H.O.R.S.E Poker

H.O.R.S.E poker is a mix of five different games. The games are Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz poker, 7 Card Stud and 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo. These games are always played in fixed limit format. The most important thing to consider when first trying out H.O.R.S.E poker is that you must have a working knowledge of each game, if you do not, you will find yourself doing really well at one point, and then simply giving all your money back as soon as its time for a game that you don't understand as well.

In terms of actual game mechanics, there is nothing different about H.O.R.S.E poker than if you were to simply play these games individually. The main things you will have to consider is your ability to switch gears each time the game changes.

You will probably start to figure out how each of your opponents plays, but remember that when the game changes, they might have a completely different poker strategy, so you really have to be able to adapt in many different kinds of situations to be able to be successful at H.O.R.S.E poker.

The best idea for a beginner is definitely to start out at the low levels when first trying H.O.R.S.E poker; you may even want to just try a cheap tournament to get the feel of the different games. Another suggestion is to simply make sure you have sat down and put in a few hours at each of the different games before you sit down to play them all at one table.

In H.O.R.S.E poker it is actually much harder to learn each game because you only play it for one round at a time before you have to switch gears and play a different game.

Omaha vs Texas Holdem

< 7DF5CNU6D7X2 > I have always been thinking which poker game would win if there was a competition between Omaha vs Texas Holdem. Can Omaha Beat Texas Holdem? My opinion is No. Limit Texas Hold'em has swept the globe and is booming in every corner of it. Every major poker championship sees a No Limit Texas Hold'em Main Event winner crowned. With each of these championships however come other events; smaller NL Texas Hold'em Buy-ins through to other variants such as the second most popular worldwide Omaha. 

Omaha events draw a lot smaller crowd with sometimes 4000 contestants in NL Hold'em compared to just a few hundred in Omaha. Is it possible that in a Omaha vs Texas Holdem tussle , Omaha can ever beat NL Texas Hold'em? Will we ever see an Omaha Main Event?

As I write this sentence I consider it unlikely for many reasons especially when i compare the two poker variants. The pub poker scene is one thing which will make a passing of NL Texas Hold’em by the game Omaha impossible. Pub poker draws new players to the world of poker and certainly they don't learn, play or teach Omaha at the pub poker venues. If we were to look at Australia's APL as an example; there are over 500,000 members – they all play Texas Hold'em. So when it comes to Omaha vs Texas Holdem with respect to pub poker , Omaha normally trails far behind.

Another reason I believe this to never be possible is the length of time it takes to play each game. If there were 4000 Omaha players racking up against each other on the felt it would take a month ( a little sarcasm) to complete. Omaha is a game where there ARE limits set. Pot Limits and Fixed Limits; No Limit does not apply to the game. With this time frame in mind players couldn't afford accommodation and the venues holding the tournaments wouldn't make money. The buy-ins have additional rake and this rake covers tournament staff, dealers and waitress wages (just to name a few). There are then the smaller costs such as power and bathrooms.

Omaha is as much a game of skill as NL Texas Hold'em, for a beginner it is much more difficult with many more choices and learning to deal with the draw concept of the game. It appears to take a lot longer to learn how to play Omaha; specifically Omaha Hi/Lo which is another argument on its own. Which Omaha Variant WOULD possibly beat NL Texas Hold'em? I would give an immediate “impossible” answer to Omaha Hi/Lo, I don't think it will ever happen and the Omaha vs Texas Holdem dilemma will continue for a very long time.

I would also give an immediate no to Omaha Fixed Limit, it simply moves too slow. It seems that players like a much faster moving game. This is not the case for all players though with many (specifically the older generation players) sticking to Omaha as their primary game of choice over Texas Holdem.

Omaha is becoming more and more popular; especially online. I see thousands of players each day registering for tournaments and playing cash games. As I say this however; the same applies to the already booming Texas Hold'em meaning Omaha isn't catching up. It is far from catching up.

Only time will tell who will win the Omaha vs Texas Holdem battle, for now though; I give it no hope!

Online Poker Rules

Online poker rules form the basis of all poker games online, where different games have specific rules that vary between different online casinos or website settings. The attraction of online poker game as the best-played game is that online poker rules can change slightly from one place to the next, and yet it still follows the basic guidelines that allow anyone familiar with the game and those guidelines to play.

