If you can play poker games besides no-limit hold ’em, you can play H.O.R.S.E. If you can’t, you can always learn. Many of today’s players are looking for interesting new poker tournament opportunities and H.O.R.S.E. tournaments can provide them. In H.O.R.S.E., players play five different games in rotation over the course of the tournament, giving them a chance to showcase all of their poker skills.
Advanced Tips to Know in H.O.R.S.E.: Game Proficiency
Some people may think that if they are very good in a couple of the games, they can excel in H.O.R.S.E. They think that if they are good at hold’em, they can just hold on until the hold’em portion and collect chips. Unfortunately, it doesn’t really work that way. For one, these are limit games, so it’s not as if you can double your stack every time hold’em comes around. For another, with the blinds rising with every change of the game, you cannot afford to just wait around for your game. The reality is it is probably better to have average proficiency in all the games than to excel at just one.
Advanced Tips to Know in H.O.R.S.E.: Bluffing
As with most games with a limited structure, bluffing can be a challenge. In many situations, bluffing on the river is extremely ill-advised, because there is so much money in the pot that a player will feel obligated to call even if he is almost certain he is beaten. A good time to try bluffing is on 3rd street in a stud game, when you have an extremely strong up card and everyone has folded to you, you may be able to steal with a raise. You can also try bluffing in hold’em if you have raised pre-flop and gotten one caller. On a bad flop, a bet may be able to take the pot away from your opponent if he missed it since there isn’t that much in the pot yet.
Advanced Tips to Know in H.O.R.S.E.: Hand Selection
As in all poker games, good hand selection is key, especially in limit poker. Try to start with two big cards or a pair in hold’em, three quality cards in stud games, and four cards that can make multiple potential nuts combinations in Omaha.
