Horse Poker & Mixed Poker Games

I have been playing H.O.R.S.E poker and many other mixed poker games for quite some time. The key to success in mixed game play is to understand the strategies for each of the games that are included in the mixed poker variant. Horse Poker for example starts off with Texas Hold'em This is the most common poker game out there so this shouldn't be much trouble for anyone. In Horse poker it is played in the fixed limit format, which is far easier than the pot or no limit version, at least for me. The next game in H.O.R.S.E poker's line-up is Omaha Hi-Lo. This is one of my best games so I tend to win quite a bit during the Omaha hl rotation. The number of hands each game is played varies from poker room to poker room (6-10). There are basically just two rooms for mixed game players: Pokerstars and Full Tilt Poker, both of which accept U.S. players. I'm straying off topic though.

• Poker H.O.R.S.E Poker At Pokerstars! - 2010 Pokerstars.com Review

The game after Omaha HL is Razz poker, the bane of many a mixed game player. Razz is 7 card stud, only you want the lowest hand, and there is no requirement. After years of play, I still don't consider myself to be very good at Razz. Most horse poker players seem to feel the same because there is a lot of folding in Razz. I would estimate that out of 10 Razz poker hands, only 2 will go to the showdown. Bluffing and blind stealing is the key to success in Razz, but most players just try to make it through while losing as little as possible.

After Razz comes 7 card stud, another one of my favorites. You will be facing some stiff competition during the Stud rotation. Horse poker contains 3 Stud poker games so most players are pretty good with Stud. Last but not least comes 7 card Stud Hilo. I like to joke that 7 Card Stud and Razz poker had a one night stand...and Stud Hilo was born. Stud Hl pays the highest hand and the lowest, so long as it is 8 or less, just like in Omaha HL.

Other Mixed Poker Games

The major online poker rooms have been developing new and more challenging mixed poker games. 2009 was a very big year for mixed game players. Pokerstars and Full Tilt each launched their own unique, and difficult, mixed poker game. These games are 8 Game Mix and 7 Game Mix, respectively. They add a new twist by including the "mixed limit" format. That means that you'll be playing FL, PL and NL games. These game are very difficult to play well as they have alot of specific card games in them obviously, but also because you have to be able to play some games well in both fixed limit and no limit, as is the case with Texas Hold'em. These games have grown so popular that the traffic has exceeded the traffic at the horse poker tables. Horse poker has been the most played mixed game since they were invented, but that is no longer the case.

• Horse Poker

• 2010 Pokerstars.com Review