"No Horsing"

[Roy Hobbs]

I am visiting family in Olympia, WA, and there is a 2-4 Omaha 8 game spread at a card room downtown. It's a player-dealt game with a one dollar ante on the button (that plays), a two raise cap, and check-raising is not allowed. Also, you are dealt five cards.

There are additional bizarre rules listed on the wall, including "no splash bets," "no dealer tip-offs," "couples are expected not to sit next to each other." But one, I had no idea about: No Horsing.

Anyone have any idea what this means?

RH

[Randy_Refeld]

A horse is when a group of players puts a certain amount from each pot they win into a "fund" (or horse) to be split later (when one of them goes broke or at the end of the night).

Randy Refeld

[Rick Nebiolo]

I'm relatively certain this means don't push chips.

~ Rick

[nolanfan34]

The real question is why play that downtown game? There are a bunch of casinos in Tacoma, which isn't far away. Don't know that they spread Omaha 8, but you would have the normal casino environment to deal with instead of "no horsing".

Chips in Lakewood spreads 3-6 HE mostly, and the Silver Dollar across the freeway spreads 3-6, 4-8 and 6-12 last time I saw. Both run tournaments at varying times too, if you're in town for a while.

And if you head toward Ocean Shores for some reason, the Quinault Beach casino just opened a poker room and was spreading stud and HE.

[lefty rosen]

Banging a losing hand for an obvious winner and in Omaha if it's low limit its easy to do and the average loose chaser won't know the wiser.........

[OnDrugs]

Horsing is an arrangement between two players that one wins a pot (of a specified minimum size), he pays the other a specified amount. A typical deal would be $10 or over pot, pay $1.50-2.00. Each thus has a "horse" in pots he may not be contesting. Horsing violates Washington State Gambling Regulations which is why the house has a posted rule against it.

[OnDrugs]

[ QUOTE ]
The real question is why play that downtown game? There are a bunch of casinos in Tacoma, which isn't far away. Don't know that they spread Omaha 8, but you would have the normal casino environment to deal with instead of "no horsing".


[/ QUOTE ]

Low overhead. Player dealt with time collection. $2.00 per half hour, maybe a little more. No jackpot. No dealer tips.

All Washington Poker used to be that way. Sigh.

[lefty rosen]

Horsing is basically team play and it's not legal at any casino(or most). Also like I said in low limit Omaha 8 or high it can create a huge advantage for a guy holding a near nut or nut hand.........

[Roy Hobbs]

Thanks for the responses.

[Roy Hobbs]

If I really wanted to play poker, I would have gone up to the muckleshoot or the hideaway...I was just visiting my parents in Olympia and thought I would check out the game. It was hilarious.

[nolanfan34]

Trip report? I live in Olympia but have never ventured down there. I would love to hear what it was like.

I don't consider myself a good stud or Omaha player, which is why I haven't played there.

[Roy Hobbs]

The game is at King Solomon's Reef, which is on 4th Ave, next door to the 4th Ave Tav. The card room is directly to the right once you enter. The Reef is a total dive.

The game appears to go fairly regularly. Usually five-six handed. The card room manager is a nice guy, usually plays in the game, and is probably the best player, which is not saying much.

The game is incredibly soft, with players that are willing to come in with "any 5" (as I explained, this is a five card omaha 8 game), but who are then often willing to dump very strong hands at any sign of aggression. I think the game is easily beatable, especially given that the collection is only $2 per half hour.

The players are very friendly; it's a fun game to play in. In addition to the 5 card game, they play "two card" which is hold'em hi-lo, but this game is far less popular. It's dealers choice between these two games.

The only problem with the game is that check-raising is not allowed and there is a two raise cap. This can get annoying, but is probably necessary to keep the game going. It's a very "friendly" game.

Go check it out...I usually have a few beers and play for a few hours every time that I'm home...you'll have fun.

RH

p.s. are there any other games closer than the native american casino down near shelton?

[Ruddiger]

[ QUOTE ]
The game is at King Solomon's Reef, which is on 4th Ave, next door to the 4th Ave Tav. The card room is directly to the right once you enter. The Reef is a total dive.


The game appears to go fairly regularly. Usually five-six handed. The card room manager is a nice guy, usually plays in the game, and is probably the best player, which is not saying much.

The game is incredibly soft, with players that are willing to come in with "any 5" (as I explained, this is a five card omaha 8 game), but who are then often willing to dump very strong hands at any sign of aggression. I think the game is easily beatable, especially given that the collection is only $2 per half hour.

The players are very friendly; it's a fun game to play in. In addition to the 5 card game, they play "two card" which is hold'em hi-lo, but this game is far less popular. It's dealers choice between these two games.

The only problem with the game is that check-raising is not allowed and there is a two raise cap. This can get annoying, but is probably necessary to keep the game going. It's a very "friendly" game.

Go check it out...I usually have a few beers and play for a few hours every time that I'm home...you'll have fun.

RH

p.s. are there any other games closer than the native american casino down near shelton?

[/ QUOTE ]

Hawks Prarie right off I5 in lacey had a couple tables of 4/8 holdem going a few months ago, I would imagine they still have it going.