H.O.R.S.E. is a form of poker commonly played at the high-stakes tables of casinos. It consists of rounds of play cycling among:
H.O.R.S.E. is a limit game, including hold 'em. However, in some tournament situations (such as the 2006 World Series of Poker event), the final table is no-limit hold 'em.
C.H.O.R.S.E adds Chowaha or Crazy Pineapple to the mix. This is convenient at such team events as BARGE, when it helps to have as many flop games as stud games. C.H.O.R.S.E.L adds lowball.
T.H.O.R.S.E.H.A. is another 8-Game Mix which includes more games than most other mixed poker games.PokerStars started offering this game in 2008. It consists of limit 2-7 Triple Draw, limit Texas hold 'em, limit Omaha Hi-Lo, limit Razz, limit Seven-card Stud, limit Seven card Stud Hi-Lo, no limit Texas hold 'em and pot limit Omaha.
10-Game, the latest variation on the mixed poker games, overtook T.H.O.R.S.E.H.A. in the extent of its game inclusion. Launched by Full Tilt Poker in November 2010, 10-Game includes Limit Hold 'em, Limit Stud Hi/Lo, Pot Limit Omaha Hi, Limit 2-7 Triple Draw, Limit Razz, No Limit Hold ‘em, Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, Limit Stud Hi, No Limit 2-7 Single Draw and Limit Badugi. Full Tilt Poker also offers the 9-Game, which includes all poker variants from the 10-Game with the exception of Badugi.
A 12 Game Mix has also been proposed as a variation and as an extension to the 10-Game mix. The games of the twelve game mix are: Badugi (Ba), Badeucy (By), Pot Limit Omaha (A), Razz (R), 2-7 Triple Draw (T), Razzdugi (I), Crazy Pineapple Hi/Lo (C), Limit Hold'em (H), Omaha Hi/Lo (O), Kansas City Lowball (a.k.a. no limit 2-7 Single Draw) (K), Stud Hi/Lo (Eight-or-Better) (E), Seven Card Stud (S). A 13 Game Mix can also be constructed by adding No Limit Hold'em to the games of the 12 Game Mix.
H.O.R.S.E. made its debut at the World Series of Poker in 2002 with a $2,000 buy-in. John Hennigan won the event, earning $117,320.