Game Comparison

[schroedy]

I play a fair amount of Stud, Hold 'Em and O/8 at the $10/$20 to $20/$40 levels (well I play pretty regularly in the Commerce $9/$18 Hold 'Em game too). I have pretty good results across the board -- somewhat less so at O/8, but I am a less skilled O/8 player than at the other two games also.

Which of the three is the best (most fishy)? And which of the three is the best (most interesting)? And, lastly, which of the three is the best (least fishy)? I suppose we could throw, Stud Hilo into the mix also, but I am not playing as much of that as I once did.

Feel free to branch off into discussion of relative variance also.

I am familiar with Mason's essay on the topic of Stud vs. Hold 'Em, but my personal experience in today's lower middle limits is different than what Mason wrote -- especially today with the prevalence of "maniacs" in mid-level HE. I wonder if the games are different, or if one game more neatly fits my particular skill set.

I will wait a while and then post my thoughts.

[Iceman]

In games with many total fish, Omaha-8 is much more profitable than holdem or stud. However, Omaha-8 is not very lucrative if most of your opponents know even the very basics of the game, and you need multiple fish to make it worthwhile. I find that B&M Omaha-8 games are rarely worth playing above the 5-10 limit.

Against similar opposition in 10-20 games, a stud expert will win more than a holdem expert, and the stud expert will also have a lower variance. That said, because of the WPT and general growth in popularity of holdem, there are a lot more novices playing holdem at all limits, so the typical holdem lineup will be weaker than the typical stud lineup, thus allowing a holdem expert to earn more. You said you do well in all three games, so the very aggressive play of many 10-20 holdem games shouldn't bother you unless you don't want the swings; a tight-passive 10-20 stud game will have a very low variance.

Most poker skills come into play in all major games, but some are more important than others in particular games. What distinguishes a great stud player from a good one is the ability to adjust quickly to game conditions and unusual situations. The major difference between a great limit holdem player and a good limit holdem player is hand reading. The major difference between a great no-limit holdem player and a good no-limit player is opponent reading. Omaha-8 is ideal for anyone who plays against weak opposition, regardless of their personal strengths as a player.