HORSE poker is a unique card game that features a variety of games in one including rounds cycling between Texas hold'em, Omaha hi-lo poker, razz poker, seven-card stud and seven-card stud hi-lo. If you are interested in learning this distinct variation on classic poker play, read on to learn how to play HORSE poker.

Commonly seen in casinos, HORSE was added to the World Series of Poker in 2004. The game is also popular in online poker rooms like PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker. The name HORSE was derived from taking one letter in each of the games, Hold'em, Omaha hi-lo, Razz, Seven-card stud and hi-lo stud-Eight or better.http://www.horsepoker.net/how-to-play-horse-poker.php

Each round features a different game, with each game having a unique set of rules, hand rankings and gameplay. The games are all played with a limit, except for the final table or round which can be no limit. Blinds, or stakes, can vary based on table preference, but are uniform throughout the entire game or tournament, with the option to increase the blinds at specified intervals.http://www.pokerstars.com/poker/games/horse/

To get started playing HORSE poker, you'll need to learn how to play the different types of games including Texas hold'em, Omaha hi-lo, razz, seven-card stud and stud hi-lo.

1. The first person to the left of the dealer must bet the small blind. The next person clockwise must place the large blind.
2. The dealer gives each player two cards, face down.
3. An opening round of betting occurs, starting with the person one seat clockwise from the player who posted the large blind.
4. One card is burned, or flipped down and out of play, then the dealer places three cards face up in the center of the table to be used by each player as community cards.
5. Another round of betting occurs, starting with the player to the left of the dealer.
6. One more card is burned, then another community card, known as the turn, is placed in the center of the table.
7. Players bet again, also starting with the player to the left of the dealer.
8. One final card is burned and a fifth community card, known as the river, is placed face up on the table.
9. Players remaining in the hand bet for the final time.
10. If more than one player remains in the hand, each player flips their cards face up to show their best five-card hand using any combination of their two hole cards and the five community cards. Hands are ranked as follows:

1. The dealer button is moved one seat clockwise and the Omaha high-low round begins with the person one seat to the left posting the small blind and the person in the next seat to the left posting the large blind.
2. The dealer gives each player four cards, all face down.
3. Starting with the player one seat clockwise from the player who posted the large blind, the opening round of betting occurs.
4. One card is burned, then the flop, or three community cards, are dealt to the center of the table.
5. Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, each player bets, calls, checks or folds.
6. A second card is burned, then a fourth community card, the turn, is placed in the center of the table.
7. Players bet again, starting with the player to the left of the dealer.
8. One final community card, the river, is dealt to the center of the table.
9. Players have a final chance to bid, starting with the player to the left of the dealer.
10. If more than one player remains in the hand, the player show their cards by placing them face up on the table. Using two of their four community cards along with three of the five community cards, each player makes their best five-card hand. Hands are ranked the same as listed for Texas hold'em above to determine the high hand and the pot is split equally between the high and low hands.

1. Each player bets an ante, generally a fraction of the minimum bet or large blind amount.
2. Players are dealt two face-down cards and one face-up card.
3. The player showing the highest face-up card is required to bet the "bring-in," or opening bet. Players can call or fold the bet amount, following a clockwise manner around the table.
4. Each player receives a fourth card, placed face up in front of them.
5. The player with the lowest, or strongest, two up cards, starts the next round of betting, which follows in a clockwise manner.
6. One more face-up card is dealt to each player, known as sixth street.
7. Once again the player holding the strongest, or lowest, combination of up cards begins the round of betting.
8. A final card, placed face down, is dealt to each player.
9. The same person who opened the betting in the last round, opens the betting again.
10. If more than one player remains, the hand goes to a showdown, with each player flipping their cards up to show their best five-card low hand. Hands are ranked as follows:http://www.pokerstars.com/poker/games/razz/

1. Each player bets an ante, placing the amount into the center of the table to start the pot.
2. Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, each player receives three cards, the first two being dealt face down and the third being dealt face up.
3. Starting with the person with the lowest face-up card, the betting is opened and continues around the table in a clockwise manner.
4. Each player receives a fourth card, placed face up on their stack.
5. Again starting with the player with the lowest card combination, the betting is opened and continues around the table.
6. Fifth, sixth and seventh cards are dealt to each player, the first two face up and the final card face down, with rounds of betting separating each round of dealings.
7. If more than one player is remaining in the hand, players flip their cards face up to show their best five-card hand from their seven total cards.
8. Hands are ranked in the same fashion as in Texas hold'em with a royal flush ranking the highest, then straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair and high card.

1. Played in the same manner as seven-card stud, play opens with each player betting an ante.
2. The dealer gives each player seven cards, again in the two down, four up and one down manner, with betting rounds to separate each round of dealing after the first three cards are dealt and between each additional card after that.
3. At the end of the hand, players form their best five-card hand. Players can select a high hand, using a standard order of rankings, like in Texas hold'em, or use a low hand, making their best combination of low cards, which can contain an eight or lower only.
4. The pot is split equally between the hand with the highest rank and the hand with the lowest rank. Should no hand contain an eight or lower to qualify for the low portion of the pot, the hand ranking the highest will win the entire pot.