The Festival Series Explains: H.O.R.S.E and H.O.R.S.E.S


The Festivals Series is all about poker, and not just about No-Limit Hold'em! Mixed Games are taking possession of half of the tournament schedule, and the majority of the players come to our events mainly for these games. Of course, all our flagship tournaments are No-Limit Hold'em based, simply because they are still the most popular games in the world. On this page, we will try and explain you everything you need to know about the mixed games format called H.O.R.S.E, as well as H.O.R.S.E.S. That last format, only exists on our series, and has been part of the tournament schedule ever since Bratislava 2023.
H.O.R.S.E. poker is a mix of five different poker games played in rotation. The name “H.O.R.S.E.” comes from the initials of the five games: Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, Stud, and Eight-or-Better (also called Stud Hi-Lo). It’s one of the most popular mixed-game formats and has been part of our tournament schedule from the very beginning. Let’s break down each game and how they work, with the additional Sviten Special mentioned as well, to make it H.O.R.S.E.S!
- Hold’em
- Omaha Hi-Lo
- Razz
- Stud
- Eight-or-Better (also called Stud Hi-Lo)
- Sviten Special
H - Texas Hold’em
In Texas Hold’em, each player gets two cards, and there are five community cards on the table. The goal is to make the best five-card hand using any combination of your two cards and the community cards. Limit Texas Hold'em poker requires a different approach compared to No-Limit Hold'em. We will try to give you a few indications of why you have to consider things differently in this game.
Tips: First of all, it is hard to push other players out of pots, meaning that you should play more tight, especially in early positions. Bluffing is less effective because bets are limited, The 'value part' becomes more important here as you would want to focus on extracting value from weaker hands more often. To have a position on your opponent is perhaps not as important as in No-Limit, but it still plays a big role.
Overplaying your big hands doesn't happen often in Limit poker. Be prepared to fold your cards when the board is getting dangerous. On the other hand, it's important to protect your hand, you don't want to give your opponent the draws for free! Just like any other mixed game format, it is very important to understand your opponents, because not everyone is skilled in every format of mixed games!

O - Omaha Hi-Lo
Omaha Hi-Lo is like Hold’em but with a twist. You get four cards instead of two, and you must use two cards from your hand and three cards from the community cards to make your hand. The "Hi-Lo" part means the pot is split between the best high hand and the best low hand. A low hand is five cards ranked 8 or lower, without pairs.
Tips: Omaha Hi-Lo is a poker variant where the pot is split between the best high hand and the best low hand, making it very important to play for both pots with your hole cards. Strong starting hands like A-A-2-3 or A-2-K-K are beneficial in this case, as they give you options to have the best hands for both pots more often. The position is vital in all poker formats, so it is for Omaha Hi-Lo. Even more perhaps, as you have to figure out more as your opponents have four cards and not two. One fatal error that many players make is not paying attention enough to the board; when there are no three cards ranked 8 or lower, there isn't a low pot!
Controlling the pot sizes is important unless you have strong equity, and always adapt your style of play to your opponents' tendencies. Also, be mindful of getting 'quartered', meaning that you share the low pot for example with another player. Focusing on a strong hand selection can work, chasing the nuts. All-in-all, a very interesting and dynamic format!
R - Razz
Razz is a "lowball" game where the worst hand wins. Straights and flushes don’t count against you, so A-2-3-4-5 is the best hand. The goal is to make the lowest possible five-card hand.
Tips: If you'd ask us; then Razz poker is the easiest mixed game to understand if you aren't familiar with any other game as hold'em. It's the one game where straights and flushes don't count against you. As mentioned, A-2-3-4-5 is the best hand, and this should always be your aim. You get dealt three cards at first (the first two are face down, third is face-up) and strong starting hands are like A-2-3 or A-4-6. This brings you already the first point, to pay attention to the face-up cards of your opponents. It's important to fold your hand when you are already behind, to avoid getting sucked in and losing even more.
'Stealing' is important in Razz. Whenever you have the option to steal antes and bring-ins, go for it! Players get seven cards, many are chasing the best hand possible. Don't overvalue middle cards too often, as your opponent can have hole cards which are often better. If you have a strong hand, play aggressively all the way, just because people are chasing often here, but stay disciplined as Razz is a game of patience. If there is one game where you can always do damage, even with just a couple of blinds, then it's with Razz!

