The Festival Series Explains: TORSES
The Festival Series loves mixed games, and that is why there is not only a Hold’em Main Event, but also a TORSES Main Event and numbers for this event are growing every single time. If you are looking for a crash course into the different games, look no further, as we will briefly explain the games in this article.
From H.O.R.S.E. into TORSES
H.O.R.S.E is probably the first popular mixed game variation ever played and slowly transitioned from a popular high stakes cashgame format to a popular tournament format with WSOP events in the early 2000s. While we added Sviten to the traditional H.O.R.S.E. mix to get our first organised HORSES events, it was clear we wanted some more changes. As Half of the Festival is already about Hold’em, that game was removed and replaced by the great game of 2-7 Triple Draw.
That makes this the full list of games in a TORSES tournament:
- 2-7 Triple Draw
- Omaha Hi-Lo
- Razz
- Stud
- Stud Hi-Lo (also called Stud Eight or better
- Sviten
Betting Structure
While of course some changes could be made in the future, TORSES is traditionally played Fixed Limit. This means that there are no other bet sizes possible other than the fixed limits.
In live fixed-limit games, there’s a common cap of one bet + three raises per betting round (so up to 4 total “bets” in that round), though house rules may vary. There are small bets and big bets, which are determined by the tournament clock and which bet is being used depends on the progression of the hand.
In Board games (Omaha Hi Lo, Sviten) there are only small bets preflop and on the flop (the Small bet is the same value as the Big Blind that needs to be posted). On Turn and river the bet size is the big bet.
In Stud games (Stud, Stud Hi-Lo, Razz) all players also place an ante and one player has to post the bring-in. If players want to ‘complete’ (the first raise), this is to the value of the small bet. On 4th street (where every player has 4 cards) the small bets are in place, while in all later streets players have to place big bets.
In Draw games (2-7 Triple Draw) there are small bets preflop and after the first draw. All later rounds big bets have to be placed.
Basic tips for all the games
T - 2-7 Triple Draw
In 2-7 Triple Draw players get 3 draws to make the lowest poker hand possible. Aces are high and straights/flushes are not allowed. This means that 2-3-4-5-7 (without flush) is the best possible hand, which immediately explains the name of the game
Tips: Do not call to wide and ideally avoid having to draw too many cards. Deuces are very important in this game as it becomes a lot harder to make a good hand without a deuce!
As 2-7 is a drawing game always pay attention to how many cards your opponents are drawing. But also keep in mind that players might ‘bluff’ by not drawing even though they have a strong hand. This is called ‘snowing’ and you might hear this often at the table.
O - Omaha Hi-Lo
Omaha Hi-Lo is similar to Hold’em, but with a key twist: you’re dealt four hole cards instead of two, and you must make your hand using exactly two of your hole cards plus exactly three community cards. The “Hi-Lo” part means the pot is often split between the best high hand and the best low hand. To qualify for low, you need five unpaired cards ranked 8 or lower, with the best low combination being A-2-3-4-5.
Tips: Ideally only play hands that do well for both sides of the pot. Aces become even stronger as they are not only the highest card but also the lowest card for the low hand.
Even though there is not always a low pot (as you would need 3 unpaired low cards on the board) always be careful with cards that would only do well for Omaha but with no possible lows. Keep in mind that around 60% of the time there will be a possible low hand on the board. In a similar way also be careful with hands that only contain low cards (for example 2-3-4-5 as they might only do well for a low hand.
R - Razz
Razz is the first Stud game in the mix: Players get a total of 7 cards (starting with 2 face down and one face up, with 3 more face up and last card face down after betting action has closed every round) where they need to make the lowest possible 5-card hand. Flushes and straights do not matter in this game, so A-2-3-4-5 (a ‘wheel’) is the best possible hand in this game.
Tips: Razz is often seen as one of the most math-oriented games so make sure you pay attention to all the details you can get! Always have a look at the face-up cards of your opponents and use that information to your advantage.
Also keep in mind that opponents can see your cards: If all players have face cards showing, you could easily steal the pot, even though you have bad hole cards. But be careful to not go too crazy trying to chase draws when you are clearly behind.
Also check our great Razz guide here!
S - Stud
Stud is one of the oldest popular poker games and its popularity dates back way before no limit hold’em! In (Seven card) Stud players make their best poker hand using 5 of their total of 7 cards.
Tips: Use the exact same tips as Razz: Pay attention to your opponents cards and what they have folded. Ideally you want to start with hands that contain a pair or are high and/or connected.
Also pay attention to sudden behaviour of other players during a hand. When they start betting after getting a card, try to analyse how that card may have been helpful for them!
E - Stud Hi-Lo
Stud Hi-Lo is very similar to Omaha Hi-Lo, where players can be competing for different halves of the pot. Similar to Omaha Hi Lo a qualifying low hand is 5 unpaired cards 8 or lower, with A-2-3-4-5 being the best low hand
Tips: Similar to Omaha Hi Lo Aces are great cards in this game as they help to compete for both sides of the pot. Also pay attention to opponents and try to figure out for what part of the pot they are going for (if not for both).
If you are the only player to have a potential low and there are multiple players in the pot, try to build the pot as much as possible as you can be guaranteed half of it.
S - Sviten Special
One of the more popular games for mixed game players and unmissable during the Festival Series! Sviten is a split pot game with a combination of 5-card draw and Omaha, with one draw after the flop. Half of the pot gets awarded to the best hand in both games.
Tips: Like with all split pot games: be careful to not be playing for only half of the pot. Playing for only half the pot can be disastrous in a game like Sviten. Also check our Festival Series Explains Sviten to become more familiar with this great game!
Summary
TORSES events are great for all-round poker players who are not scared of constantly switching games. It becomes a great battle of wits where winners can feel an even bigger feeling of accomplishment after receiving the trophy.
But this does not mean that players new to some of the mixed games have to stay away from it. The Festival has a great welcoming mix game community who are always happy to help explaining the game. If you do not feel ready yet to play the TORSES Main Events during The Festival Series, dip your toes into the water with the baby TORSES event!
