HORSE Online Poker: Australian Playing Guide

HORSE is a mixed poker game made up of five games in one: Texas Hold'em (H), Omaha Hi-Lo (O), Razz (R), Stud (S) and Stud Eight-or-Better (E). HORSE is usually played in Limit or Fixed Limit format, and you'll find cash games online to suit all wallets.

HORSE has grown from its early roots to become one of the most popular mixed games in the world. For a few dollars you can sit down at HORSE cash games online or register for a big-money guaranteed tournament. And if you have $50,000 to hand, you'll be able to go for the most prestigious WSOP bracelet in the schedule.

Our experts will offer you the chance to:

• Find full and fishy online poker sites with H.O.R.S.E play
• Learn how to play H.O.R.S.E with our easy to understand quick guide
• Safe deposits and quick and easy withdrawals

The best HORSE poker rooms can be found at .

How To Play HORSE Online

HORSE is actually five poker games in one, and tests the all-round skills of its players: Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Razz, Stud and Stud Eight-or-Better.

Players play one orbit of the table in each variant. Once the dealer button has come full circle, the discipline changes. Betting is typically done in a Limit format, although some online sites prefer a mix of Fixed Limit/Pot Limit, depending on the game.

What is certain is that players need a good all-round grasp of all the variants: it's no good just being good at Hold'em as that only forms one orbit of a HORSE game. It's vital to have a handle on community games like Omaha and Hold'em, and Stud games like Razz and Eight-or-Better.

Round 1: Texas Hold'em

The 'Cadillac of Poker' kicks off a game of HORSE. Players are dealt two cards face down, and must make the best five-card poker hand with any of their hole cards and five community cards on the board. The Hold'em round is played Limit or Pot Limit.

Round 2: Omaha Hi-Lo

Another community game, Omaha Hi-Lo is played with four hole cards instead of two. Players still make the best five-card poker hand using community cards, but they MUST use two of their own cards. Again, betting is usually Limit or Pot Limit. In Hi-Lo, there is the potential for players to split pots between the highest five-card hard and the lowest qualifying hand (five cards 8 or less).

Round 3: Razz

Razz is a lowball form of 7-card Stud where the worst, or lowest, hand wins. The best hand in Razz is 'the wheel': A-2-3-4-5. Two cards are dealt face down to each player, and one card face up. Rounds of betting take place, with players receiving three more up-cards each. A final card is dealt face down to each player to form a 7-card hand.

Round 4: 7-card Stud/Stud Hi

Stud Hi is the opposite of Razz: players must get the highest, or best, five-card poker hand possible from their seven cards. While the betting in Razz is started by the player with the highest up-card showing, in Stud the lowest up-card kicks off the first round of betting.

Round 5: Stud Eight-or-Better/Stud Hi-Lo

Like Omaha Hi-Lo, Stud Eight-or-Better is a game where pots can potentially be split at showdown. Players must aim to hit both the highest AND the lowest five-card hands. The best low hand is, as in Razz, the wheel of A-2-3-4-5.

Trying Out Freeplay HORSE Online

HORSE requires a lot of attention, both to good starting hands, and to the variant you're currently playing. There's nothing worse than playing a hand as Razz only to discover the round has changed to Stud Eight or Better.

Luckily, many Australian poker sites feature a good range of HORSE cash games and tournaments that you can play for free. These are great for learning the ropes and trying out a few key moves.

Whatever games you play, kick things off with a handy list of premium starting hands for each discipline. These will help you employ a sensible and solid game plan when you move to real-money games.

Take A Shot At A GTD Prizepool

Even Aussies with small wallets can take a shot at a mixed tournament online. With just a few bucks you can win a share of a big prizepool at the bigger poker rooms. Remember that most recreational players still haven't mastered Hold'em or Omaha, let alone know how to play Stud, Razz or Eight-or-Better.

Learn the basics, get a grasp of starting hands, and know how to pull a few bluffs when you switch variations between rounds. Then hit the online tables and see where your skills will take you.