HORSE Cash Game Considerations

Many poker players are now deciding to expand their repertoire by starting to play HORSE rather than strictly Texas Holdem. Being competent in all the games is a critical component of HORSE strategy, but everyone is a beginner at some point and there are special considerations for a player that is just making the transition to mixed games. By following these guidelines, a player will be able to make the change without putting a sizable amount of their bankroll at risk and limit the learning curve that often comes with picking up a new game.

The first consideration is bankroll management. Because you may be new to some of the HORSE games, it is a good idea to step down in the stakes that you normally play. Moving from a Texas Holdem game to a HORSE game with the same blind structure will mean that you lose more money as you are learning the intricacies of the game. A good rule to follow is to invest only 0.5-1% of your bankroll when you are playing a game that you are unfamiliar with. In this manner, the normal fluctuations and losses that will happen will make a much smaller dent in your overall playing bankroll.

Another consideration is the strategy you will be using while you are learning the new HORSE games. In Texas Holdem, you may have known the game well enough to play marginal hands profitably, but this strategy is not optimal for games where you have limited experience. The best choice is to adopt a tight and aggressive style that will limit your exposure until you are able to profitably play a wider range of hands. Waiting for premium hands may be boring, but during this time you can watch the more experienced players and see how they are playing the marginal hands.

The last consideration is knowing when to quit. If you are not well acquainted with HORSE and notice that you are having a bad session, it is better to walk away with a reasonable loss rather than pushing the issue and trying to play your way out of the hole when more experienced players are at the table. Spacing your HORSE sessions apart will give you more time to think about the game and learn from the mistakes made during the last time at the tables. When you return to the game stronger and are able to start having profitable sessions, then you can make HORSE one of your regular games.