For those of you looking to broaden your poker horizons beyond No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha (PLO), giving 8-game mix a try sure ought to scratch that itch. As far as which poker variants are included in the 8-game mix, you’ll find: No Limit Hold’em, 7 Card Stud, Fixed Limit Omaha 8 or Better, Razz, Pot Limit Omaha, Fixed Limit Hold’em, 7 Card Stud 8 or Better and 2-7 Triple Draw. In the previous two articles of this miniseries, we’ve gone over the unique mechanics of mixed game poker and have given over 8 Beginner’s Tips for the 8-Game Mix.
I imagine that those of you who’ve read those pieces might already be fixing to jump in the game online at PokerStars or are perhaps giving a thought to attending the next Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival, in Las Vegas. In poker it never hurts to be as prepped as possible. So before you fire up those tables online or jump on a plane to Vegas, I wanted to offer you another slate of 8 tips for the 8-Game Mix. Enjoy!
No Limit Hold’em
Don’t over c-bet out of position, this can be easily taken advantage of! You can check a lot out of position even as the previous aggressor or with strong hands. This is the only no-limit game in the mix after all, so you can always check-raise or go for that big value (more than 2bb) on the turn or river, too!
7-Card Stud
You don’t have to play in flow in stud games. You don’t have to bet on 4th street just because you were the aggressor on 3rd street. The situation can change a lot on 4th street and there is no need to inflate the pot with medium strength hands either. Take a moment to evaluate the situation instead of auto c-betting in these spots.
Fixed Limit Omaha 8 or Better
Make sure you defend the big blind often enough, even with high only hands! When there has only been a single raise in front of you, you can defend a good portion of your range in the big blind. And don’t be afraid to take the initiative and lead on flops as well when you do; there are many boards that won’t suit the pre-flop aggressor and you can take advantage of that.
Razz
Go for the steal. Have a terrible hand but you’re showing the last low up card? Try going for that steal. You can have a pretty wide range in these spots as broadway up-cards like Jacks, Queens and Kings are very unlikely to play back at you. If its just you and the bring-in, you can raise with (almost) any two hole cards.
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Pot Limit Omaha (PLO)
Play aggressively pre-flop! Make sure you get those 3-bets in, especially with those beautiful double suited hands and hands with Ace blockers! Make the most of being able to bet big in these games and put your opponents in difficult situations.
Fixed Limit Hold’em
Get those check-raises in, even if you were the pre-flop aggressor! The check-raise is a powerful tool in your arsenal and a great way to get more chips in the middle with your big hands, as well as to add some firepower to those cheeky bluffs.
7 Card Stud 8 or Better
Do you want to go multiway or squeeze a player out of the pot? When you’ve got two halves of the pot to play for, make sure you think about what is best in each scenario. Sometimes you’ll call as you can win bigger pots multiway, winning a bigger half the pot keeping players in, whilst other times raising and putting a hand in a tough spot helps you fold out hands with strong equity against you.
2-7 Triple Draw
It’s time to snow. Snowing is when you pat your hand as a bluff. When you draw to hands like two pair, trips, straights or even open-enders that don’t have a very good chance of improving into a strong hand, take a moment to think if this would be a good snow candidate. You can stand pat as a bluff and make sure to bet the streets afterwards; you need your opponent to fold in the end after all!
Bonus 8-Game Mix Tip
Don’t forget to have fun! 🙂 If you’re new to mixed game poker, hopefully you have a great time. You can ask the dealer if you’re ever unsure of rules and the community is really friendly, too. Good luck and enjoy the new games.
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