Things You'll Need:
- a HORSE poker game
-
Step 1
The First Game of HORSE is Limit Hold EmThe first game in HORSE is Limit Hold 'Em. Hold 'Em is currently the most popular form of poker. You are dealt two cards and you can use one or both of them along with 3 or 4 of the 5 community cards to make your best poker hand. The 5 community cards are dealt face up across the middle of the table. In Limit Hold 'Em you can only bet according to a structured limit. So, for example, if you are playing in a $2/$4 game, the small blind will be $1 and the big blind $2. Betting will be in increments of $2 before the flop and on the flop. On the turn and the river betting will be in increments of $4.
-
Step 2
AA23 Double Suited is Considered One of the Best Starting Hands for Omaha Hi/LoThe second game in the HORSE rotation is Omaha Hi/Low Split. In this game the pot is split at the end of the hand between the best high hand and the best low hand (if there is a qualifying low hand.) In order to qualify as a low hand, the player must use 3 cards from the community cards and two cards from his hand to make 5 cards of 8 or under. Straights and flushes are ok and the ace counts as a low card. So the best possible low would be A2345.
The game is played with a flop, turn and river just like Hold Em, but each player is dealt 4 cards of their own instead of 2. In Omaha the player must use two of the four cards in their hand to make their best hand (high or low or both.) But they must use two and only two...not one, and not 3 or 4. -
Step 3
Razz is a Straight Low Stud GameThe third game is Razz. Razz is a stud game and is dealt by giving each player two cards face down and one card face up. Then the cards are dealt one at a time, face up, until the 7th and final card which is dealt face down. Razz is a straight low game. The winning hand will be the lowest five cards. Again straights and flushes do not count against you and aces are low, so the lowest possible 5 cards are A2345. Ties are split and suits have no ranking. Unlike Omaha Hi/Lo and Stud Hi/Low, there is no 8 or better qualifier in Razz. This means that the best low hand will win even if that hand is King high.
-
Step 4
Seven Card Stud Used to Be the Most Popular Form of PokerThe fourth HORSE game is Stud Hi. Seven card stud is dealt like a typical stud game and like Razz above. But this time the pot is won by the best five card high poker hand. Betting is according to the limit. If the limit is $2/$4, the bring in on third street will probably be $1 with the completion being $2. The bet on fourth street will be $1, and the bets on 5th, 6th, and 7th street will be $4.
-
Step 5
Stud Hi/Low is a Split Game Just Like Omaha Hi/LowThe final game in the HORSE rotation is Stud Hi/Lo. This game is similar to Omaha Hi/Lo in that the pot is split between the Hi hand and the Lo hand (if there is a qualifying low.) The low must consist of 5 cards no higher than 8, so again the best low hand is A2345. The game is dealt exactly the same as Stud Hi and the betting limits are the same.
If you would like to learn more about how to play HORSE or poker strategy in general, I recommend "Super System 3." I have included a link to purchase this book in my resources below the article.
Comments
sonni57 said
on 4/30/2009 I've never heard of horse poker thanks for the new game.