S - Seven-Card Stud
Seven-Card Stud is different because there are no community cards. Each player gets seven cards, but only their best five-card hand matters. You get some cards face down (only you can see them) and others face up (everyone can see them). The goal is to make the best traditional poker hand.
Tips: Seven-Card Stud is a classic poker game where there are no community cards, and each player receives seven cards in total—three face-down and four face-up. The key to success in Seven-Card Stud is understanding hand strength based on the visible cards and recognizing when to fold, call, or raise. Start with strong hands, such as high pairs or suited connectors, and pay close attention to your opponents' upcards. If you see an opponent with a high pair showing early, it’s important to be cautious, as they could be building a strong hand. It’s also essential to read the table and determine what hands your opponents are likely to have based on the cards they show (Read: Count cards!)
Another important strategy in Seven-Card Stud is to play aggressively with strong hands and to be willing to fold if the hand is not improving. Keep track of which cards have already been folded, as this information helps you what hands are still likely in play. Remind yourself, position in poker is key, also in Stud poker. Being one of the last to act gives you so much information on how others are betting, and what they actually have or are chasing for.

E - Eight-or-Better (Stud Hi-Lo)
Eight-or-Better, also known as Stud Hi-Lo, is another split-pot game like Omaha Hi-Lo, but it’s played with the rules of Stud. Players try to make the best high hand and the best low hand. A low hand must be five cards ranked 8 or lower, just like in Omaha Hi-Lo.
Tips: In Eight-or-Better (Stud Hi-Lo), aim to build both a strong high hand and a low hand (8 or lower, no pairs). Starting hands like A-2-3-4-5 are ideal for making a low hand while also having the potential for a high hand. Watch your opponents' upcards to decide whether to chase the low or high pot. If many high cards are showing, focus on the high pot. Be cautious of getting "quartered," where you share the low pot with another player. Always look for opportunities to scoop both pots, but know when to fold if your hand isn't strong enough to win either half.
S - Sviten Special (Drawmaha)
Sviten Special, invented in Sweden, is a mixed poker format that alternates between 5-card Draw and Omaha. This format requires skills of all formats, and is often practised by the real mixed games degens!
Tips: In Sviten Special it's crucial to adapt your strategy because the game can be seen as a combination of 5-Card Draw and Omaha. In 5-Card Draw, focus on drawing a good hand while still keeping your options open for Omaha. While in Omaha, prioritize hands that work for high pots. Adjust your strategy quickly between formats and stay aware of pot odds and position to maximize your chances. This is a game invented for players who are very well all-rounded, especially players from the Nordics who basically grew up with these games. To give you more detailed tips, it is recommended to watch the tutorial below from Peter La Terra.
Conclusion
H.O.R.S.E. and H.O.R.S.E.S. are a test of skill. Unlike regular poker games such as Hold'em and Omaha, you need to be decent at various poker formats. If you struggle with one of the formats, it becomes very tough. Especially if you have players around who notice this. Because of the mix of games, relying on luck (which is never good) is harder as well. It's a game of experienced card players, be always aware of that.
It's not without a reason that H.O.R.S.E. is one of the most played formats in high-stakes cash games as well as the larger tournaments in the world. The World Series for example, always has this format included in the schedule. It's also logical that it's more being played in higher stakes, as it simply takes too much time to learn all the formats for just casual games.
If you are planning to play H.O.R.S.E and get used to the rules and gameplay, try low buy-in tournaments. Stay patient, and look around. At The Festival Series, it's one of the ideal moments to get in touch with this format. Mixed Games are fun and challenging, and they keep it all entertaining.







