How to Play H.O.R.S.E. Poker

Poker is a game that people get together and play all across the United States and Europe. There are many forms of poker, but mostly people love to get together and gamble with their friends, at home or at casinos. As poker continues to rise in popularity thanks to T.V. shows and tournaments, more different types of poker games will rise in popularity as well. Although there is a huge assortment of different types of poker games, most people are only aware of 5 and 7 card stud, and Texas Hold ‘em. However, there also another version of poker, called H.O.R.S.E. that is catching on and offers a completely different gaming experience. Here are the basic terms, rules, and strategies for playing this fun poker game.

H.O.R.S.E. Poker Game


H.O.R.S.E. is a mixed game, meaning that it is a combination of a variety of different types of poker. This one is a mix of:

  • Texas Hold 'em
  • Omaha Hi/Lo
  • Razz
  • 7 card stud
  • 7 Card Stud 8-or-better


This kind of game is a mix of community hand, stud hand, and draw hand styles of poker. Sometimes though, the round of Razz is left out, in which case the game is called H.O.S.E.

H.O.R.S.E. Poker Rules


Each game is usually played for a pre-determined amount of time or hands and then the players will move on to the next game. Mixed games like this offer a great way to mix things up and force players to be good at all kinds of games. Players that are weak in a particular poker variation are surely going to be taken advantage of by more balanced players. All of the rules for each game apply as normal, and the player at the end with all the chips is declared the winner.

H.O.R.S.E. is often played in large poker tournaments or in casual environments. If you know how to play each of these games, then you might be interested in finding local clubs that offer H.O.R.S.E. tournaments. You could also teach your friends how to play and start your own weekly poker nights. Although the traditional games are fun to play, a bit of variation is fun.

If you don’t know how to play each game individually, you can read articles throughout this site that teach you how to play these poker variations. Texas Hold ‘em is the traditional community hand based poker game, while Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo are variations of Hold ‘em. Razz is a lowball game where the player with the lowest hand wins, while 7 card stud is the game you probably used to play as a kid with your family.

Each game has its own unique strategy and to master the mixed games you must learn how to be successful at each individually. Once you have mastered one, you can start moving on to the next until you are good enough to teach all your friends how to play or to join local tournaments. Who knows, you could become a mixed game master and start banking at the casino.