You MUST learn all forms of poker to improve your play???

Ronaldadio

Ronaldadio

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Hi all, hope you are all well.

I have been playing all the various formats of poker and I am convinced that my game has improved.

I would suggest everyone gives it a try.

There are two main reasons I think this is true,
  1. You find what form of poker you are best at
  2. The various forms of poker, IMO, seem to need a different skill.
The different skills I think are helped by the main forms of poker are
  • NL Holdem - You improve your read of other players
  • Razz - Improves your aggression
  • Omaha - improves your play on/ after the flop
  • 7 card Stud - improves your ability to `card count`
I know this is very basic, and anyone feel free to expand or comment on what I have said :)
 
arahel_jazz

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I find Omaha H/L makes me think more about possibilities after the flop. Makes me better at reading NL Hold'em flops.

Razz just gives me heartburn. Stud... I just plain suck.
 
Cheetah

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I agree that different forms of poker can improve one's game. It is easier to understand the general poker principles when they are observed in different types of games.

I haven't done any serious efforts in this area but I am planning on doing so.
 
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ohiogirlie74

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I agree that the more variations you know, the more well-rounded you are... and I would even expand that concept to a variety of venues. Casino games are different than online, different than home, different than charity tournaments, etc. Nothing wrong with maximum exposure.

I've found that when I spy trouble with my post-flop play, I sit down at a limit game to get my bearings back. Limit almost totally eliminates pre-flop.
 
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switch0723

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Razz - you get to really see how hard it is to find a razz game, then can realise that poker wasnt invented to make the worst hand and the game just sucks
 
Schatzdog

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I have just started playing HORSE games on Stars and I really like it. The other variations are cool because they keep you sharp and get you thinking about different situations rather than the normal Holdem ones. I think this is pretty important too if you plan on playing poker long term in a serious/semi-serious way. Holdem may be the game of the moment but that can change so you'll need to master new games to keep the revenue up. I think it makes you a more complete player.

Also, the specialisation in other forms of the game is not as intense as in Holdem, so you'll find softer games for higher winrates.
 
Ronaldadio

Ronaldadio

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Razz - you get to really see how hard it is to find a razz game, then can realise that poker wasnt invented to make the worst hand and the game just sucks

So why do u like HORSE??? If it`s that bad, play HOSE!!!
 
Cheetah

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Razz - you get to really see how hard it is to find a razz game, then can realise that poker wasnt invented to make the worst hand and the game just sucks

Actually, you still need the best hand in Razz to win. It is just that the definition of best is different.:)
 
royalburrito24

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Yea I agree that it would make you a better player overall, but when I play omaha and other games I dont see improvement in my main game; NLHE.
 
Emperor IX

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Razz teaches patience moreso than aggression. And discipline as well (as far as practcing not tilting, haha)
 
royalburrito24

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Razz teaches patience moreso than aggression. And discipline as well (as far as practcing not tilting, haha)

razz is the easiest game to tilt in

2 words

auto raise.
 
aliengenius

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I MUST learn limit games like stud8 or my NLHE game will be unable to improve? I don't really buy this argument at all. Any residual benefit that learning other games might have certainly is outweighed by using that time to actually study NLHE directly.
 
royalburrito24

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I MUST learn limit games like stud8 or my NLHE game will be unable to improve? I don't really buy this argument at all. Any residual benefit that learning other games might have certainly is outweighed by using that time to actually study NLHE directly.

exactly my point, but actually explained 10X better.
 
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fomoppy

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each of the major games teach you somethign different
all the stud games (h, h/l, razz) teach you to concentration more on the game-you have to see all the cards and keep track of everything including how players play their boards according to what cards have already been shown so it teaches you to pay attention when you go to a h'em or omaha game to everything and gain information
omaha for me anyways just lets me realizes there are a lot of opportunites out there for stuff when i transfer back to holdem
 
MR X

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I MUST learn limit games like stud8 or my NLHE game will be unable to improve? I don't really buy this argument at all. Any residual benefit that learning other games might have certainly is outweighed by using that time to actually study NLHE directly.
:dito:
 
Ronaldadio

Ronaldadio

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I MUST learn limit games like stud8 or my NLHE game will be unable to improve? I don't really buy this argument at all. Any residual benefit that learning other games might have certainly is outweighed by using that time to actually study NLHE directly.

Everyone to their own I suppose.

However, I now feel more confident folding, reraising, reading players and I know this is due to having to focus in a different way to different situations depending on the game.
 
Dogday

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The title of this thread looks like a question...

I think to get better at NLHE you play NLHE. You don't play tee-ball to get better at playing baseball. You don't run track to get better at swimming.

I do find that Omaha is a great mental workout for reading the board and your opponent's.. and it's just a sick sick game!

I like stud hi .. but i don't think it really help's me with NLHE.
 
arahel_jazz

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The title of this thread looks like a question...

I think to get better at NLHE you play NLHE. You don't play tee-ball to get better at playing baseball. You don't run track to get better at swimming.
quote]

No, but if you specialize in the 100 meter dash it doesn't mean you can't do 100 meter hurdles or the pentathalon.

I view HORSE (or HOSE) as modified forms of similar gaming. I play it mostly to add variety to my day. I'm not looking at becoming an expert at Razz. I like playing Omaha, but I would never enter a Stud tournament.
 
Dogday

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I view HORSE (or HOSE) as modified forms of similar gaming. I play it mostly to add variety to my day. I'm not looking at becoming an expert at Razz. I like playing Omaha, but I would never enter a Stud tournament.

Razz gives me a headache i hope that games dies in a fire!!!:evil: :goodnight
 
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Draw poker teaches you basic pot odds/bluffing and should be played at least a bit (even at play money stakes if necessary) by beginning players. There's a reason a lot of the hand examples in ToP take draw games for examples: it was played a lot mroe back then, but it's a also simpler to go by than LHE.
 
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switch0723

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So why do u like HORSE??? If it`s that bad, play HOSE!!!

Simply because hose is like playing the fake version of horse, I don't know of many major HOSE tournies or cash games, so therefore it has to be HORSE
 
emk4976

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you need to learn the different styles of play also ,when to trapp the agg player when to become the agg player good luck all see ya around
 
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bongswat

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i find stud and razz are more luck since u can't protect your hands in limit. omaha h/l is alot more luck than nl holdem. omaha improves your hand assestments since more combinations to hit with 4 down cards instead of 2 but what do i know im a donkey gl2a at the tables
 
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Razz - you get to really see how hard it is to find a razz game, then can realise that poker wasnt invented to make the worst hand and the game just sucks


Wow Razz to me is a junk poker game!! It rewards the donkeys for playing bad poker and to me is a total mockery of the game we all love to play. My chips stay in play with NL sit n gos I dont know about you guys but this in my book is the only poker game to play and do well at. Best of Luck and Happy Holidays to all at CC.:icon_sant
 
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