hold’em rules. Players aim to make the best five-card hand using two hole cards and five community cards.
2. Omaha Hi/Lo (O): The second game in the transition is Omaha Hi/Lo. It’s a split-pot game where players strive for the best high hand or a qualifying low hand.
3. Razz (R): The third game is Razz, a lowball poker variant where the lowest possible hand wins.
4. Seven Card Stud (S): The fourth game is the traditional Seven Card Stud. Players aim for the best high hand with seven dealt cards.
5. Eight or Better (E): Stud Hi/Lo is the final game. The pot is split between the best high and qualifying low hand (eight or better).

Rules for Game Rotation

• The game rotates after a predefined number of hands (an orbit) or a set time period, depending on the tournament or cash game’s structure.
• The rotation starts with Hold’em, ends with Eight or Better (Stud Hi/Lo), and the cycle repeats.
• The hand generally rotates clockwise. However, the position varies based on the games.

Example of a Single Round

We’re playing HORSE at a ₹100/₹200 limit, and the first game is Hold’em.

Texas Hold’em

Blinds and Dealer:

• The player on the dealer’s left posts the small blind (₹100).
• The next player posts the big blind (₹200).
• The dealer button rotates clockwise after each hand.

Preflop Action:

Each player is dealt two hole cards. The action starts with the player on the big blind’s left.

• Player 1: Folds.
• Player 2: Calls ₹200.
• Player 3: Raises to ₹400.
• Player 4: Folds.
• Player 5 (Big Blind): Calls ₹200.
• Player 6 (Small Blind): Folds.

Flop Action:

Three community cards are dealt face-up (the flop). The player on the dealer’s left acts first.

• Player 5: Bets ₹200.
• Player 2: Calls ₹200.
• Player 3: Raises to ₹400.
• Player 5: Calls ₹200.
• Player 2: Calls ₹200.

Turn Action:

A fourth community card is dealt (the turn). The betting limit increases to ₹400.

• Player 5: Bets ₹400.
• Player 2: Folds.
• Player 3: Calls ₹400.

River Action:

A fifth community card is dealt (the river). The final round of betting starts.

• Player 5: Checks.
• Player 3: Bets ₹400.
• Player 5: Calls ₹400.

Showdown:

Players reveal their hole cards, and the best five-card hand using the community cards wins.

Omaha Hi/Lo

Next, the game rotates to Omaha Hi/Lo at ₹100/₹200 limit.

Blinds and Dealer:

• The player on the dealer’s left posts the small blind (₹100).
• The next player posts the big blind (₹200).
• Each player is dealt four hole cards.

Preflop Action:

The action starts with the player to the left of the big blind.

• Player 1: Calls ₹200.
• Player 2: Raises to ₹400.
• Player 3 (Big Blind): Calls ₹200.
• Player 4 (Small Blind): Folds.
• Player 1: Calls ₹200.

The following rounds – flop, turn, and river – are played the same way as Hold’em. We’re skipping them as we already covered them above. So, the last round is the showdown.

Showdown Action:

• The pot in Omaha Hi/Lo is split between the best high hand and the best low hand (if a qualifying low hand exists).
• If no qualifying low hand exists, the pot goes to the best high hand.

The game changes next to Razz to Seven Card Stud to Eight or Better (Stud Hi/Lo).

Also explore: Learn poker action to improve gameplay.

Understanding Hand Rankings in HORSE Poker

Poker hand rankings determine the strength of a player’s cards and who wins the pot. The basic hand rankings are the same across many variants.

However, HORSE is a little complex due to its mix of multiple games. Each has unique rules and hand-ranking systems, making it crucial to understand the differences.

Hold’em and Omaha: Standard Poker Hand Rankings

The goal in Hold’em and Omaha is to form the highest-ranking hand using five cards. Below are the hand rankings in descending order of strength:

Razz Poker Hand Rankings

Razz flips the script by using the lowest-ranking hand. Aces are always low, and straights or flushes don’t count against the hand.

• Best hand: A-2-3-4-5 (Wheel or Bicycle).
• Second Best Hand: A-2-3-4-6.
• Worst Hand: Any hand with pairs or high cards like K, Q, J.

Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo Rankings

Seven Card Stud uses the same hand rankings as Hold’em and Omaha.

In Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo, the pot is split between the highest-ranking and lowest-ranking qualifying hands.

The best low hand is A-2-3-4-5.

Texas Hold’em in HORSE Poker: Rules and Tips

Texas Holdem is typically played with a fixed-limit betting structure in HORSE. Its general rules in relation to HORSE are stated below.

Dealing Cards:

• Each player is dealt two hole cards face down.
• Five community cards are dealt face-up in three stages: the Flop (three cards), the Turn (one card), and the River (one card).

Betting Rounds:

• The game has four betting rounds – preflop, flop, Turn, and River.
• Players can check, bet, call, raise, or fold depending on the action before them.

Winning the Hand:

Players can win the pot by making the best hand at the showdown or forcing all opponents to fold before the showdown.

Below are a few helpful tips to play well:

Adjust for Fixed-Limit Betting:

• The bet size is predetermined in fixed-limit games, keeping aggressive betting in check. Focus on value bets and control the pot size.
• Be cautious with semi-bluffs. Opponents are more likely to call due to the lower cost of calling.

