Trying HORSE - any tips

[PokerKhan]

I do it all the time. I'm experienced at reading the hands and splitting the pots, so even when we pass the deal I take care of the split pots.

A few suggestions on split pots:

1. Determine the high hand first. Then muck any hand which doesn't have a low.

2. If you have tied hands for the high or low:
a. Split the chips into two.
b. Award one half to the side which has only one winner.
c. Now split the remaining chips among the tied hands (which might include the winner of the first side).

3. Stacking chips to split the pots is much easier than counting them. For instance, make two equal stacks of blacks, two equal stacks of reds, etc. Then do the math on just the odd chips out.

[hime]

I agree with everyone else - having a couple of experienced hand readers at O helps immensely. Barring that, stopping everybody arguing and being methodical will help.

My game goes very smoothly most of the time, but playing live, I've seen the scene where EVERYONE wants to offer up their opinions about the low. Sometimes it's best to shut everyone down and talk out what is going on.

Don't sweat it, with a good group of people, you'll have little trouble. And everybody doesn't have to be super sober, but super drunk is no good either.

We do tend to pre-chop pots, but I will often stack it all together if no low is possible. I got bitched out in Tulsa for announcing a hand as "Aces and deuces, no low" because I was interfering with someone else's action and "somebody with a low might muck", but in a friendly home game, this should NEVER be an issue. I'd argue the same for live casino, but some people want to angleshoot and be nitty.

[hime]

[ QUOTE ]
I do it all the time. I'm experienced at reading the hands and splitting the pots, so even when we pass the deal I take care of the split pots.

A few suggestions on split pots:

1. Determine the high hand first. Then muck any hand which doesn't have a low.

2. If you have tied hands for the high or low:
a. Split the chips into two.
b. Award one half to the side which has only one winner.
c. Now split the remaining chips among the tied hands (which might include the winner of the first side).

3. Stacking chips to split the pots is much easier than counting them. For instance, make two equal stacks of blacks, two equal stacks of reds, etc. Then do the math on just the odd chips out.

[/ QUOTE ]

While I am in favor of mucking non-winner hands to reduce confusion, your chops are slightly off since the priority for extra chips is high hand, then first after dealer. If you have a $13.25 pot, $6.75 is split for the high, and $6.50 for low. However, I am open to being wrong on this.

[Sir Folds A Lot]

Use the backboard. Most players have a hard time shooting at the backboard.