Online Poker Strategy Articles

Brett Jungblut

I was recently talking to a relatively new player about poker. The conversation was uninteresting, until I realized that this player thought that No Limit Hold'em was the only poker game. This actually upset me, because I pride myself on being very good at all the different forms of poker. To this particular player, these other games don't even exist.

I'm not here to hate on No Limit - the game has taken poker to new heights - but I want players to realize that there are other enjoyable forms of poker and, while they may be less popular, they can be equally rewarding. Here are some good reasons why you should learn some of the other games out there.

YOU MAY NOT BE PLAYING YOUR BEST GAME. It's quite possible that you would be a better Omaha or Stud player than a No Limit Hold'em player. Every game relies on different skills, and your skill set could be more profitable in one of these other games.

GAME SELECTION. You probably know how important game selection is, but have you thought about how to increase the number of games you can select from? The more games in which you become proficient, the more you can look at before deciding which game to play.

AVOID BURNING YOURSELF OUT. When you start playing a lot of hours every week, especially in just one type of game, burn-out becomes a realistic possibility. If you mix up the games you play, you can give your mind a break from the monotony. Also, if you start to run bad, you can change games and try to turn things around.

BECOME A MORE COMPLETE PLAYER. Almost all of the "name" players on the circuit are more than just one-game players. They've usually gone through the ranks of all or most of the games. Take Phil Ivey, for example. Sure, he is an amazing No Limit player, but did you know that not one of his five World Series bracelets has come from Hold'em? He's won bracelets in Pot Limit Omaha (2), SHOE (Stud, Hold'em, Omaha, and Omaha 8b), Stud, and Stud 8b. He has shown a complete understanding of all the games, which only adds to his legendary status in the poker world.

Hopefully, these reasons will convince you to explore other forms of poker and make yourself a better all-around poker player.