Specializing in Stud8/b

[empty]

I was a No-Limit hold'em player, and doing well. I was making about 5.5BB/100 (from poker tracker) + bonus whoring.

After getting bored with the game, and sick of the huge swings, i decided to start playing stud8/b. I am starting to get the hang of it, and am now a slight winner overall. I am clearing bonuses which helps too, but I at least break even when i am clearing these bonuses.

Basically my question is this: Is it worth it to spend all my time playing stud8/b, and mastering the game? Or should I go back to NLHE?

I still play NLHE occasionally, and still do well. And at the home games, this is all we play, because noone else knows any other game, it sucks.

Anyone just specialize in stud8/b? Or is this a bad idea?

Any comments welcome.

Thanks alot guys.

[mscags]

I play a lot of 8/B (actually we have a prvt 1-2 table at party going right now if you want in) and it works out pretty well for me. I think that holdem is more profitable, but I find 8/B a lot more fun. usually what I do when I log on is look for juicy 8/B tables and sit down if I find some, if not I play holdem bc it is always juicy [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Alex/Mugaaz]

I honestly reach plateau's in each game after working / studying them exclusively for 2-4months. I then switch to something different, do the same, then switch back.

I find that my head is basically mush and all concepts become flimsy the more I try to force growth. I'm usually able to advance 2 levels of stakes before I feel like I'm pushing against a wall. When I come back X months later I'm able to see faults I had before much easier than before, because I have much more "card sense". I think you can pick any 2 or 3 games and cycle them. It keeps things much fresher, you can play more games, and it probably has no bearing on your overall expectation.

Also, if you keep with only one game you start missing out on a lot if info due to suffering from Heard This Before Syndrome. HTBS also causes you to commit habitual mistakes into your subconscious, then on top of that you sometimes even think these are good plays. Not Good.

[jester710]

Since most people play HE almost exclusively, the median skill level there is higher than for any other game (which isn't very high, but still). If you master stud 8, you'll find that the difference in your skill level and that of your average opponents is likely to be much greater than in HE. There are people out there who already know this, of course, so expect to see a few sharks along the way as well.

However, the fact that most pots are split means you'll need to find a very loose table with a lot of chasers to see as much immediate profit as in HE. This isn't always easy to do, as most sites only have sporadic stud 8 games going, and they won't always be at your desired limit.

Bottom line, I think you have a greater EV at HE, but you're likely to see fewer swings at stud 8. I'd recommend trying to master the game anyway; it makes for a great vacation from HE.

[Nick_Foxx]

i play stud 8 or better more than any other form of poker, but i don't think it's a good idea to just be a specialist in one game... sometimes, it's hard to find a good stud/8 table going at the stakes you are willing to play (for example on pstars, often times there is only 1 active table at each available limit)

also who wants to play the same game all the time? i think 3 is a good number of games to be reasonably proficient at

mike

[theben]

i say play a mix of games. get good at several games. that way, if you see a really juicy game (say stud8) and only rock garden NLHE games, (or vice-versa) and you can play both games well, then you can hop in the juicy game

[greenage]

Except for the occasional limit Omaha/8 Sit & Go, Stud and Stud/8 are the only forms of limit poker I’m playing right now.

I also play NLHE, PLHE Sit & Gos and the occasional pot limit Omaha/8 cash game.

I can’t imagine specializing in just one game, but I’m more of a recreational player so my top priority is the fun factor.

Learning additional games can only help make you a better overall poker player, I think.