Did you know that there is a poker game called H.O.R.S.E?
Well there is...
A h.o.r.s.e. poker tournament...
is a poker game consisting of
rounds of play of several different types of poker.
- H - Hold 'em (Texas Hold 'em)
- 0 - Omaha eight or better
- R - Razz
- S - Stud (Seven Card Variety)
- E - Eight or better (Seven Card Stud)
HORSE Poker Structure
HORSE is always played in a fixed limit structure, and there can be a maximum of eight players at the table because Seven Card Stud can only accommodate eight total players (players receive more cards in Seven Stud, so it is easy to exhaust the deck with nine players).
HORSE tables are referred to by their betting stakes. For example, a $1/$2 table would have a small bet of $1 and a big bet of $2. Depending on what game you are playing at the moment, HORSE may use blinds or antes. The rotation of the games is decided upon by either a time limit or a hands limit for each game.
The Rotation
Many casinos and poker sites handle the rotation of games differently. For example, in the WSOP HORSE event each game is played for one hour rounds, then play switches to the next game. However, on many poker sites like PokerStars, play switches every eight hands, which results in game switches every five minutes or so.
This affects play because in hour long rounds, a Hold'em specialist could accumulate chips during the Hold'em hour, then protect them during the other rounds, but if games are switching every eight hands you need to be able to play every game effectively or you will never get in a rhythm.