HORSE poker is one game made up of several, including bouts of Texas Holdem, Omaha Eight, Razz (low card), Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud Eight. Limit betting is the rule in HORSE but some tournaments do away with this to rev up the play as the end of the tournament nears. HORSE is a predominant game at the World Series of Poker and can be found in games with high stakes in order to challenge the knowledge and talent of players in multiple games. HORSE is probably the foremost game for the expert players as it demands a thorough understanding of multiple games and their rules and betting strategies.

If you are not a regular at the combination game tables, do not go forth without a firm grasp of the rules before placing that initial bet Even though largely a limit game, you will often observe lavish pots and bets in HORSE as a consequence of its fast paced play. Limits begin at $2/4 and reach much higher and whatever limit is in force remains so across all rounds. Because casinos cater to all levels of poker expertise, they offer HORSE tables that run the limit gamut from low to high.

The Workings of HORSE

If you are only familiar with one of the games that make up HORSE, play the lower limit tables. The type of game changes with each turn of the dealer button and up to ten hands of each poker variation are played before going on to the next one. Because you will be playing so many poker types, you need to fully comprehend each of the variants. The same basic premise of each game is present in HORSE poker, but your strategy should be adjusted to bet high on your strongest poker type and low on your weakest. HORSE is found at table games and tournament play. These are the combinations that exist in HORSE:

*Texas Holdem Poker

This is most popular of the poker variations and is the highlight of the World Series of Poker. The object of this round-based game is to compile the highest five-card hand from five community cards and two hole cards. A player is allowed the use of none of his hands, one or both to get to the highest hand at showdown.

*Omaha Eight

Four cards are dealt to each player and at least two of these cards combined with any three of five community cards must be part of the structure of the highest hand. Showdown pots are divided equally between the lowest and highest hands. The low hands must consist of cards between aces and eights.

*Razz

An odd form of poker in that the lowest hand gets the pot. This is similar to the low part of Omaha but there are no hand limits on the low hand. The one with the lowest high card or pair usually comes out ahead, but a superior bluffer has also been known to rule in Razz as well.

*Seven Card Stud

Another popular form of the game, where cards are dealt one at a time, some hidden, some visible. He who holds the highest-five card hand is king of the pot.

*Seven Card Stud Eight Hi-Lo

This one is similar to Seven Card Stud but it includes in its play a split pot, split between the lowest hand (with all card values below and the highest hand.

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