When to move up in the table limits in Holdem

New players to Holdem should start at a limit that is well within their stake money and only move up in limits when they are consistently winning at the starting level.  As a player moves up in the table limits the opponents will become tougher to beat.  The higher the limit of play usually means more playing experience.  New players should take this into consideration when deciding to play at a higher limit.  The one valid reason that a player should make the move is they have been winning at the lower limit.  Another factor is the fact that the player may have the resources to play at just about any limit.  But make no mistake about it; each limit will raise the playing skill of the players that a player has to play against.

In tournaments it does not matter, as the only consideration is the entry stake and tournament fee.   In a cash game the higher limits can be somewhat intimidating to a new player if they start out on a losing streak.   This may well happen as the skill level will be better and this could make a big difference to an inexperienced player. [Read][more...]

Why Omaha HiLo is a good players game

Experienced players in Omaha HiLo have a big edge against new players to the game.  Winning hands are far different than what you see in Holdem for example.

A pair of Aces can easily win a Holdem pot.  In Omaha this hand has a far lower chance of winning the pot.  There is a very simple reason for this in Omaha.  Each player starts the hand holding four cards instead of the two you see in Holdem.  Three of a kind is a decent hand unless there are three suited cards in the Flop or one pair.  If this is the case, then it is likely that another player may have a flush or a full house.

Every winning hand in Holdem needs to be better as a rule in Omaha as each player has nine cards to make a hand.  In Holdem there are only seven cards for each player.  If the game is no-limit, you can protect your hand by a large bet, but many players that play Omaha are very willing to gamble on a draw.  Good Holdem players have to reset their way of playing when they are playing Omaha HiLo.  [Read][more...]