Play Tight and Aggressive:

• Play selectively during Hold’em to preserve chips for games where opponents may be less skilled.
• Avoid speculative hands like low connectors unless you have a favourable position and pot odds.

Leverage Positional Advantage:

• Be aware of your position at the table and refine your strategy.
• Play stronger hands in an early position and loosen up slightly in a late position.
• Use positional advantage to exploit weaker opponents.

Adapt to Opponent Tendencies:

• Some players may only excel in specific HORSE games.
• Identify weaker Hold’em players and exploit their mistakes.

Balance Your Strategy:

• Avoid being overly predictable.
• Mix up your playstyle by occasionally raising with speculative hands like suited connectors.
• Keep opponents guessing to take their advantage.

Omaha Hi/Lo in HORSE Poker: Rules and Tips

Omaha Hi/Lo or Omaha Eight or Better is the second game in HORSE. Below are its rules for playing as a part of HORSE.

Dealing Cards:

• Each player is dealt four hole cards.
• Five community cards are dealt face-up in three stages – flop, turn, and river.

Hand Creation:

• Players must use precisely two hole cards and three community cards to form high and low hands.
• The low hand must consist of five cards ranked eight or lower, with no pairs (e.g., A-2-3-4-7).

Split Pot:

• The highest-ranking high hand wins half of the pot.
• The qualifying low hand wins the other half.
• The high hand gets all the pot if there is no qualifying low hand.

Betting Structure:

Omaha Hi/Lo is played in a fixed-limit format with defined bet amounts in HORSE.

Here are a few proven tips to play like an expert:

Target Strong Two-Way Hands:

• Focus on hands with the potential to win both the high and low portions of the pot (like A♣ 2♦ K♠ Q♣).
• These hands offer more significant equity and minimise variance.

Prioritise the Low Hand:

• Don’t overvalue the high hand in mixed games.
• Play for the low hand with strong backup potential for a high (e.g., A-2 suited with high Broadway cards).

Avoid Hands Without Low Potential:

• High hands like K🔶 Q♠ J♣ 10🧡 lack the chance to qualify for the low pot.
• Avoid playing these unless the table dynamic favours them.

Position Matters:

• Playing from late positions gives you better insight into other players’ actions.
• It is easy to decide whether to chase a low, a high, or both.

Control the Pot Size:

• Calling bets is common in fixed-limit Omaha Hi/Lo due to the split pot.
• Bet aggressively with strong two-way draws or made hands to extract value.

Avoid Overcommitting to Draws:

• Chasing a low draw without backup high potential can lead to losses.
• Be cautious with speculative draws.

Also explore: Omaha Poker Rules

Razz in HORSE Poker: Rules and Strategies

Razz is the third variant in HORSE. It’s a lowball game where you aim to make the lowest possible hand.

The rules in accordance with HORSE are:

Game Structure:

• Razz follows a Seven Card Stud format with fixed-limit betting.
• The best possible hand in Razz is A-2-3-4-5, also known as a “Wheel.”
• Straights and flushes are ignored, and aces are always low.

Betting Rounds:

Razz poker has five betting rounds:

• Third Street: Players post antes, and the player with the highest face-up card starts the action.
• Fourth Street: Each player receives a face-up card, and the lowest visible hand bets first.
• Fifth Street: A fifth face-up card is dealt. Betting continues.
• Sixth Street: A sixth face-up card is dealt.
• Seventh Street: A final face-down card is dealt. Players now have seven cards. Betting ends.

Showdown:

• A showdown occurs if multiple players remain.
• Everyone shows their hands.
• The player with the lowest-ranking hand wins the pot.

Below are a few expert tips to play like a pro:

Starting Hands Matter:

• Strong starting hands include A-2-3, A-2-4, and A-3-5.
• Avoid starting with pairs or high cards; they make forming a low hand difficult.

Observe Opponents’ Up Cards:

• Pay attention to the cards shown by other players.
• Adjust your strategy if you spot your desired lows ((2s, 3s, 4s) on the board.

Steal the Antes:

• Bet aggressively to steal the pot if you have the lowest up card on Third Street.
• It works well if your opponents have high cards.

Fold When Necessary:

• Fold hands that don’t improve quickly.
• Don’t bet if your up cards are higher than your opponents’.

Position and Aggression:

• Pressure opponents into folding if your position is favourable on a strong board.
• Proceed cautiously when your visible cards appear weak.

Seven Card Stud in HORSE Poker: Rules and Tips

Seven Card Stud is the fourth game in HORSE. It does not use any community cards.

The rules in relation to HORSE are:

Game Structure:

• Each player is dealt seven cards (three face-down and four face-up) during the hand.
• The goal is to form the best five-card hand using seven cards dealt.

Hand Rankings:

• Seven Card Stud uses the standard poker hand rankings.
• The best hand is a Royal Flush, followed by a Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, and down to High Card.

