Strategy for Beginners

Feeling weak in the Stud Hi Lo rounds of H.O.R.S.E.? Why not improve your game with some much needed Poker strategy. We’ve got all you need right here

It is not uncommon for beginner players to feel a little lost during the Stud Hi Lo round of a H.O.R.S.E. Poker game. The cards being gradually revealed throughout the game make small details significantly more important to strategy, and this is where the points below should come into play. Read them, understand them, and implement them when playing, and your game will be greatly improved.

Tips:

- The best hand you can have is one that is able to scoop both halves of the Hi Lo pot. This is because there is a significant difference in the amount of player bets up for grabs from within the pot between half and a whole pot. For example, with 4 players the pot can be worth 15 bets (five each), whereas the profit on half of that is worth only 5 of those bets. Don’t chase a hi or low hand if you have no chance on the other end too, otherwise you’ll lose it all if your hand doesn’t come through. An example of starting hand able to go both Hi and Lo ways is 4 and 7 of Diamonds, with an Ace of Diamonds as the door card. A hand like this can be developed into a flush, a low, a pair of Aces or higher, and a backdoor straight.

- If you have a high hand, beware of betting for the low hand. There is a good chance that another player has the low to the point where you have no chance at it. In this situation, you are simply allowing them to try beat your high hand – a fantastic situation for THEM, not you, because at worst they will only win their money back.

- If you’re in a situation in which you are aiming to take only one side of the Hi Lo pot in a Stud H.O.R.S.E. game, be sure to get in as many bets as you can. The more you get in there, the more worthwhile your game will be, since the pot grows according to the amount of bets contributed to it.

- Be sure to take account of the pot odds and outs in relation to the cards that have already been folded. This can indicate to you how worthwhile it is to pursue your hand.