Q&A for How to Play Horse (the Basketball Game)

If there's a third player, he has to make the same shot. If there are only two players, the first player makes up a new challenge.

Feel free to use any word. The longer the word, the longer the game, obviously.

No. The game is shooting baskets, if you miss, you get a H, O, R, S, or E. If you have the whole word "HORSE," then you lose. So you would not need to call the person who loses a horse, but feel free to!

Of course. If you notice that certain people can't complete a trick, you can do it over again to give yourself a competitive edge.

You should be able to remember it, as HORSE is not a hard word to remember how to spell. (By all means, you can use a letter.)

If the player makes the basket from the position you just made it from, then yes, you can shoot from another position. If the other player is the first one to make the basket, you must also make it from the same spot.

No. Once someone has missed the shot, the next player gets to make up a new challenge.

Yes, because the point is to replicate the shot as closely as possible.

I suppose, but do not bounce the ball off of cars, because that can leave huge dents and the owner of the car will get mad and may even sue you. Don't try it.

No. The first player sets up the "challenge" if he or she makes the shot. If the second player also makes the shot, then he or she has completed the challenge, hence no letter for either player.

When the second person misses, the third person will create a new spot and the second person will get a letter.

No. Once you've spelled h-o-r-s-e with your missed shots, you're out of the game.

Yes, you do. For example, if the first player makes it but the second player has H O R S and misses, then he or she gets one more shot. If the player makes it, then the game keeps going.

Yes, if the opponent shoots backwards with their eyes closed and makes it, you have to do the same.

Yes, but it would be unsportsmanlike to dunk when you know someone else physically can't do it. Stick to skill or trick shots.

No. The third person can make up their own shot if the second person misses.

Look at it this way. Player 1 sets up a challenge if he or she makes his shot. All other players then have to try to replicate that shot, if they fall short they receive a letter. Player 1: Makes shot Player 2: Misses shot (letter added) Player 3: Makes shot Player 4: Misses shot (letter added).

Yes, both of the other players have to make the shot challenge created by the first player.

House rules apply. Decide on this variation before the game starts, it's called matching the last shot.

Yes. Typically for this game you pick easy to spell words so people who miss the shot remember their letters and how many they have. The longer the word, the longer the game will go on.

Unfortunately, no, because the shot may miss. But if you make the second shot by luck, you would tie so each shot only gets one try.

Because this is a game that is based on the skill of making various shots, so as with most games and competitions, those less-skilled will of course be eliminated earliest. Those who need practice can easily do so on their own, attempting shots from various positions.

You can vote on it with your friends, but you can use any word that you would like to spell out for this game.

Yes. If the first player makes the shot, you have to do whatever they do.

Yes. And it doesn't have to be an animal, either. You can use any word you like! But the longer the word, the longer the game.

No, you do not.

No, this would be an illegal shot as it doesn't matter when it hits the backboard - if the call was no backboard then it cannot hit it at any time.

No, you must call the shot before it leaves your hands otherwise there is room for confusion.

You only get one shot for every letter. But there are also variations, like ultimate horse, where you get 3 attempts at every shot. If the person making the shot succeeds in one attempt, the copier has to succeed in one attempt, and so on.

Yes you would have to shoot after the last person makes it and the first person misses they get a letter.