How to win
Adjust to five poker formats: Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, Razz, Seven-Card Stud high, and Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better.
Deal and forced bets
The table displays the active game and the next game. The rotation advances after a dealer orbit, and each round uses fixed-limit betting.
From deal to showdown
H.O.R.S.E. rules step by step
- 01
H: Fixed-Limit Hold'em
Play two hole cards and a five-card board through preflop, flop, turn, and river rounds. Standard high hand wins.
- 02
O: Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better
Receive four cards and use exactly two with three board cards. Best high and qualifying low split the pot.
- 03
R: Razz
Play seven-card stud for ace-to-five low. Straights and flushes are ignored; pairs hurt.
- 04
S: Seven-Card Stud
Play seven individual cards for the strongest five-card high hand, with antes, a bring-in, and exposed boards.
- 05
E: Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better
Use the Stud deal, but split the pot between the best high and a qualifying five-card low of 8 or better.
- 06
Complete the dealer orbit
The same game remains active through the orbit. The interface shows the current and next round so players can prepare.
- 07
Repeat the rotation
After the E round, the table returns to H. Chips and seats carry across every game in the mix.
Showdown reference
H.O.R.S.E. hand rankings by round
-
RANK 1
H and S high rounds
Use standard high rankings from royal flush through high card.
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RANK 2
High: Royal Flush
A-K-Q-J-10 in one suit: the highest possible straight flush.
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RANK 3
High: Straight Flush
Five consecutive ranks in one suit. Compare the highest card.
-
RANK 4
High: Four of a Kind
Four cards of one rank, plus one kicker.
-
RANK 5
High: Full House
Three cards of one rank plus two cards of another rank.
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RANK 6
High: Flush
Five cards in one suit that are not consecutive.
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RANK 7
High: Straight
Five consecutive ranks in mixed suits.
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RANK 8
High: Three of a Kind
Three cards of one rank plus two unmatched cards.
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RANK 9
High: Two Pair
Two cards of one rank, two of another, plus one kicker.
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RANK 10
High: One Pair
Two cards of one rank plus three unmatched cards.
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RANK 11
High: High Card
No made hand above; compare the highest cards in order.
-
RANK 12
O and E low: Five-low (the wheel)
Best: A-2-3-4-5. Aces are low, and straights and flushes are ignored. Omaha uses exactly two hole cards and three board cards; Stud Hi-Lo chooses from seven individual cards.
-
RANK 13
O and E low: Six-low
A five-card hand headed by a 6; 6-4-3-2-A is the best six-low. Omaha uses exactly two hole cards and three board cards; Stud Hi-Lo chooses from seven individual cards.
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RANK 14
O and E low: Seven-low
A five-card hand headed by a 7. Compare the next cards from high to low. Omaha uses exactly two hole cards and three board cards; Stud Hi-Lo chooses from seven individual cards.
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RANK 15
O and E low: Eight-low
A five-card hand headed by an 8. In eight-or-better games, this is the weakest qualifying low. Omaha uses exactly two hole cards and three board cards; Stud Hi-Lo chooses from seven individual cards.
-
RANK 16
Razz: Five-low (the wheel)
Best: A-2-3-4-5. Aces are low, and straights and flushes are ignored.
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RANK 17
Razz: Six-low
A five-card hand headed by a 6; 6-4-3-2-A is the best six-low.
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RANK 18
Razz: Seven-low
A five-card hand headed by a 7. Compare the next cards from high to low.
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RANK 19
Razz: Eight-low
A five-card hand headed by an 8. In eight-or-better games, this is the weakest qualifying low.
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RANK 20
Razz: Nine-low through king-low
Valid in Razz, but they do not qualify for an eight-or-better split pot.
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RANK 21
Razz: Paired hands
Pairs hurt the low. One pair loses to every five-card unpaired low.
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RANK 22
Razz: Two pair, trips, full houses, and quads
Repeated ranks make progressively weaker ace-to-five low hands.
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RANK 23
No qualifying O or E low
If no five-card ace-to-five low of 8 or better exists, the best high hand wins the full Omaha Hi-Lo or Stud Hi-Lo pot.
Practical decisions
H.O.R.S.E. strategy and best tips
General starting points for casual play—not a promise of results.
Know the next game before it starts
The table names both current and next rounds. Use that notice to reset hand-selection and ranking rules.
Protect chips in weaker disciplines
Mixed games reward consistency. Tight, rule-correct decisions in an unfamiliar round can be better than forcing action.
Separate high-only and split-pot thinking
In O and E, two-way hands can scoop. In H and S, only high matters. In R, only low matters.
Track exposed cards in stud rounds
Visible cards matter in R, S, and E. Reset the information you track when the rotation returns to a community-card game.
Use fixed-limit discipline
Limits cap each individual wager but not the total number of costly streets. Fold weak draws rather than paying automatically.
Common H.O.R.S.E. mistakes
- Applying one game’s hand-building rule to the next round.
- Forgetting the exact two-hole-card requirement in Omaha Hi-Lo.
- Treating straights or flushes as bad in Razz but not in Stud Hi-Lo low.
- Missing the current and next-game indicator before acting.
Host H.O.R.S.E. on Poker Friends
- Open the table setup. Use the create-table button below. H.O.R.S.E. is selected for you.
- Choose your table settings. Enter a nickname and table name, review the virtual-chip settings and player limit, and set a password if you want one. Then select Start Table.
- Invite your friends. Share the resulting table link or six-character game code. If you set a password, share it with your invited players too.
All chips are virtual and have no cash value. No deposit or download is required.
Keep learning
Related poker guides
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Two private cards, five community cards, and four betting rounds.
Read the complete guide →Pot-Limit Omaha
Four private cards, but exactly two must play at showdown.
Read the complete guide →Short Deck Hold'em
Hold'em with a 36-card deck, antes, and adjusted hand rankings.
Read the complete guide →Play H.O.R.S.E. for free
Create a play-money table with H.O.R.S.E. already selected, then invite your friends. No rake, deposit, payment, or credit card is required.