So many different variants of poker are available these days that the demand for different games to improve skill and increase experience is also high. This has lead to a new trend in poker tournaments and these are called mixed games.
Names, or acronyms such as HORSE, HEROS, HOSE and HOE, is the way in which these tournaments are described. It is this name which tells us what games will be played in a specific tournament, and in what order. Once you know what game each letter stands for it is simple to know what game to expect. It’s simple, like playing connect the dots!
Poker Stars and Full Tilt Poker regularly offer these mixed poker variants and in 2010, 7 new mixed poker variations were added to these sites. The year is yet young and we can only assume that even more variants will be added over time.
H.O.R.S.E is the most popularly played by far and this is a series of games which commences with Texas Hold’em (H), Omaha Hi Lo (O), Razz Poker (R), Seven Card stud (S) and Seven Card stud Hi Lo (E). Why Seven Card stud Hi Lo is referred to as “E” we have no idea, it must be to differentiate between Seven Card stud.
From this we gather that HEROS, it Holdem, Seven Card stud Hi Lo, Razz, Omaha and Seven Card stud, you should be able to decipher yourself what HOSE and HOE mixed games are composed of.
8 Game Mix Poker is also a new combination of every popular variant of poker played widely today and was first introduced some time in 2009. Its popularity has become pretty phenomenal and it is about the number two or three most widely played mixed poker variant. Poker Stars hosts one of these tournament every Sunday and this is a $5000 GTD. Apparently this is also the most difficult mix to master or play and one of the featured games is “27 Triple Draw”
27 Triple Draw stands out from the crowd, but have you heard of this game? Probably not unless you are a WSOP follower! Very few players know how to play either. In the 8 Game Mix Poker at Poker Stars the games are played for 6 hands each and blinds are adjusted for a consistent game. The game rotation is:
T – FL 2-7 Triple Draw
H – FL Hold’em
O – FL Omaha H/L
R – FL Razz
S – FL 7 Card Stud
E – 7 Card Stud H/L
H – NL Hold’em
A – PL Omaha
It sure looks complicated enough to me, what about you?
Mixed games also include 7 Game Poker and these are popular as sit ‘n goes. There is HA Poker, which is a pretty common mix, “Rush Poker” for action junkies, Mixed Hold ‘em, Mixed Omaha Hi Lo, HOSE, HOE, O, PLH/PLO, OE, OA and SE Poker as well as others. Sites are continually developing new variations and new games so keep up to date with these if you intend becoming a winning poker player.