Horse poker is a game for the poker player who has been around the block a time or two and is looking to flex their poker muscle at multiple poker games.  Horse poker is played in five separate rounds – each round consisting of a different poker game.  H.O.R.S.E is an acronym for: Holdem (H), Omaha (O), Razz (R), Seven card (S) and Eights or better seven card (E).  Playing horse poker requires that you know how to play all five games in the mix, so let’s review the five poker games that make up horse poker.

Rules for Holdem

1.    The small and big blinds are seated to the dealer’s left; these players must make an initial bet before the cards are dealt.

2.    The dealer will deal two hole cards to each player at the Holdem table, face down.

3.    The player to the big blind’s left will make the initial move.  Bets will continue in a clockwise rotation around the table.

4.    After bets are made, three community cards are dealt into the center of the table.  These cards can be used to form hands by each player.  This part of the game is called the flop.

5.    Post-flop betting begins with the player to the dealer’s left.

6.    A fourth card is dealt into the community cards, which is the fourth street card or turn card.

7.    Betting follows the turn.

8.    A final card is dealt facing up, which is called the fifth street card or river card.

9.    Final bets are placed.  The best five card hand that is made up of hole cards and community cards wins the pot.

Rules for Omaha

Omaha is played in an identical fashion as Holdem, with a few exceptions.  Players are initially dealt four hole cards.  Another difference is that the showdown that happens after the fifth street or river card is deal will involve hands being judged that are made up of two hole cards and three community cards only.

Rules for Razz Poker

Razz poker is played in an identical manner to seven card stud – with the inverse being that the worst or lowest hand is the winning hand.  The best possible razz poker hand is one that consists of ace, two, three, four, and five – which is also know as a bike or wheel hand.  Straights and flushes do not count against the player in razz, and aces are the always high cards.

Rules for Seven Card Stud High

•    There is a forced ante in seven card stud high that all players must make before cards are dealt.

•    The dealer will deal to his left – giving each player two hole cards and one porch card (card that faces up and is visible to all players).

•    The player with the lowest showing porch card makes a bet at the lower limits of the game; this player is also known as the bring-in.  Play will continue from the bring-in’s left.  Players may call, raise, or fold.

•    Another card follows the betting round, and another porch card is dealt out on what is now called fourth street, or the turn.

•    Now the player with the highest porch card will act first, and it will remain like that for remaining rounds.  Another round of betting ensues.

•    The fifth card is now dealt facing up, followed by more betting; the sixth card is then dealt facing up, again, followed by more betting.  These are called the fifth and sixth streets in the game.

•    The final card of the game is deal facing down, and is known as the seventh street card.  A last betting round occurs, which is immediately followed by the show down where the player with the best seven card traditional poker hand will win.

Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo Rules

The above rules for seven card stud high apply to seven card stud high-low with the exception that the pot is split between the player with the low hand and the player with the high hand (eights or better).