However, there has to be one accepted set of online poker rules that all the players can refer to when confusion sets in. That is why there have been books about how to play online poker and free poker tutorials available online. What these rulebooks do is offer the player instruction on how to play poker, either in real life or online. These tutorials have poker strategy tips on how to play the hand, when to fold and when to risk you cards. 

Playing online poker game can develop your math skills, probability skills, promotes social interaction and teaches you to play smart. All this by simply following the online poker rules. The online poker game room security also run through checks to make sure that cheating and any other kind of malpractice is avoided. 

Aside from manipulating your opponent through physical behavior; there is nothing different with going online and sitting on the table for a round of poker game as, in both online and real poker game a player can bet real cash. One great advantage online is that online poker rules remain the same minus the fact that you don't feel intimidated by other players. Once you've learned the basics of poker online, you can sign-up and create your account in different poker rooms. The first online poker game can give you a head rush especially if you still do not fully grasp the online poker rules. But soon you will get how the game is played when there are other players and everything will fall into place.

One thing that doesn't change even for an online poker game is the addictive power of gambling. It is all about taking a risk, going with your gut, paying attention to your skill and winning a few lucky games in the end. But it is still the online version of poker that attracts more beginner players everyday as the Internet destroys the barriers of time, space and race in a safe online environment bound by online poker rules.

Online Gaming Legislation

Though various Legal bodies around the world have tried to keep an open mind about online gaming legislation it will be a matter of time before it is fully and willingly accepted. The legality of online gaming is still debated upon with each country expressing their respective views on this sensitive topic.

On 28th June 2000 the Australian Government introduced its own online gaming legislation as the Interactive Gambling Bill which made it illegal for any foreign and interactive gambling service providers to offer their product to Australian residents. It also makes it illegal for any Australian based online casino to offer its product to Australian residents. However, it does allow Australian licensed online sports books, race betting and lottery sites to offer their product to Australian and international customers.

In the European Union views are different as all EU Member States are bound to observe the provisions set out in the European Communities Treaty. It therefore makes it illegal for a Member State to prohibit residents from accessing a service provided by operators from other Member State, where that same service is able to be provided by local operators. A Member State with accepts locally licensed online gambling operations (e.g. state lottery etc) in its online gaming legislation cannot try to block foreign providers of the same service.

In April 2009, 10 Member States, including France and Germany have been the subject of European Commission infringement proceedings.  The French Government had planned in March 2009 to enact proposed laws that will regulate and tax internet gambling. 

UK's position is set out in the enacted Gambling Act 2005, the directives of which came into effect on September 2007.  The new Act provides a single, all encompassing piece of law to cover all forms of gambling in the United Kingdom. Key provisions of the act relevant to internet gambling termed as "Remote Gambling" in the Act, include casinos, sports betting, poker rooms and any other form of real money wagering online. It states that any operator of a Remote Gambling Service who has any piece of Remote Gambling Equipment (e.g. servers) located in the UK must obtain a license from the UK Gambling Commission. Also operators of Remote gambling services from outside the UK are free to offer their product to UK residents provided they are complying with the licensing requirements of the jurisdiction in which the service is hosted. Nothing in the online gaming legislation makes it illegal, or seeks to prevent, British residents gambling on the internet in their own homes. Remote gambling operators from EEA (European Economic Area) countries and Gibraltar can advertise within Great Britain. In addition, operators from within jurisdictions granted white listing status can also advertise within the UK.

The SAFE Port act has online gaming legislation as part of its sections. Another significant act is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA). The SAFE Port Act signed by George W. Bush in Oct 2006 primarily introduced to protect the Security of the United States’ Sea Ports contains a Title VIII - Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, Sections 802 and 803 which amends the federal criminal code to prohibit persons engaged in the business of betting or wagering from knowingly accepting credit, or the proceeds of credit, electronic fund transfers, checks, drafts, or similar financial instruments or the proceeds of any other financial transaction in connection with unlawful Internet gambling, this prohibition is defined by this Act as a "restricted transaction" and Imposes a fine and/ prison term of up to five years for violations. Section 803 Calls upon the U.S. government, in deliberations with foreign governments, to encourage cooperation by foreign governments in identifying whether internet gambling operations are being used for money laundering, corruption, or other crimes, advance policies that promote international cooperation in enforcing this Act, and encourages the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering to study the extent to which Internet gambling operations are being used for money laundering purposes.

Similarly numerous countries have either formulated their own online gaming legislation or adopted policies of other countries. Whichever way we choose to look at it online gaming is here to stay it’s just a mater of whether we choose to accept or reject it.