In-depth guide on how to play HORSE Poker

A game of HORSE features five types of poker game. A single 'round' of each game is played before going on to the next. The rotation switches back to Hold'em when the Stud Hi/Lo round is finished.

There are no Pot Limit or No Limit games in HORSE since every game is played as Fixed Limit.

Within HORSE, there are two categories of games: board games and flop games. Board games (Stud, Razz, and Stud Hi/Lo) require you to deal some of your cards face up to your opponents, while flop games (Hold'em and Omaha Hi/Lo) only deal hole cards and the flop, turn, and river.

Two of the five games can be played as Split Pot, which further simplifies the games. Accordingly, in Omaha Hi/Lo and Stud Hi/Lo, the best hand (Hi) receives half of the pot, while the weakest hand (Lo) receives the other half.

Not every HORSE variation has the same position. The button (the marker used to indicate the player who is dealing or the house dealer) will be crucial in both Omaha Hi/Lo and Hold'em. Position in the board games, however, will change with every street.

In Razz, the lowest board will move first and the other boards will move in a clockwise manner afterwards. In Stud and Stud Hi/Lo, the highest board will begin, and the other boards will circle in a clockwise manner.

Depending on the version you are playing, different hand rankings apply to HORSE Poker. The best hand in Hold'em and Omaha is still a Royal Flush, which consists of five identically valued aces through tens. In Omaha Hi/Lo and Stud Hi/Lo Eight or Better, a Royal Flush is the best hand for the Hi portion of the pot, as well as the best hand in Seven Card Stud. A wheel straight, consisting of five cards graded ace through five, is the best hand in Razz. For the Lo parts of the sections in Omaha Hi/Lo and Stud Hi/Lo, this is likewise the greatest hand.

Before play begins, all participants must agree on the games that will be played in the rotation. While HORSE Poker will include the previously discussed games, each game can have its own sub-variants such as Hi/Lo. Alternatively, some players may wish to add or remove a game from the rotation. In the case of official tournaments and casino play, the game roster will be predetermined and any additional information defined in the game information.

The games in a tournament setup are prearranged before the first hand is given, and any modifications to the game rotation must be made explicit prior to the first hand being delivered.

Every poker variation is played for one whole rotation unless otherwise specified. In the game being played, each player must get the opportunity to be the dealer.

In the case of real-world play, the dealer button moves around the table, such as in Hold'em, in games without a dealer button (like Stud), but its sole purpose is to record the number of hands played. In online games, the button will be automated.

The game currently in rotation will also be clearly indicated for both players and spectators.

While it is not specifically prohibited, players are required to play every variation. That is, a player cannot choose to play only one version or to select only the variants they find most enjoyable. The whole purpose of HORSE poker is for players to show mastery across the many forms of poker.

All games in HORSE poker will be played in their standard form (outside of the change to fixed-limit play) unless otherwise stipulated.

Although it may seem obvious to you, you would be shocked at how many players on a HORSE table are unaware of the game's rules. Once again, we must assert that HORSE Poker is a game for advanced players who know the difference between community card poker and stud poker as well as draw poker too. While you do not need to be an expert on the minutia of each game, you need to know important elements such as the bring-in in Stud, the best hands in Razz, plus general poker knowledge, such as hand ranks and terminology. You would be surprised how many so-called ‘experienced players’ come into a HORSE poker game only knowing Hold’em poker.

The fact that all of the games played in HORSE Poker are limit games can throw off even experienced players, as the most popular poker games such as Texas Hold’em are played with no-limit rules. Players experienced with limit Hold’em will be able to spot weak spots in the play of less-versed players, and this does not just involve Hold’em but extends to other games in the rotation like Razz and 7-Card Stud. The majority of players have limited experience in Hi/Lo gameplay scenarios, so if you take the time to gain experience in this area, you might be able to use the weak spots in the knowledge base of your opponents to your advantage. 

Exploiting weaknesses goes both ways so expect good HORSE Poker opponents to seek out your weak spots too. Therefore, on games you are most confident with, use a larger pot, or play more confidently (within safe gambling practices of course).  While it is seriously bad etiquette to not play all of the games in HORSE pokers’ rotation; there is nothing wrong with playing more conservatively on the games you have less experience with.

While the best HORSE players will have experience and know-how in all the included games, sometimes another player might ruffle your feathers or throw you for a loop. When this happens, stick to the motto ‘if in doubt, stick to the fundamentals’. While this will not give you the most optimal strategy, it can help you avoid making rookie errors and sucker bets. Some fundamentals to remember include

• Knowing it is always preferable to play in position than out of place.
• Do not take a chance on bluffs that do not follow typical poker logic.
• You do not have to play every hand, only play the strongest starting hands to make your post-flop options easier.

Novice Stud players should focus on recalling which up cards they have and have not seen. With very few hands won on large bluffs on the turn and river, Stud is unquestionably a showdown game and remembering this can make a big difference even if Stud poker is not usually your metier.