Learn HORSE Poker Rules - Revealing....

If you are looking for a Poker game that will remind you of a Christmas stocking, filled with exciting goodies, it may be time you tried your hand at HORSE Poker. HORSE Poker is a mixed poker game made up of 5 different fixed limit Poker games. The games you will find when playing HORSE Poker are; Holdem, Omaha, Razz, Stud and stud Eights or better. Mixed Poker games are great for players who like a variety of games and who like to keep things different. You will find HORSE Poker games available in fixed limit ring game, fixed limit sit and go and fixed limit multi-table tournament structures. As you will notice, all of the different games are played in fixed limit structure. Each game will be played for 8 hands, starting with H and moving through to E and starting again.

H in HORSE Stands for Fixed Limit Texas Holdem -

In Texas Holdem, there is a small blind and a big blind, the small blind being to the left of the player with the dealer button and the big blind being to the left of the small blind. Once the blinds are paid, all players, starting with the small blind and finishing with the dealer button will receive 2 hole cards. Once all players have received their cards, the action will start with the player to the left of the big blind and follow around the table clockwise until all bets are called. Then the dealer will deal the flop, which is the first 3 community cards, followed by a betting round starting with the small blind or the player closest to the left of the dealer button. Next the dealer will deal the turn card, which is the fourth community card, followed by another betting round. Finally the dealer will deal the river card which is the fifth and final community card followed by the final betting round and showdown.

O in HORSE Stands for Fixed Limit Omaha Hi-Lo -

Omaha is very similar to Texas Holdem, however the differences are quite major, like the fact that instead of getting 2 hole cards, you get 4 hole cards. The blinds and betting structure are the same, as well as the names and amount of community cards(5) that players will share. Another big difference in Omaha Hi-Lo is that you will be looking for both the highest possible hand and the lowest possible hand. The pot will be split in two with one half being paid to the player with the high hand and the other half to the player with the low hand. If you have both the high and the low hand, or if there is no qualifying low hand(5 cards under 8), you will get both halves, this is called scooping the pot. Something else that makes Omaha Poker unique is the fact that you must use only 2 of your 4 hole cards and only 3 of the 5 community cards to make your best and worst 5 card hands. You do not have to use the same 2 cards for both the low and the high end, instead you will have the chance to pick the 2 best for the high hand and the 2 best for the low end.

R in HORSE stands for Fixed Limit Razz

Razz is a 7 Card Stud low ball game, meaning that you will be looking for the worst possible 5 card hand out of the 7 cards that are dealt to you. The best hand to get when playing Razz is the wheel straight, A, 2, 3, 4, 5. Straights and flushes do not count against you when playing Razz. Antes and bring in bets are played the same as in regular 7 Card Stud Poker, but instead of the player with the lowest card being forced to bring in, the player with the highest card will be the forced bring in bet player. The dealing and betting structure of Razz is the same as any other 7 Card Stud game.

S in HORSE stands for Fixed Limit 7 Card Stud

Seven Card Stud Poker is the game that is played the most when playing HORSE Poker as it is the R, S and E of HORSE. In 7 Card Stud, before any cards are dealt, all players are required to place an ante bet on the table. Once all antes have been placed, the dealer will deal each player 3 cards starting with the player to the left of the dealer button and continuing clockwise, ending with the dealer. Once all players have 3 cards(your first 2 cards will be face down so only you can see them and the third card will be face up for all to see), the player with the lowest card will always be the player that is forced to make a bring in bet, forced action assures that there will be money added to the pot. Once all bets have been called, the dealer will deal each player a second face up card, known as fourth street, followed by another betting round. Once the second betting round is complete, the dealer will deal all players left in the hand their third face up card, known as fifth street, followed by the third betting round. Once all bets have been met, the dealer will deal all remaining players their fourth and final face up card known as sixth street, followed by the fourth betting round. After the fourth betting round is complete, all players remaining will receive their final card face down and then the fifth and final betting round will take place, followed by a showdown.

E in HORSE stands for Limit 7 Card Stud Eights or Better

7 Card Stud 8s or Better is played with the same dealing and betting structure as any other 7 Card Stud Variant. Many people are often confused by what 7 Card Stud Eights or Better is and how it is played because of the 8's or better part. What the eights or better actually means is that this is 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo, which means you will be going for both the best and the worst possible 5 card Poker hand out of your 7 cards. Everything about the game is just the same as it's parent game, except that the pot is split in 2, with half going to the high hand and half going to the low hand. Of course, it is always possible to have both the high and the low hand and win the entire pot, which is called scooping. Also, if you have the best high hand and none of the players have a hand with 5 cards below an 8, there will be no qualifying low hand and you will scoop the entire pot.