Picking Your Game
In a perfect world, each and every one of us would have the opportunity to become masters at every variation of poker. We would be able to bounce from game to game, merrily fattening our bankrolls as we move from hold ‘em to stud to Omaha. Sadly, however, most of us don’t have this opportunity. Most of the more popular variations of poker are so complex, and take so long to master, that only a dedicated professional can take the time needed to become adept at all of these different games.
Which game, then, should command the bulk of your attention? The answer depends on a couple of factors. First, you’d like to pick a game that offers you a chance to earn a decent win rate. You may have all the tools to be a dynamite 5 card draw player, for instance, but since this game is usually only spread at very small limits - and even then is usually only found online - this probably isn’t the game you should commit yourself to learning. Second, you should pick a game that best suits your abilities and temperament. Someone who doesn’t really enjoy the mathematical aspects of poker, for instance, will be doing themselves a favor if they avoid playing Omaha 8. Similarly, a player who isn’t capable of putting mistakes behind them and moving on to the next hand is going to struggle mightily at no limit hold ‘em.
There are three games currently spread in both brick and mortar card rooms and online that offer a player a chance at a decent win rate - Omaha 8, seven card stud and hold ‘em. Let’s look at these three games individually and see what kind of special skills each demands.
Omaha: This game, in particular the high/low variation, is THE game for the mathematically inclined. A successful Omaha player needs to be able to quickly calculate the odds of making many different hands, and needs to be able to know what kinds of odds they’re receiving from the pot for their particular draw. This is also a great game for players who don’t handle variance very well, since a winning Omaha 8 player generally does not suffer through the same kinds of violent bankroll fluctuations that stud and hold ‘em players have to endure. If you’re a ‘math nerd’ who doesn’t fancy themselves as a real gambler then this is probably the game for you.
Stud: Having a strong short term memory is crucial in stud, since you can frequently gain a decent edge on your opponents simply by remember what upcards have already been dealt. It’s also a great game for players who have a little gamble in them, since the swings in stud—particularly at the middle limits and higher—can be fairly extreme. If you like games with big pots and lots of action, and you do a decent job of shrugging off bad beats and extended losing streaks, then your chances of succeeding at stud are probably quite good.
Hold ‘em: The best limit hold ‘em players I know have a few things in common. First, they almost all tend to be very patient players (I’m speaking now of players who play at full tables; in a short handed game patience is less important). Second, they tend to be fairly strong hand readers. Being able to accurately put a player on a hand is much more important in hold ‘em than in stud or Omaha. And third, they enjoy playing an aggressive brand of poker, which features more betting and raising then calling.
If you’re a new poker player then I would strongly encourage you to do some soul searching before you pick the game in which you’d like to specialize. Not everyone was born to play hold ‘em! Picking the game that best suits your mentality and skill set will go a long way towards ensuring that you become a winning player - and, of course, a player who truly enjoys playing the game.
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Posted by georgestam – 19 Oct 2007, 4:20 PM
thanks for this! very useful