What Poker Variant Needs the Most Skill?

[nabmom]

I know that I personally tend to focus on No Limit Texas Hold'em, but I don't want to forget about all the other variants of poker that are out there. Some are standard online/in casinos (like 7-card stud and Omaha, which has its many variants, and even Badugi and Razz). Other variants are more often found in home games (like Crazy Pineapple, Squid Game, and Dramaha). Some of these we love, and some we hate.

Today I want to know, out of all the variants in poker, which one do you think requires the most skill, and why? If you want to get creative and tell me about the variants you love and don't love, that's OK too.

If I'm being honest, my first variant learned, and my favorite to this day is NLHE. I love the dynamics in the game and that whole, "it takes a day to learn and a lifetime to master" aspect of this game. I think it still requires a LOT of skill to be a solid player (various solvers be dammed!).

What about you?

 

[bodil19982]

Probably the most difficult game for me is no-limit hold'em cash. I myself play mostly hold'em tournaments, for them it is not enough just skill but a large share of luck. For cash games you need distance and understanding of the limits of which there are a great many, something like that

 

[YLAN]

There is no variant of poker that I don't like. Just that some variants are obviously more difficult than others.

The easiest & I like most is NLHE (prolly since its the most played). The most difficult that requires the most skill is the 8-Game. Its eight different disciplines with different rules requiring unique strategies demands one's ability to adapt & focus in diverse formats. Its like playing eight tournaments at one time. When one plays this game, be prepared to grind for a longer time which is a challenge in itself.

 

[Sunz of Beaches]

I honestly think it's Pot limit Omaha as there are so many different boards and combinations in this complicated game. It already starts with the starting hands. It's quite difficult at first to figure out what are actually good hands and what are the bad hands where u can flop weak straights/flushes or weak draws.

PLO8 seems also pretty complicated and other varíants I simply don't play but for sure a lot of skill would be required to master them.

 

[TeUnit]

I think the highest amount of skill is required for either deep stack NL 6 max, deep stack NL HU, or deep stack PLO HU.

I think the least amount of skill required is AIOF 9 max. This is pure ICM test.

 

[CRStals]

One of the hardest variants in my opinion is Pot Limit Omaha H/L 8 or Better. Between managing the size of the pot, the hi and lo possibilities and the volatility of Omaha to start with, this is a variant noe for the faint of heart.

 

[Tero]

This is a tricky question since it can be looked at from at least two angles.

1) Since I do not even know the rules of all poker variants, how could I possibly compare how much brain power/skill it takes to keep all the balls in the air in this or that variant?

2) We can safely say that NLHE has the widest game offering and the biggest player pool online. Even on the low levels some of the players have decided to improve their skills. So to have even a small edge in this game (even on the grass root level) it is possible that we need to have a higher skill set than when entering into other poker variants.

 

[antonis32123]

I don't know for sure. I guess it's not nlh cause I think it's one of the easiest. But I find it hard to be successful at plo , it's tougher than nlh . I don't know if it's the tougher of all that needs the most skill . I think razz is the easiest )))

 

[pentazepam]

It becomes a semantic question since you have to define what you mean by skill.

NLH is very easy to learn, but before solvers and all the information available, it also had the biggest skill gap because of the deep strategic complexity (position, bet sizing, ranges, bluffing). The No-limit betting structure also allows for massive leverage and psychological pressure. In LIVE games, the ability to read other players is also a very important skill since you can win a whole stack with a good read.

PLO is harder to play perfectly because of the lack of solver solutions, and more combinations are possible. But the equities also run closer, so luck has a greater importance in the short time span. But it is harder to learn to play decent than NLH.

When it comes to difficulty to learn the basics, it is probably the HI-LO Split games like Stud8 and PLO8.

Memory and attention are also a kind of skill, and that is very important in the Stud Variants. It is critical to remember which cards have been exposed and folded.

If I had to pick a variant, it would be mixed games like 8-game, since you have to be good at several games. But that may not be an option since it is not just one game.

 

[SL-247]

The option that contains the least information about the progress of the game.

 

[theStarfish]

It is not easy or fair to compare the different gamers because I think that they all need a certain amount of skill. They have different rules but skillful players should learn all rules and fundamental strategies pretty quickly. Besides, they are all fun games. Of course the Omaha games need more attention because of the multiple possibilities but Stud games need attention as well because you need to keep the folded up cards in mind .

