Other games

[wEbMaStEr]

Do all of you concentrate on Hold 'Em or do you try and expand your repertoire to include other variations of poker?
When you look at the recent coverage of wsop and see the same names turn up in hold em, stud, omaha, lowball etc etc do you think it's important to become proficient in other styles?
I myself concentrate mainly on NLHE tournament play, altho i am expending into limit hold em ring games, i have played Omaha from time to time (by far my weakest game of the games i play) and i think i am kinda ok at 7stud, altho i could concentrate on it more.
Do you think it's worth learning other games?
Do you already play other games?
Discuss

[MB227]

My friends and I find it important to test other games [mainly omaha, stud, and a little razz] so we can find our strengths and weaknesses, along with new styles of play.

For instance, I find that I am more tight and aggressive in holdem compared to the other games. In omaha, I tend to be more loose and extremely aggressive, and to tell you the truth, I'm still figuring out my styles of play in stud.

I find it great to discover the joys of new poker games.

[crack]

I find it extremely important to learn other games. I can play Omaha, 7stud, razz averagely, although Hold'em is my top game, NLHE MTT's and limit ring games.

I love learning new games. I am still fresh faced with Hold'em even though I have won quite a bit. I am going to wait until I have more expereience and more money before I start to dabble and study other variations. I don't mind play money though and maybe small entry tournies in the games above.

[humbleman]

I also feel it is important to "master" as many games as possible, particularly if you plan on giving it a shot professionally. With the exception of Phil Hellmuth (who plays almost exclusivelly hold 'em), most of the pro's make money by being well rounded so to speak. Just take a look at the complete WSOP results for any given year. The pro's pick up a lot of cash by cashing in the non hold 'em events. From my own experience (mostly watching, not playing :D ) some of the big cash home games here in DC are a variety of HORSE / Dealers Choice. Got to be a good Poker player which isn't the same as being a good hold 'em player. :D :D

[ShoelessJoe]

In Super System, Doyle gives a great explanation of how it's important to play other people's games so that you can get them to play your game later.

That's why I play other games as well.

I'm weak at Omaha and Stud, but I'm strong enough in it to make up for it in Holdem.

It's important to get a group of people (or however you play) who enjoy playing poker, so if switching the games up is what makes that happen...then switch it up from week to week and just run shit on that Holdem week.

[BeerWench13]

We mostly play hold 'em, but we played a small four-tourney this past weekend that was fun. There were only 4 of us so we each bought in for $5. We had four different tournaments (hold 'em, 7 card stud, omaha high and pineapple) and each winner got $5 out of the pool. We all actually ended up breaking even and each had bragging rights to a tournament. Basically, it turned out to be free entertainment for about 5 hours or so.
By the way, I did okay in all of them, but hold 'em is definitely my strongest game, followed closely by stud.