rules of H.O.R.S.E poker?

Question

So eight or better is it just stud high low or what?

Answer 1

Correct - high and low split the pot. Ideal strategy is to play for both the high and low to scoop the entire pot. In Super System they say to play "suited babies". Low cards that are suited give you multiple draws for a high hand such as a straight or flush, and make the low as well. There will not always be a qualifying low hand, but there will always be a high. Your low must be 5 unpaired cards 8 or below.

EDIT: He was asking specifically about the Eight or better part for stud - he is correct about that.

Answer 2

H.O.R.S.E is 5 games in one
limit Texas Holdem poker, Omaha hi/lo, Razz, 7 card Stud, and 7 card stud high low (yes that is the E)

In a cash game, blinds are the same for holdem and omaha, and the other games usually have an ante. Every time you go around the table you switch to the next game

In a tournament, the blinds/antes increase as each game changes. Blinds increase/games change every X minutes, and every time the blinds go up you change games

Stud Hi low is Seven card stud, where the best low hand (8 or better) wins half the pot. If nobody has a hand 8 or better (example 99TT357 -- the low hand would be 3579T which is a 10 high hand - so it is not a low) then no low hand will be paid, and the high hand takes the whole pot

Answer 3

H.O.R.S.E. is not one poker game, but a mixed game, a combination of poker games. They are, respectively (H)old'em, (O)maha, usually Omaha hi low split, (R)azz, a seven card stud version of lowball, (S)tud, the traditional seven card stud, and (E)ight or better seven card stud high/low split. Sometimes Razz is left out of the mix, resulting in the game being called H.O.S.E. or S.H.O.E. All the games in H.O.R.S.E are played as fixed limit but at the final table at the WSOP they only played NLT because no limit is considered best for television.

The game originally came about at a time before the poker boom, when there was sometimes a shortage of good games. Players realized if they switched games every half hour or so, they could get more players in action at once, since everyone's favorite game would be played equally over the course of the evening.

Modern professionals like the game because it dulls the advantage of specialists. These days many professionals make their living playing only one type of game, and they know it better than most other players. Many high stakes professionals may want to play with these specialists because of the action they bring, but are reluctant to play them “on their own turf.” By regularly switching the games, everyone gets a chance to use their particular skills.
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True Experts Know Many Formats
Many poker players feel that there is a difference between being a great poker player and just a great Texas Hold'em player. Because of the popularity of televised poker and the World Series main event in particular, players who have specialized in Holdem have enjoyed a coveted place among the poker elite, but long time professionals feel that unless you can play every type of poker well, you cannot truly be considered a poker expert. A game of H.O.R.S.E. separates the wheat from the chaff. If you are only good at one poker game, you will in all likelihood be eaten alive in this format. For instance a player like Jamie Gold who won the WSOP 2006 main event would do himself a big favor by staying away from H.O.R.S.E. since his most probably lacks the skills of a truly versatile player.

Of course, you don't have to be a high stakes professional to play H.O.R.S.E. This is a great way to play poker, and some online poker rooms has already H.O.R.S.E. on the menu, both as cash games and as tournaments. But be sure to read some poker site reviews so you can choose the room that suits your needs the best.
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Just playing hand after hand of Texas Holdem or Omaha may get boring after awhile, especially for players who are used to the home games of old where wild cards and unusual rules were the order of the day. Playing H.O.R.S.E. by switching games after everyone has had one deal, or after a predetermined amount of time, can breathe new life into your poker playing adventures.

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Answer 4

No!!!!, most of the time Omaha is hi/low too.

H: Holdem limit, O: Omaha hi/low limit, R: Razz limit, S:7 card stud high, E: 7 card stud eight or better (hi/low) limit.


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