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Howard Lederer
June 13, 2005
The recent poker explosion on TV
and the Internet has created a flood
of new players who are serious about
developing their game. Sadly for them,
television is sending a skewed
message. No-Limit Hold 'em is the game
of choice when the game is shown on
TV, and it's easy to think there is
only one game out there. While no one
would argue that No-Limit makes for
the most exciting television, there
are many dangers associated with
playing only one game.
First, you run the risk of getting
bored, and boredom will lead to a
stunting of your poker development.
Enthusiasm is a critical ingredient
for a successful poker career. When I
spend time around the best poker
players in the world, the one thing
that they all share is a genuine love
and passion for the game.
Next, you might be missing your
true poker calling. As it happens, my
best game isn't No-Limit Hold 'em -
it's Limit Hold 'em. Had I not tried
playing limit, I would never have
found the game I am best at.
There are reasons why all the
biggest casinos in the world feature
multiple games. Stop by the big game
at the Bellagio in Las Vegas and
you're liable to see No-Limit and
Limit, with games ranging from
Seven-Card Stud to Deuce-to-Seven
Draw. The best players in the world
simply love to play poker. To deny
themselves the pleasure of playing
some of the best forms of the game
would be unthinkable. They also know
that if they play just one game, the
specialists in a particular game (who
are not nearly as good overall poker
players) would be able to sit at their
game and win. If you want to climb to
the top of the poker world, you better
become a great poker generalist. If
you insist on limiting yourself to one
game, you'll never make it.
Even if your ultimate goal is to
become an accomplished No-Limit Hold 'em
player, I encourage you to at least
play a lot of Limit Hold 'em. Too many
No-Limit specialists get by with
almost no post-flop skills. To get
good at limit Hold 'em, you will be
forced get more comfortable playing
after the flop. Getting free cards on
fourth street and making close value
bets on fifth street are just two of
the skills you'll be working on. And
those skills are transferable.
Developing these skills in limit Hold
'em will allow you to play your hands
with all your options available. And
your No-Limit results will improve
dramatically.
Playing the other games will
develop skills that will simply make
you a better poker player. Skills that
have subtle value in No-Limit Hold 'em
are very important in the other games.
Acquiring these skills will have
profound effects on your No-Limit
game, even though you might not even
be aware of their importance now.
Playing Seven-Card Stud will
definitely teach you the value of free
cards. It is a fundamental skill
necessary to succeed at the game. In
Pot-Limit Omaha you will learn the
power of position and the power of the
semi-bluff. Seven-Card Stud 8/Better
is a game where you need to learn how
to narrow the field at the right time.
The number of players in a pot can
make a hand go from a fold to a raise.
Razz? Well, if nothing else, it will
teach you how important patience can
be when things aren't going well.
The world of poker has a lot more
to offer than No-Limit Hold 'em. And
if you start to explore that world, I
am confident you will enjoy the game
more. Getting good at each game will
take time, so start out small and read
what you can. Have fun; a new world
awaits.
Howard Lederer
Play Online Poker
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