[lunchmeat]

Omaha 8: O8 games are typically very soft, even online (which is a big difference from hold ‘em). It is also a relatively easy game to learn how to play well. Nevertheless, IMO there are better games to learn than O8. Games typically go slowly, which means fewer hands dealt per hour (both live and online), which means your EV is lowered. O8 also sucks shorthanded at low-limits because most pots are split and the rake is big (meaning that much of your earn is drained away in rake.) It isn’t as bad at a full table because of the multi-way pots, but when all the pots are head up and then end up getting split between two players the only long-term winner is the house at low limits. Also, many people find O8 to be the most boring poker variation because strategy frequently becomes automatic. O8 used to be called “the game of the future,” which I find ironic because I’ve never seen anyone under the age of 50 playing it.

7 Stud: I’m learning stud right now and to me the game is really interesting. In many respects, stud requires different skill sets than hold ‘em (like keeping track of the cards that are out, and frequently jockeying to get the pot heads-up). There are far more opportunities to make advanced plays than at O8. A big bonus for me is that where I live stud is actually more popular than hold ‘em, so there are always games going, most of them pretty soft. The downside I see to stud is that it is almost completely dead online. I think this has to do with the fact that to play stud well you must pay attention, and most internet players would rather multi-table or surf the internet between hands instead of paying attention to a single game. Also, many online sites have wacky ante structures that require either super tight play or super loose/aggressive play. Low-limit casino stud is usually played spread limit, which IMO also detracts from the game.

Big Bet Games: If I didn’t live on the East coast I’d be learning PLO and NLHE right now instead of stud. With capped buy-ins, these really are the games of the future. The people who are drawn to poker from TV want to play No Limit. I haven’t learned to play the big bet games well yet, but there seems to be a lot of new fish playing these games.