HORSE
HORSE tests the allround skills of poker players more than any other game. Horse combines five poker flavours and is usually player in a limit tournament variation, but sometimes in ring games as well. It's a complicated and challenging structure and requires a high level of concentration and skill. HORSE can be a lot of fun to play, especially when you're looking for something to get out of your usual routine.
Each letter in HORSE stands for another game variation.
H Hold'em
O Omaha
R Razz
E Seven Card Stud Eight or Better (Hi-Lo)
In HORSE tournaments, the first game that's played is Texas Hold'em, followed by Omaha, etc., where each game is played for a predefined and equal time period. The limits and antes in the Seven Card Stud variations are raised in the same way as any other tournament. The most famous HORSE tournament is the annual World Series of Poker tournament. The tournament had a $50.000 buy-in in 2006, and some of the best poker players in the world took part.
A lot of new players will rather not play HORSE, as it requires allround poker skills. A lot of players don't even play some of the variations, such as Razz and Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo, at all.
HORSE ring games are basically the same as any other ring game: the blinds and antes stay the same. But on the other hand, the variation itself changes according to a predefined time schedule, usually each round. For instance, at a table with 8 players, Texas Hold'em is played for 8 hands, followed by 8 hands of Omaha, 8 hands of Razz etc.
HORSE-strategy
It's important to maximize your profits when you play the variations you play best, and to minimize your losses during the variations you're not so good at. Try to recognize which players excel in a certain variation and therefore when you need to be careful, and what players you can attack yourself. The best way to prepare for a HORSE ring game or tournament, is to improve your weak spots by playing the variations you don't usally play very often. When you enter a HORSE game, only play the strongest hands in the variations you don't feel comfortable playing. The key is to use your skill in the best variations to your advantage, and try not to show your weakness by only playing above average hands in the other variations.
Play HORSE for fun or real money at: PokerStars.
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