Unsolved at HORSE?

HORSE is the classic mixed-game rotation — Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, Stud, and Stud Hi-Lo (Eight-or-better) — and it's a true test of all-around poker ability because no single game carries you.

The coaches below coach mixed games — including HORSE. They're ranked by their overall mixed-game reviews and shown here because HORSE is part of the mix, not as single-game specialists.

7 coaches · ranked by weighted review score

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About HORSE coaching

The challenge of HORSE isn't mastering any one discipline; it's being competent across five very different games and, crucially, switching gears cleanly as the rotation changes. Most players have one or two strong games and a couple of clear weaknesses, and in HORSE those weaknesses get exploited relentlessly by opponents who are well-rounded.

A HORSE coach helps you find and shore up the weak links in your rotation, because your results in a mix are dragged down by your worst game far more than they're lifted by your best. That usually means concentrated work on the games players neglect, the stud variants and Razz, which Hold'em-bred players tend to understand least. A good coach also teaches the meta-skill of the mixed game: managing your mindset and strategy across rotations, knowing which games to play patiently and which to push, and recognizing that the edge in HORSE often comes from being the player who doesn't have a glaring hole. It's a game where steady, well-rounded competence beats brilliance in any single discipline.

HORSE coaching, unsolved questions

What games are in HORSE?
Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo (O8), Razz, Stud, and Stud Hi-Lo (Eight-or-better), played in rotation. The "E" stands for Eight-or-better, the stud hi-lo game.
How do I get better at HORSE?
Fix your weakest game first. In a mix, your results are dragged down by your worst discipline more than they're helped by your best, so the fastest improvement usually comes from the stud and Razz variants that Hold'em players tend to neglect.
Do I need to master all five games?
You need to be solid in all five and have no glaring weakness, that's more valuable in HORSE than being excellent at one. Opponents will target your weakest game, so well-rounded competence wins.