Betting Rounds:

There are five betting rounds in this game:

• Third Street: Each player is dealt three cards (two face-down and one face-up). The player with the lowest-ranking up card posts the Bring-In bet.
• Fourth Street: A fourth card is dealt face-up to each player. A betting round starts with the player showing the strongest visible hand.
• Fifth Street: A fifth card is dealt face-up, followed by another betting round.
• Sixth Street: A sixth card is dealt face-up, and a betting round begins.
• Seventh Street: A final card is dealt face-down, and the last betting round starts.

Showdown:

• If multiple players remain after final betting, everyone reveals their hands at the showdown.
• The player with the highest-ranking hand wins the pot.

Here are a few actionable tips to consider:

Value Starting Hands:

• Strong starting hands include high-value pairs (aces, kings, queens), three suited cards, or three cards to a straight.
• Avoid hands with scattered or uncoordinated cards.

Track Opponents’ Cards:

• Pay attention to the up cards your opponents are showing.
• Note the folded cards – this affects your out cards and the likelihood of them improving.

Bet Aggressively with Strong Boards:

• Take advantage of a strong visible board (e.g., two high pairs or four to a flush).
• Use aggression to pressure opponents into folding.

Don’t Chase Weak Draws:

Fold early if your hand isn’t improving and your opponents show stronger boards.

Use Pot Odds:

• Be mindful of pot odds when calling bets.
• It matters more during later streets where bets are more significant.

How to Play Eight or Better in HORSE Poker?

Eight or Better, also known as Stud Hi/Lo, is the final game in the HORSE Poker rotation.

The game builds on the rules of Seven Card Stud but introduces a split-pot dynamic. The rules are as follows:

Game Structure:

• The goal is to either form – the best high hand using five cards or a qualifying low hand with five cards.
• One player can win both halves of the pot (known as “scooping”) if they hold the best high and low hands.
• Like Seven Card Stud, players are dealt seven cards (three face-down and four face-up).
• There are five betting rounds.
• The Bring-In bet is determined by the lowest-ranking up card on Third Street.

Qualifying Low Hand:

• A low hand must have five unique cards ranked 8 or lower.
• Straights and flushes do not disqualify a low hand.
• The best possible low hand is a Wheel: A-2-3-4-5.

Split Pot:

• The pot is split equally between the best high and the best low hand.
• If no low hand qualifies, the high hand wins the entire pot.

Showdown:

• Everyone reveals their hands at showdown if the table still has more than one player.
• The pot is divided based on the highest and lowest qualifying hands.

Here are a few pro tips to help you excel:

Play for Both High and Low:

• Aim to form a hand that can “scoop” the pot with high and low portions.
• Start with A-2-3 suited (for example) for a low hand and a flush or straight for the high.

Select Hands with Low Potential:

• Hands like A-2-4 or 2-3-6 suited are excellent starting hands.
• They maximise your chances for a low and a high hand.

Watch for Dead Cards:

• Pay attention to your opponent’s up cards to assess the likelihood of completing your hand.
• Your chances to improve are low if several low or suited cards are already visible.

Position and Aggression:

• Be aggressive with a strong starting hand, especially if it has potential for both high and low.
• Use your position to analyse the strength of your opponent’s hands.

Read Your Opponents:

• Observe your opponents to figure out if they’re chasing high, low, or both.
• Adjust your strategy accordingly.

Consider Pot Odds:

• Always be aware of pot odds.
• Calculate whether you should invest more based on your probability of winning one or both pot portions.

Get Ready to Play HORSE Poker

HORSE is a dynamic and challenging poker variant that combines five poker games: Hold’em, Omaha Hi/Lo, Razz, Seven-Card Stud, and Eight or Better.

The games rotate one round after another, adding unpredictability and demanding a mix of skills. Players also need to use different strategies based on the variant being played.

For instance, playing tight in Hold’em but focusing on low hands in Razz or Eight or Better.

HORSE offers a perfect opportunity to refine your skills and challenge your adaptability. It helps you master not only this variant but all poker variants at once.

Experience the thrill of Poker with the Pocket52 poker app. Download now and start playing exciting tournaments and cash games today!

FAQs on HORSE Poker

What is HORSE Poker?

HORSE is a combination of five poker variants: Hold’em, Omaha Hi/Lo, Razz, Seven Card Stud, and Eight or Better. One variant is played after another in rotation for more excitement and thrill.

How to play HORSE poker?

Each variant in HORSE is played for one round. Then, the game switches to the next game in line. All games are fixed-limit to ensure consistent stakes across variants. The standard rules of each of the five games in HORSE stay the same.

What are the flop games in HORSE?

The flop games in HORSE Poker are Texas Hold’em and Omaha Hi/Lo. They use community cards dealt face-up on the table.

What are the board games in HORSE?

The board games in HORSE are Razz, Seven Card Stud, and Eight or Better. Each player is dealt a combination of face-up and face-down cards.

What are the hand rankings used in HORSE poker?

Hold’em, and Omaha use standard poker hand rankings. The highest ranking hand is a Royal Flush, followed by Straight Flush, and down to High Card. Razz aims to create the lowest hand, with the best low hand being A-2-3-4-5. Seven Card Stud uses the standard poker hand ranking for the high and Razz hand rankings for the low hand.