There's More to Poker Than Just No Limit Holdem

By Eric Rolwing
8-6-06

With the poker bonus boom over the last three years we have come accustomed to seeing No Limit Texas Hold’em television programs on every second of the day. This has caused some dissension among longtime poker players and baby boomers. This is because you can’t walk into a casino, or card club these days and find a game outside of the ever popular No Limit. There are no games of Omaha, Razz, Stud, or even Five Card Draw. Even if by the miniscule chance the casino has one of these games, odds are the game is of a very low limit in which the house takes all proceeds.

Outside of the Internet, you can’t find a good 5/10-dollar game of Stud, or an intriguing game of Pot Limit Omaha. They don’t exist. The fact is poker is being pigeon holed into being a one trick pony and this can’t continue if the game hopes to survive beyond the poker boom. We all know there will come a day when the American Public is going to get sick of No Limit Texas Hold’em. In fact, that day may be coming sooner than later. Thus, this is why I am urging poker players of all skill levels to attempt to learn more versions of poker. Not only will learning more games of poker further the quest in becoming a more complete poker player, but it will also help you evolve your No Limit game. This is because it will cause you to expand your thought process and give you a better perspective on how to manage the game that best works for you. Perhaps a limit game is better than a No Limit game for you.

You will never know which brand of poker best works for you until you try all forms of poker. With all the different Internet poker sites like PokerStar.net out there, it is easy to find all sorts of different games of poker of any limit to hone your skills. There are also books out there of all sorts to help you teach and evolve your all around poker game. For example, The Holy Grail of all these books, “Super Systems” by Doyle Brunson has advice for all types of players on all sorts of different poker games. “Super Systems” takes advice from not only the legendary Doyle Brunson, but it also includes sections from many other professionals. Thus, you are getting a circular view of how to play poker, rather than just the ideals of one man. Poker is a complex game that can be examined from many different angles and thus it’s great to have input from more than just one source. There is knowledge out there to be soaked up. We must get all forms of poker back in our card rooms. The future of poker can’t survive on No Limit Hold’em alone. All I am asking is that you give poker a try. Don’t let our great game die.