Why are Mixed Games not More Popular Online?

[pentazepam]

Especially in cash games it seems like the popularity of the poker variants on a list looks something like this:

1. NLH

BIG jump down to:

2. PLO

Even bigger jump down to:

3. Everything else


We all know that the games online get tougher and tougher and limits like 100NL which was almost a beginner level 10-15 years ago are now full of very good players. Even at the lowest levels like 2-10NL there are people playing to earn money.

So why is it that people still think it is fun to play the same game almost every time they play online (if they are recreational players and not professionals)?

I really thought that mixed games would be more popular since you get much more variation and mental challenges since the solvers aren't as developed in these games, and it is harder for the sharks to be super good at every variant.

They have said that PLO is the game of the future for at least 10 years now.

If you still only play NLH. Why?

 

[ninja415]

I play mixed games, personally and find them ultra fun. Probably the most satisfying poker format.

 

[rhoudini]

Hold'em has become the most popular because it is the variant of the wsop Main Event, which had a major impact on its popularity, specially after the 2003 boom with Chris Moneymaker getting the main event title (and some million dollars) after winning a $82 satellite.

But this almost was different. Back in 1980s (or 1970s, I don't know for sure), when they were deciding which game to be featured in the Main Event, they almost decided for NL 2-7 Single Draw! Maybe there is a parallel universe in which 2-7 single draw is the most popular game? We will never know.

We need to consider that Hold'em is quite simple and funny for a beginner. Consider this:

• Draw games (specially single draw, like 5-card draw or 2-7) may not be that fun initially, because they are closed games, so there is no information for a beginner, who maybe wants to "see" action. Flop games have far more action.
• Stud games are difficult even for some Hold'em players. For a long time I considered Stud games boring. Just after paying more attention I realized how beautiful and challenging they are. Stud games demand far more creativity and logical reasoning. Beginners don't want challenges (and they are right. First it needs to be fun, later it can become a challenge).
• Limit games are seen as boring, because bets can never change. In NL games, a beginner, even not knowing what he is doing, if he bets enough, may bluff and win a big pot, and he will be quite satisfied at that moment. Later, if he wants to improve and be consistent winner, he can learn more.
• Omaha is a bit challenging for a beginner to even understand the rules of using 2 hand cards and 3 table cards. Also, it is far more difficult than Hold'em, both in preflop hand selection and Postflop gameplay.
• Finally, hold'em solves almost all of these "beginners issues". It is a flop game with cards on the table, no-limit and is relatively simple to give a beginner a chance to have fun and win sometimes, even if they don't know much theory.

Therefore, I think that NLHE deserves the popularity it has got, but we poker players who really love the game, we need to show these other people that Hold'em is just the beginning, and that these other games can be as fun, challenging and rewarding!

 

[BetterThanAvgButNotByMuch]

Bad players know they can't win at those limit games but NL and PL games give bad players the illusion they can so they're drawn in.

 

[MK_]

... I think it's because most people learn Texas holdem first and never venture out, had people tell me holdem is and always was the top game but back in the day it was 5 card draw.... which is the game my grandfather taught me so I had to learn holdem later. I play everything and prefer other games by far. They're missing out playing the same game all the time👍

 

[Cooking]

I play NLH and PLO. It's very rare to play mixed games, because most rooms does not even offer this option, I only remember PS when I think of mixed games. I think it's fun to play, but I think it's not more popular because when you play mixed games tables (cash or tournaments) you can't play as much tables as you can when you play NLH or PLO. At least in my case, I need to pay more attention to tables when I play mixed games, so, I think I could only play 3-4 tables max at the same time.

 

[pentazepam]

I play NLH and PLO. It's very rare to play mixed games, because most rooms does not even offer this option, I only remember PS when I think of mixed games. I think it's fun to play, but I think it's not more popular because when you play mixed games tables (cash or tournaments) you can't play as much tables as you can when you play NLH or PLO. At least in my case, I need to pay more attention to tables when I play mixed games, so, I think I could only play 3-4 tables max at the same time.

Yes, your brain gets a good workout when you have Razz on one table, Omaha Hi-Low on another, NLH on a third and Stud High on the fourth.

 

[goaldriversv]

I like mixed games but many dislike it because it’s slower to play and more luck or bad beats can be involved bc of more combinations or because most mixed games are limit

 

[Andyreas]

Slightly unrelated but I think this topic is a nice opportunity to hint towards our new variants league where you can play those mixed games with other CardsChat members. See here:

https://www.cardschat.com/forum/cardschat-weekend-variants-league-81/new-series-cardschat-weekend-variants-league-527428/

 

[iwont20]

Because barely anyone knows how to play them and therefore they're too luck-dependent (razz, stud, 2-7 draw of any format). And everyone knows that PLO has a lot bigger variance than NLH.

I think it's in human nature to lean towards what you know/can control.

 

[Pokerpoet2]

I feel that NLH is more popular simply because of the television coverage it gets, I agree that there are in my opinion better Poker formats and I do sometimes play Stud and Draw Poker, I even think that Omaha is a far superior game because there is more to think about when playing, but when your time to play On-line is limited you cannot always wait for an alternative game to fill up.
Many players at my local pub have never heard of Omaha, and they also think that Stud and Draw poker games are old and outdated because they have seen these games in Old Western movies.
It is hard to change peoples perception of Poker and many old people still believe Poker is played by nasty characters in smoky dark backrooms, I remember when I told my parents that I had started to play and they warned me to be careful who I spoke with as there are too many villains in the game.

 

[iceheart888]

recreational players don't know all the poker games, I think that's the reason

 

[Haggar]

The popularity of a variant is not dictated by the pro's or strong players but by the majority which are the recs.
Recs like games where they can win, so they like game with high luck factors, like holdem and omaha.
Weak players go broke way to quick in games with low luck factors, like 5 card draw and stud hi/lo, then they funnily enough blame that on luck and go back to holdem or omaha so they get lucky runs again and think they played well.

 

[MatheusANF]

Because the people dont know play PLO