Mastering the six forms of poker: Introduction

You may be wondering on how I settled on six forms of poker that I used in the title, considering there are dozens of different formats from Pot Limit PLO8 to Limit Triple Draw 2-7, and there is even a commonly played game known as 10-Game Mix. What I have done is break poker down to six distinct categories that players would need to master in order to be a proficient mixed-game player. Knowing these six categories players will be able to play any form of poker they come across.

Here is a look at the two main categories and six sub-categories (forms of poker) I have chosen (in later articles in this series I will detail the basic principles for each category):

Game Structure:

• Stud Poker
• Community Card Poker
• Draw Poker

Betting Format:

• Limit Poker
• Big Bet Poker
• Split Pot

Therefore, each poker game you play in will be one of the following: a Stud variant, a Draw variant, or a Community Card game variant. From there you will have to determine if the game falls into the Limit Poker or Big Bet Poker form of betting.

Basically if you understand the principles of each of these types of formats you’ll be able to play in any poker game. Almost without exception it takes two of these categories to play any type of poker game. For instance, if you want to play 7-Card-Stud you’ll need to understand the principles of Stud Poker and Limit Poker. Or if you want to play Pot Limit 5-Card-Draw you’ll need to know the principles of Big Bet Poker and Draw Poker. For No limit Texas Holdem you’ll need to understand Limit Poker and Community Card Poker.

This idea, that a game will incorporate one of the sub-categories from each main category, even applies to non-standard games like Badugi (Limit Poker and Draw Poker) and No Limit 2-7 Single Draw (Big Bet Poker and Draw Poker).

You may be asking where the 6^th sub-category is, but since it doesn’t fall into either of the main categories I have left it out until now: So here is the final piece of the puzzle that could be added……. if the game is a Split-Pot game -awarding both a best hand portion of the pot as well as qualifying low portion of the pot. Games like Omaha 8 or better (Community Card Poker, Split Pot Poker, and either Limit or Big Bet Poker), or Seven Card Stud 8 or better (Stud Poker, Split Pot Poker, and either Limit or Big Bet Poker), fall into this group.

So here are the six forms of poker that a player must gain mastery in to be capable of playing any poker variant:

1.       Stud Poker

2.       Community Card Poker

3.       Draw Poker

4.       Limit Poker

5.       Big Bet Poker

6.       Split Pot Poker

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