 

[Sebbour]

I don't know them all so I cannot say which one requires most skill but on one hand we have 8 Game and HORSE which requires you to know multiple variants and you really need to be concentrated because depending on the speed of the tournament every 10 (or 5) minutes there is a change in the variant.

On the other hand we have 5 Card Omaha and 6 Card Omaha and for me those two required most skill because there are so many possible outcomes in the end.

As for the variants I like I can name my two favorites and they are Badugi and 5 Card Draw but I also like 2-7 Triple Draw and 2-7 Single Draw.

 

[najisami]

To begin with, NLH is definitely the simplest of all variants, I'm not saying the easiest though. But the other variants offer more challenge and make NLH kind of boring.

As to the question, IMO, the variants that require more skill are the ones played with the High/Low format, whether Omaha or Stud. On top of the difficulty of these 2 variants, H/L makes them even more challenging and brainteasing by adding more situations to watch out for.

 

[lauestla]

I think that one of the most difficult variant to master is Omaha Hi Lo .
You have to take care of the High and Low possibilities and it's not something easy.

But the most difficult variant seems to be 8 games since you have to dance with multiple games which have differents rules.
A real challenge.

And to be honest, IMO the easiest variant is NLHE...

 

[istbno]

Among poker variants, No-Limit Texas Hold’em is widely considered to require the most skill due to its complexity, strategic depth, and large player pool. It involves mastering hand reading, bet sizing, psychology, and adapting to opponents in a constantly changing environment. However, Pot-Limit Omaha is also highly skill-intensive because of its combinatorial complexity—players hold four hole cards, which creates many more possible hand combinations and draws. Some also argue that Mixed Games (rotating formats like H.O.R.S.E.) demand the broadest skill set since players must excel in multiple poker disciplines. Overall, No-Limit Hold’em remains the most skill-focused and popular for both professionals and amateurs.

 

[DiazPoker3101]

For me, in long Holdem tournaments, I think you have to have patience and perseverance to make good decisions.

 

[neverbluff0799]

I would definitly say any form of head up for me....U cant hide head up in the long term the best player will always end up winning money and you need to be efficient in every kind iof situation and adapt quickly to your opponent since you will need to play 80-90 VPIP.

 

[mattiebumpo]

I think Dealer's Choice would be the toughest one since you have to know so many variations and you can't predict which games will be selected (or other players can select games they perceive you to be weaker in). Out of some of the games I've played, I think I struggle the most with 2-7 Triple Draw since it can be so volatile and frustrating when you start with a fantastic draw and then just keep pairing up.

 

[FastOne]

I think Pot Limit Omaha H/L is the most difficult for being the more complex.

 

[Colbefc]

I agree, Omaha is difficult but H/L is even tougher but there are not many H/L games
going on these days.

 

[MK_]

I don't think this is quantifiable... I play a lot of variants that each have their own skills...,

I think the more you learn about poker in general the better it is for you,

I do think that cash games and HU are probably more pure forms

of poker where you're on your own, also think HORSE is an all

around test of poker skill, really can't say it's just one game 😎👍

 

[yuriko oyama]

I consider hold'em to be the best variation of poker, even because of its popularity among players.
But the variation I would like to master is Omaha, but I feel that this variation becomes difficult for me, because I see it as having a primordial need for patience that I lack, I see it as a game that is much more difficult to resolve on the flop, no matter how aggressive I try to be. Due to the smaller number of players, if I could evolve more, I believe it would be more profitable than living in the hold'em lottery, fighting against a greater variance and an absurd number of players.

 

[ManOfSky]

I think No Limit Hold’em needs the most skill because it’s the most competitive and widely played. The edges are small, so every mistake matters.

 

[mardi1987]

I haven't played other variants for a long time, but in short, NLHE is still my favorite, that balance of strategy and dynamics is unbeatable. If we talk about the variant that requires the most skill, I would say 2-7 Triple Draw - little information, a lot of room for error. I like PLO for creativity, and Razz just demoralizes me. 🍻

 

[Gritz18]

What about you?

The one I like the most is No-Limit Texas Hold'em, other variants are not attractive to me.