• H-O-R-S-E is a game of luck and skill.basketball image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
  
  Basketball games can be highly competitive in an attempt to resemble NBA games, but for casual players, the game H-O-R-S-E provides less-competitive basketball options. This game relies on one key basketball skill: shooting. The player who outshoots the other is the winner in this game for two to five players. Variations on the game add twists to the rules and more options when playing on the court.
  
  

Team "H-O-R-S-E"

• Teams of two work together to get more shots in than the other team. Alternate players between turns. For example, Team A Player 1 would go then Team B Player 1 and then Team A Player 2 and so on. Both players have to make the basket or their team receives a letter.
  
  

Build It Up

• Usually in H-O-R-S-E, players do not want to add letters, but in Build It Up, that is the purpose. Use a piece of chalk to make designated letter spots on the court for each letter in the word "Horse." If a player makes a shot from a letter, then he gets that letter. If all the players reach the "E" at the same time, the player who lasts the longest without missing a shot is declared the winner. For example, if Player 1 makes the "E" shot, but player 2 misses and player 3 makes it, then player 2 is eliminated and player 1 and 3 shoot until one of them misses from that spot.
  
  

Other Animals

• To extend or shorten a game of H-O-R-S-E, players can change the spelling to a different animal. Popular uses include R-A-T, C-A-T and P-I-G for shorter games and E-L-E-P-H-A-N-T for longer games. The rules are the same as for a standard horse game.
  
  

Trick Horse

• Write down a collection of trick shots like "hook shots," "through the legs," "eyes closed," "bounce shot" and "with nondominant hand." Place the different types of shots on separate pieces of paper and put them into a hat. For each turn, a player must perform the shot according to the sheet of paper he picks out. If he makes it, the other player(s) must do the same shot as well. Score using normal H-O-R-S-E rules.
  
  

Speed Horse

• Add more intensity to your game of H-O-R-S-E by adding a time limit for players. Use a stopwatch or count by hand. Set a five- or 10-second time limit to each shot. If a player makes it, the other player has to make it in five or 10 seconds as well. A game at this rate will likely end within one or two minutes.
  
  

Horse Distraction

• Without actually playing defense, players can still try to interfere in this game. During rounds, players not shooting can yell, scream, sing or do anything that will distract a player without psychically touching him or getting too close. Use standard scoring rules.