play all games

For along time the the only poker I played was Texas Hold'em cash games. It was pretty much 99% of what I played, then, from somewhere, I developed the urge to see something other than two hole cards on my computer screen. Strategies may vary in Hold'em according to my opponents but the fundamentals remained the same. I wanted a change, a new challenge. I decided to try another form of poker to stretch myself and to refresh my focus.
I found myself in a parallel world of Pot Limit Omaha or Omaha 8 or better (hi-lo). The games were totally different and very interesting. Not only were the games dealt with four hole cards - more action! - but the strategies varied totally from Hold'em.

why play other games??

Why play other games?
There are a whole lot of reasons to broaden your horizons. Here are a few that I think might persuade you to mix things up:
1. Exercise your mind: It has been proven - by scientists! - that maintaining your mind in a variety of ways helps to develop your analytical and intellectual capabilities. Your mind functions better when you force it to learn new things every day. Throwing in new variants of poker works that angle. You need to think in new and different ways because the mind is a bit like a muscle: if you exercise the grey cells the brain will 'grow'.
2. Having fun while learning something new: To avoid falling into mechanical play, which can be detrimental to your long-term game, you can take on a coach or read articles and watch videos at PokerSchoolOnline.Looking at the game in a new, fresh way helps to keep your enthusiasm levels running high. Playing some new forms of poker can really help to break you out of a rut. It can be invigorating. Give it a go.
3. Looking for the win rate: Texas Hold'em is by far and away the most popular form of poker... and the most researched. While it's great that there are lots of ways to improve your game it does mean that your average Hold'em player knows more about the game than, say, your average Razz player. Exploring new forms of poker is like riding out into a wild frontier. They'll be some tough competitors but you can also hit a gold rush if you prepare yourself properly. Win rates in new games can be really solid. Get learning and maximize your winnings.

It is a great idea to learn all games.

The brain is very much like the body, needs training and conditioning. hold em knowledge and practice is the training exploring other games and using your mind to think through an irregular thought concept is the conditioning.

For example a good Limit player is forced to have to think about raising ranges and how the raise signifys strength or weakness and since there is no all in.
every hand is subject to narrowing a range.

see how this can help your hold em game by getting you use to that thinking concept so then in NL it becomes second nature.

Im sure razz has great benifits also and stud

I think this is so true........Once upon a time I knew how to play all the games at pokerstars except Badugi (sp) but sadly i've forgotten how to play most except holdem due to my lack of playing them since I have begun to focus on only holdem. I will head back to the play money tables to regain my knowlege of them..should be fun.

As-time try play omaha-hi on PS. Quite unusual

matthemaori said:

3. Looking for the win rate: Texas Hold'em is by far and away the most popular form of poker... and the most researched. While it's great that there are lots of ways to improve your game it does mean that your average Hold'em player knows more about the game than, say, your average Razz player. Exploring new forms of poker is like riding out into a wild frontier. They'll be some tough competitors but you can also hit a gold rush if you prepare yourself properly. Win rates in new games can be really solid. Get learning and maximize your winnings.

Click to expand...

I agree in general about it being a good idea to learn multiple games. It's nowhere near as important as it used to be back in the day (when the argument was that there were only live games, and if there was only a Stud8 game running then you better know how to play Stud8) because there's literally endless action at NLHE, but I still think it's good to have multiple games.

That said, your point above cuts both ways. While it's true that the average hold 'em player may know more about their chosen game than the average razz player, there just aren't that many average razz players - most of the time you'll just find regs in the games and when a new or average player stumbles into the game for whatever reason, they usually drop their money quickly to the regs then leave.

As with any business model. Having more options open allows the ability to generate more streams of income. Learning all the ins and outs of any business is paramount if you plan on staying in the black and out of the red. That is... as long as you take gambling to be a "business" when your the player, instead of the house.

I agree you should learn other games too! I've just recently picked up omaha and i find it pretty challenging to keep up with everyone

One of the first and most important things to learn when playing Texas Hold'em is which starting hands are worth staying in with -- and which you should fold. Deciding whether or not those two down cards you're first dealt are playable is the most important decision in every hand, because while you have to be in it to win it, you also can't lose money you haven't bet.
Since the two hole or pocket cards are the only thing that will make your hand better or worse than any other players, it's important that they are good strong cards.

You are quite right holden vary only in the strategy.

Yeah, i tried some different poker games like omaha and omaha h/l and it was fun, i like playing roulette online too but i feel that i lose more than i win there

I think it's best to play a single mode, as all are difficult and there is one more play opportunities for learning and long-term specialize in that mode or play at least a little better each time.
However if you jugas many forms, unless you're a super genius will be very difficult to play well at all.

I generally play holdem myself but I have recently ventured off into the Omaha game play. It has proven to be very enjoyable and obviously has different styles. I would be reluctant to join a high stakes game when starting a new one, but still encourage playing.

I've always preferred the odd games to HE. HORSE is my favorite. I wish some of the cardschat games were Horse or stud.

you learn more about your game and other variations of poker are fun.

I feel very good idea to extend the various games of poker, I played all variantesd particularly poker, omaha, stud, Badugi, 7 2, razz, horse, etc, but I really like the omaha hi / lo. and hold m, in some games there is much variance. but I think that by learning more poker games gives you another perspective to play.

Yes I think Omaha is a good Poker variante and very interesting. But I can't really recommend the Omaha Hi/Lo games, because mostly you can't win a good pot. It's mostly a split pot. When I have the Chance to play a normally Omaha I don't play the Hi/Lo.

Thought i had deja vu, i knew i read this before somewhere, You should name your sources when cutting & pasting Matt. . .
The 1st 2 posts are ripped straight from the pokerstarsblog;
Why it pays to learn all the poker games
by Fredy Torres on November 12, 2013 7:31 AM

I love playing different games, especially PLO. Unfortunately, I bleed money if I play beyond the very lowest levels of PLO.

I try to play all the games and know them well. There are 2 reasons. One, you need to be ready to play in the best game going. When u see a fish at a game, u need to be ready to jump in and hold your own and win. Two, each game can help your primary game. Omaha stresses position. Razz stresses board reading. Draw games stress reads and confidence. All traits that are needed in Texas Holdem.

i leart a lot of playing the others game , the posibily and the combination are more , and the strategy is too diferent like the irish of full tilt

The other games are more fun

The main problem for American players is that since Black Friday there aren't many of them available