Which Poker Game to Play
The question of which poker game to play is a good question for internet poker players. As online poker becomes more and more popular, it is getting easier to find action at all poker variants. There are many options out but the answer to that question depends on your goals in poker, your playing style and your own personal preference.
Poker Variants
There are quite a few different poker variants to choose from. Texas Holdem is the most popular poker variant but it’s hardly the only one. A few of the most other popular poker variants include Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo and Seven Card Stud. There are even more choices, but these are a few of the most popular.
My personal recommendation is that you start out with Texas Holdem. The main reason I say this is because it is the easiest poker game variant to learn and you will never have a problem finding action. Most poker players are familiar with Texas Holdem so it’s easy to find action at even the smallest internet poker sites.
A small stakes Texas Holdem game is plentiful and still quite soft. These games will give you a chance to get familiar with the game without risking a lot of money. In addition to that, there is more poker strategy written about Texas Holdem than any other poker variant out there. If you’re new to Texas Holdem, this is a major advantage. Other poker variants have limited strategy resources.
At the same time, the main advantage of learning other poker variants is the lack of strategy content out there. If you can learn how to play a savvy Omaha or 7 Card Stud game, you’ll make a lot of money off all the other poker players out there. Many skilled Texas Holdem players try to play other poker variants without first learning the proper strategy for these games. These players end up donating a lot of easy money to smart Omaha / 7 Card Stud players.
That single advantage is a major one but I still suggest you start out with Texas Holdem. The game is much easier to learn from scratch than almost any other poker variant out there. Once you get comfortable with Texas Holdem, you can then expand into new poker variants.
Game Type
There are three main types of poker games:
- Fixed Limit Cash Games
- No Limit Cash Games
- No Limit Tournaments
Texas Holdem cash games are good for players who want to grind out a steady profit at the tables. These are the types of games in which each player buys in with cash and can stay for as long as he wants. The blinds never increase and there are no predetermined prize pools. It’s just a cash table in which you try to make as much money as possible while there.
Fixed limit cash games are the best games for mathematically oriented poker players. In fixed limit cash games, money is made by consistently making the mathematically correct decision. In summary, fixed limit poker is a technical poker game. It requires a mastery of odds and the ability to makes lots of simple calculations at the tables.
No limit cash games are considered more of an art than a science. It is still important to know the basics of poker math but there is more of an emphasis on setting up the other players for the occasional big pot. In no limit poker, most of your money comes from winning medium and large pots. This game type is best for poker players who prefer action and do not mind risking entire buyins on a single hand.
No limit tournaments are also extremely popular these days. The main thing to know about no limit tournaments is that you have to put in many hours to see a significant return on your investment. Tournament play does not provide small, steady profits; it provides lots of tough losses and the occasional huge win. Tournament poker is exciting but it requires a strong mind to deal with the long stretches between big scores.
Summary
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Personally, I prefer no limit cash games because they offer the greatest combination of steady profits and big wins. There are no limit cash games on the internet that range from penny stakes to games that accept $100,000 buyins. Plus, new players are trying internet poker every day and there is always a steady stream of new money.
Most other poker players prefer no limit cash games as well. Tournament play is too spotty to rely on for 100% of your profits but it can be fun to supplement your cash games with the occasional tournament. That way you can get the whole tournament experience but still not have to go weeks between big scores. But whatever you want to play, you can aleays rely on pokerstars.com. Being the biggest poker site in the world, it is always easy to find a game that suits your need. Get started today and get a $500 welcome bonus. Just use the pokerstars marketing code: PSP1056 and your first deposit will be matched 199% up to $600.
