There are many variations of poker. Many of these variations are largely unknown, and these games are usually the easiest to beat. If you want to get a feel of some of the more popular poker games, you can consider playing HORSE poker. This game is regarded as the ultimate casino game of skill. It combines Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi, Razz 7-card stud low, Stud 7 card stud high, and Eight-or-Better. The name of the game is an acronym of these five games.
How to Play HORSE Poker
This mixed game poker can be played in traditional casinos, live dealer casinos, or just regular online gambling sites. Each of the poker variations is played for one complete rotation. The games are played in this order: Hold’em, Omaha poker, Razz, Stud, and finally Eight-or-Better. The dealer will place a card with the current game on top of the table, and they will even inform you when the game changes.
In poker online sites, you can tell when a new game starts by checking the top of the screen. The casinos usually list the current game on the screen. If you are alert, you will also be able to tell when the dealer suddenly gives you a different number of cards. For example, if you get seven cards, you can conclude that the game has shifted from Omaha poker to Razz.
Usually, each game should only complete one rotation. However, the dealer can decide to keep a single game going for a set amount of time. In HORSE poker tournaments, the game shifts every time the blind levels change. When the blind level changes in the game of Eights-or-Better, the game will switch back to Texas Hold’em.
It is important to note that HORSE poker games have fixed limits. This means the amount of bets and increases in each round is fixed. If you do not have enough chips to take your intended betting action, you will have to simply go all-in for your remaining chips.
Before joining a table of HORSE poker, you should spend some time familiarising yourself with the games. Stick to the general poker techniques and tricks in order to minimise losses and maximise winnings. Here is an overview of the five poker variations involved in this game:
Texas Hold’em
Many players are familiar with this poker variation. In this game, two cards are dealt face down to each player, and five more cards are dealt face up in three stages. Most people are used to playing this game in the no-limit format, but in this case, you will have to play it in fixed limit format.
Omaha Poker
This game is also very popular among poker players. You will be dealt four hole cards, and you have to use them to create the best 5-card hand. In the game, you will be able to use five community cards to create your best hand.
Razz Poker
In Razz poker, you will receive seven cards, and out of these, you have to select the five lowest-ranking cards. Your goal here is to get the lowest value of cards. Aces count as low cards, meaning the lowest possible combination you can get is A-2-3-4-5.
Seven Card Stud Poker
This game is played just like Razz poker, but your goal here is to get the highest ranking set of cards. Players get seven cards and have to get their best 5-card hand.
Eight-or-Better
In this game, players aspire to get the lowest possible combination or the highest possible hand. This is why the game is sometimes referred to as Hi-Lo or High-Low poker. The player who gets the highest-value hand will win half the pot, and the one who gets the lowest-value hand will win the other half. The player with the lowest hand should not have a card that is greater than 8. If no player qualifies for the lowest hand, the person with the highest hand wins the entire pot.
Conclusion
HORSE poker involves many popular poker variations. These include Texas Hold’em, Omaha poker, Razz poker, seven card stud poker, and eights-or-better. You should spend time researching these games before getting into a paid tournament. If you don’t have much experience in any of the games, you should follow the fundamental poker strategies. For example, it is inadvisable to make bluffs unnecessarily. When possible, you should also play in position. You will find it advantageous to play aggressively as this will put pressure on your opponents and force them to make poor decisions.