Poker guide to play Internet party poker
Horseshoes
Horseshoes is a community card poker game, a variation of limit Texas Hold'em. The goal of the game is to make the second-best hand at the table. This simple change alters the focus of the game from the statistical probability of getting high hands to watching how other players are doing. In Horseshoes Poker, being close to the high hand is what counts.
Play of the hand
The hand begins with a forced blind, starting to the left of the dealer. Two hole cards are dealt, and the first round of betting starts. The dealer deals a burn card, and then reveals one community card, followed by another round of betting. A burn card is dealt, and then two more community cards are dealt. A round of betting ensues, and then each player is given the opportunity to exchange one of their hole cards for a new card from the deck, with a burn card alternating inbetween each. After any exchanging of cards, one final betting round occurs.
Betting structure
The initial forced blind is typically one unit. Like limit hold'em, each betting round can be raised by one additional unit until capped at three raises per betting round. Each round, the minimum bet escalates by one unit. The final betting round can be all-in.
The showdown
If a player bets and all others fold, then that remaining player is awarded the pot and is not required to show their hole cards. On the showdown, each player reveals their cards to one another, and must compose the best five card hand they can. The highest-ranking hand loses, and the next highest-ranking hand wins the entire pot. In event of a tie, all tying second-best hands split the pot evenly.
Sample Showdown
| Board (after the turn) A♦ Q♠ 8♠ 3♣ |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Alice 10♦ 3♠ |
Bob J♥ 9♣ |
Carol 4♠ 3♦ |
Danny 7♦ 2♦ |
In this showdown, Carol would take the pot. Alice would have the highest hand, with a pair of 3s and a 10 high. Carol would have the second-highest, winning hand, with a pair of 3s and a 4 high.
Variations
Folding: If at any time, a player wishes to fold, any other player may post the bet for the 'folder' to keep the hand in play. The hand is not shown to the person posting the bet or anyone, until showdown. Every subsequent raise or new bet must also be made on behalf of the folded hand until showdown to keep the hand live. Any player may post a folder's bet at any time. In the event the folded hand that has been kept live by other's bets wins, the player dealt the folded hand wins the pot. In this way, one can 'bluff' a fold.
