Horse Poker Guide - What is H.O.R.S.E Poker?

HORSE Poker is a ‘mixed’ poker game in which several limit poker variants are played. This form of poker has a rich history dating back to the early cowboy ‘Stud-Horse’ poker games. It is also considered one of the premier events at the World Series Of Poker. This article gives and overview of HORSE poker and its history.

H-Hold Em
O-Omaha
R-Razz
S-Seven Card Stud
E-Eight or Better 7 Card Stud

There are 5 poker variants played in HORSE. These are Texas Holdem, Omaha 8-or-better, Razz, 7-Card Stud and 7 Card Stud Eight or better. The mixture of community card games (Holdem and Omaha), with the 3 stud variants and the two split-pot (hi-lo 8 or better) games keep this an all-round test of poker skills. Specialists in any one of the games offered will have a chance to make their edge pay only once every 5 rounds.

This poker variant is usually played with fixed limit betting and is most commonly found in cash game format. The most famous HORSE game is the ‘big game’ in Bobbie’s room in the Bellagio casino. Here the world’s best poker professionals such as Doyle Brunson, Chip Reese and Phil Ivey can be regularly found playing mixed poker games including HORSE and many other variations.
More recently, HORSE tournament play has become more popular online with many sites offering these games at a wide variety of buy-in levels. Tournament play differs from cash game play in that the change-over in the poker games played is timed (along with the blind level increases), instead of being after a fixed number of hands – as is the norm for cash games. This game is also played in ‘HOSE’ format, with the Razz (lowball stud) game removed.
From its roots in the early forms of poker, played by cowboys in the mid-west, HORSE has become one of the most prestigious titles at the World Series of Poker. The buy-in for this event is the highest of any World Series tournament at $50,000. This ensures that only the cream of the world’s poker professionals are involved. The fact that the ‘Main Event’ fields are so large and that the mixed game format of the HORSE tournament is considered a broad test of poker skill has lead some commentators to suggest that the winner of this event can actually be considered the ‘true’ world champion.

To summarize, HORSE is a fun poker variant in which 5 separate poker games are played. Its roots come from the earliest poker games in the mid-west right up to the modern day $50k World Series event. This form of poker is most commonly found with fixed limit betting and in cash game format – offering a good all-round test of poker skills as it is rare to find players specializing in all 5 games.