How to Play Horse Poker
Horse poker is an acronym of five poker variants rolled into one.
Horse Poker Game Variants
- Holdem
- Omaha high-low (Omaha8)
- Razz (Seven card stud low)
- Stud (Seven card stud high)
- Eight-or-better (Seven card stud high-low)
To achieve consistent results at Horse poker you must appreciate the complexities of each game. It's not difficult to learn how to play Horse Poker but each variant has it's own challenges to overcome.
The switch of game can alter individual playing styles. A tight Holdem player may step up a gear when it changes to Omaha Hi/lo.
From my online Horse poker experience, I discovered that Omaha8 and Stud Hi/lo rounds destroy many chip stacks.
Players tend to whittle away their chips as they focus too intensely on low hands then get massacred though being on the wrong end of shared pots. At Hi/Lo games you can brutally punish players clinging on to low pot shares.
Levels of Play - Horse Poker
H - Most players have a texas holdem background, making it the most evenly contested game of the five.
O - Omaha8 is becoming more popular but the split pot leaves plenty of room for exploitation. Novice players often over estimate the strength of their low hand.
R - Razz is the easiest game to learn, initially. Betting is crucial and many players under estimate the the skill required, and players with losing records are still convinced Razz comes solely down to cards dealt.
S - Stud isn't as popular as Holdem, Omaha8, or Razz online but. If you can play Holdem, you should find it easy to learn. Non specialists often fail to note the cards in open play and generally enter to many hands.
E - Eight or Better, otherwise known as 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo is open to exploitation of players chasing both high and low draws.
Note: - Texas Hold'em is the game with less general mistakes to exploit but often the round which is often a game decider for many continuously battling to remain ahead of speedily returning and chipstack damaging blinds.
Also, you'll likely play about three or four times as many holdem hands as other variations. It's a faster paced game so you'll either get your dream cards, take calculated risks, or get swallowed up by the blinds.
Where to Play
Only a limited number of players are confident enough to play 5 games in a single session.
Only a limited number of poker sites have the player base to support regular horse poker games.
Pokerstars is the worlds largest site, offer more games, and attract the most online players to Horse. Pokerstars deserves it's reputation as the world's number one poker destination.
Pokerstars Marketing Code = PSP1948
FullTiltPoker is another option for keen Horse poker players. They also have a strong players base and the software displays it's own unique qualities.
Full Tilt Referral Code = HORSEPOKER
Due to player volume, site quality and server speed, Pokerstars and Fulltilt are the two sites currently worth considering for those eager to play horse poker regularly. basis.
