HORSE Poker and Where To Play Online
HORSE Poker is a combination of five different variations of poker; Limit Holdem, Omaha Hi/Lo, Razz, 7 Card Stud and 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo also known as Eight or Better. Over recent years it has become what many players consider to be the true test of a poker player. The truth of the matter is that good HORSE players are few and far between with most players specializing in certain games and having a limited understanding of the others. Usually the strongest rounds are Holdem and 7 Card Stud. Being able to play all five games to a high standard would give you a big edge in most HORSE poker games both on and offline.
HORSE always starts with a round of Limit Holdem which is followed by a round of Omaha Hi/Lo, a round of Razz (The R In H.O.R.S.E), a 7 Card Stud round and finally a round of 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo. When the game changes between Omaha Hi/Lo and Razz the button is frozen, as Razz, 7 Card Stud and 7 Card Stud hi/Lo all uses ante as opposed to small and big blinds. This is done so that no one at the table has to pay more blinds and no one skips their blinds.
One of the main reasons HORSE has become so popular, especially among high stakes players, is that by including five different games in one it reduces the edge certain players at the table have. Just because you are good at Holdem and say Razz Poker, a lowball poker game, doesn’t mean you’ll be good at 7 Card Stud, Omaha Hi/Lo and 7 card stud Hi/Lo. Basically by playing HORSE as opposed to just one game the playing fields can be leveled somewhat.
HORSE has seen a recent Spike in popularity ever since the $50,000 World series of Poker HORSE tournament was added in 2006. There are now even dedicated websites which focus on HORSE and deliver just HORSE poker news. The high buy in and skills needed to enter makes it one of the most well covered and exciting star studded fields that the WSOP has to offer. Many now consider the HORSE event to be the Main Event at the World Series of Poker. The following list shows all players who have won the $50,000 World championship of HORSE event.
2009 David Bach – $1,276,806
2008 Scotty Nguyen – $1,989,120
2007 Freddy Deeb – $2,276,832
2006 Chip Reese – $1,716,000
Where To Play HORSE online
Pokerstars.com is the number one place to play HORSE online. They have round the clock HORSE poker action with cash games starting at the 10c/20c level and going right up $1,000/$2,000. There is good action between 10c/20c and $3/$6 but higher stakes action can be a little sporadic.
Sit and go HORSE poker action is good at the lower limits between $3.40 and $16 levels, higher stakes sit and go’s run during peak hours. Heads up HORSE sit and go tournaments are also available and start at the $2.20 level going right up to $1,030 level.
HORSE multi table tournaments are actually really popular on Pokerstars who run various guaranteed HORSE tournaments including the $1k, $1.5k, $3k and $20k guaranteed MTT’s. Low stakes HORSE tournaments normally get 150+ runners and the pinnacle of the HORSE tournament schedule at Pokerstars the $20k $215 HORSE tournament gets between 120 and 150 runners. HORSE is also included in the Pokerstars World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) every year as well as the Summer Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP).
– Get your HORSE Poker career started by visiting the Pokerstars Website.
