I would like to start off this week's blog by apologizing for not putting up blogs the last few weeks.  I have been busy busy.  Today was my Dad's birthday.  Lets just say hes at a point where he stops counting his age.  Happy Birthday Dad!  Your the best father I could ask for.  Now lets talk a bit about poker.  This week I am going to discuss my new found addiction to HORSE, the games of HORSE, and which are my favorites!

 HORSE=

Hold'em

Omaha (hi/lo8)

Razz

Stud

Stud (hi/lo8)

My favorite (most-least)

Hold'Em (because of my excessive familiarity)

Razz (I actually studied razz and played daily back in the FTP days)

Omaha hi/lo8 (I have been watching Phil Galfond's Youtube and seminar videos in the past week)

Stud (Very little experience but it is easy to learn on the fly because of its similarity to Hold'em)

Stud hi/lo8

In HORSE all of the games are fixed limit, so many more hands are playable and math is extremely important.  You must know how many small and big bets you have at all times.  The hi/lo games will have split pots often so its important to play hands that have potential to "scoop" the pot (win the hi/lo).  You will see a lot of players with a2 in their hand play it aggressively because of the potential nuts for both the high and low ( the wheel) A-2-3-4-5 using two cards from your hand with the board in omaha... or using 5 cards in your hand in stud.  In order for a lo to qualify the highest card of the five must be an 8 or lower. I recommend this site http://poker-rules.flopturnriver.com/HORSE-Rules.php ( if you are looking to learn more about the rules and how a winning hand is determined for both hi and lo).

The games of the future are omaha and omaha hi/lo.  The math and variation of starting hand combinations make omaha intriguing.  There is a lot of dead money in omaha at the medium stakes online.  I believe they get carried away with some hands like KK92 because of their background in holdem.  They see the pair of kings and automatically think its a great starting hand.  The equity of this hand is very low.  One-pair isn't great unless they have two other great complimentary cards or another pair to in which increases the equity of flopping a middle + set. Omaha hands have bigger equity going post-flop than nl holdem.  

Razz is my favorite.  Most people find it to be dull and don't study it much.  Razz is actually extremely simple, but you must be attentive like in stud because your opponents street cards are exposed (except 8th street which is dealt face down).  To sum up razz a players goal is to make the best low.

There is a difference between a poker player and a strictly hold'em player.  My goal over the next 3-4 weeks is to continue working on omaha, then restudy, experience, and study razz. The learning process is constant and I can't wait to develop, learn, and exploit strategy in these games.

I would like to know from any readers what is your list from favorite to least favorite out of the HORSE games.  I was reading another blog here on OnTilt about other mixed games.  I would be more than interested in learning about popular and up-and-coming mixed games.

I plan on playing the $250 at the PokerRoomNewHampshire Saturday July 21.  I have made a few adjustments and am ready for round #2.  Should be a blast!

Weekly Quote:

"You cannot survive without that intangible quality we call heart. The mark of a top player is not how much he wins when he is winning but how he handles his losses. If you win for thirty days in a row, that makes no difference if on the thirty-first you have a bad night, go crazy, and throw it all away."

- Bobby Baldwin

Always remember OTR, Never give up, Don't event give up, on a dream, a goal, or on yourself!

-Matthew White (Whitediego)