Table Talk 1: Don't Stop at Hold'em

Over the last few weeks, I've been teaching my housemates how to play poker. It started when I began making more frequent (and more profitable) visits to the Crown Poker Room. Since I'm a fairly open book, my mates tend to know when I'm doing something interesting, and if it catches their eye, I've got a rockin' convoy!

However, I've realised - not just from my housemates, but from many people - that Texas Hold'em is the only game they actually want to learn. Why? Either because it's the only version of the game they know to exist (although many people are familiar with Five-Card Draw), or because they've seen it on TV and figure that if they're going to play, they want to play the game the pros play.

If I've just described you, then guess what? The pros don't just play Hold'em - they play everything! That's how you become a good poker player. The Big Game at the Bellagio is a $4,000/8,000 Limit game that switches between several types of poker, because true poker greats love the game - all styles of the game!

So, what styles of poker should you learn? Listed are what I consider my Big Five, the games easiest to get a game in, with the most important game to learn (in my opinion) listed first:

1. Texas Hold'em. It's still the most popular game out there, and it's the one you should learn first, because you can get a game anywhere. It's the best place to start. Just remember to learn to play in all three of the major Limit structures; Fixed Limit, Pot Limit & No-Limit are all popular versions and are played very differently.

2. Seven-Card Stud.The most popular of the Stud games, 7-Stud is usually a Fixed Limit game. 7-Stud can be played a number of ways, but the three most popular are 7-Stud High, 7-Stud Hi/Lo (8 or better), & Razz (Lowball). With so much variety, and more betting rounds, it's a very profitable game and one you will learn a lot from.

3. Omaha. A very popular Community Card game that is awesome played Hi/Lo, as well as making an excellent Pot Limit game. Omaha will teach you a lot about pot odds and drawing hands.

4. Five-Card Draw. If for no other reason than to have a good home game where everybody knows the rules. Learn how to play it Limit, Pot & No-Limit, and clean up on your mates!

5. Triple Draw. This game is becoming very popular in the States nowadays because of the huge pot sizes. It's a Lowball version of 5-Draw played either Deuce to Seven or Ace to Five. A lot of mixed games features some form of Triple Draw. Learn it.

Speaking of mixed games, it's an ever-increasing trend at a big tournament series to run a H.O.R.S.E. tournament. For the uninitiated, H.O.R.S.E. is a mixed game where play cycles between Texas Hold'em, Omaha Eight-or-better, Razz, Seven-Card Stud High and Seven-Card Stud Eight-or-better. There's a lot of money to be had in these tournaments, and there's no reason why you can't have it, if you learn how to win at every game.

Finally, you have to learn other versions of poker to keep the game interesting. There's nothing worse than playing online and realising that you're bored of Hold'em, but you're winning and you don't want to stop! That's when, if you're poker savvy, you'll be able to jump on the 7-Stud tables and continue your good form. Playing different styles will make you more passionate and interested in poker as a multi-dimensional masterpiece.

So learn as many variations of poker as possible. You'll become a much diverse player, able to get a game wherever you go. My budding students will be learning all of these, and they've never played in their life. What's your excuse?