Choosing what Type of Poker to Play

Players have a lot to choose when they begin to play poker. Once you have decided which poker room to play at, you need to decide the type of poker that you want to play. Firstly, you need to decide the variation of poker that you want to play and then you need to decide the type of game.

Choosing a Variation of Poker

It is a good idea to find a variation of poker that you enjoy and to stick to it. The more you practice the more you will improve your skill and strategy and the more success you will have in your game. Some players enjoy a bit of a variety and that is generally fine for some fun, but if you are looking to make money off your poker games, then find what you are good at and work at perfecting it. Once you have found the game that works for you, you need to find the online poker room that offers it.

Texas Hold'em

Texas hold'em is the most common and popular variation of poker around. All online poker rooms will offer Texas hold'em to players. This is the variation of poker that is commonly seen on televised poker tournaments or at big live poker events such as the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour. Texas hold'em can be played in no limit, fixed limit or pot limit games.

Omaha

Omaha is also a popular variation of poker and many poker sites are now starting to see increases in the amount of player traffic that is found at their Omaha games. Omaha is typically offered in Omaha hi and Omaha hi-lo variations. Some poker rooms also offer Omaha tournaments through their sites.

Seven Card Stud

Seven card stud can be played in two forms – seven card stud or seven card stud hi-lo.

Others

There are other variations of poker, but many online poker rooms do not offer them. Some poker rooms may offer a few of them and some of the top poker rooms may offer them all. If you enjoy one of the less common variations of poker, you must choose your poker room accordingly. These variations include five card stud, five card draw, Razz or mixed games such as H.O.R.S.E (hold'em, Omaha, razz, stud and stud eights or better) or H.O.S.E.

Types of Poker

Besides for the poker game that you choose to play, you also need to choose the type of poker that suits you best. You can choose from ring games or tournament play, full ring tables, heads-up tables or short-handed tables, to name a few. You need to choose depending on your strengths and weaknesses and find a poker room that offers what you are looking for.

Short-Handed Tables

In general, if you find that you are an aggressive player, short-handed or heads-up tables will suit you best. No limit hold'em ring games and limit or no-limit hold'em Omaha eights or better are not your best bet in these cases. Short-handed tables are also likely to be the best option for you if you have the ability not to Tilt or to mix up your game play in a way that will keep your opponents confused.

Ring Games

If you are a patient player in that you are able to play tight games for long periods of time, then you will probably find that you are most suited to full ring games.

Tournaments

Any player can enjoy the thrill of tournament play and most online poker rooms offer a variety of poker tournaments. Firstly, find the tournament that is being offered in the game variation that you are best at. Texas hold'em tournaments are the most common, but most online poker rooms also offer Omaha tournaments and some offer tournaments in other variations as well. It is a good idea to practice your tournament strategy for that variation before you begin to play competitively as the strategy that you use in ring games and for tournaments will vary. Before you pay big buy-in fees to join a tournament, you may like to try and find a freeroll tournament where you can play competitively without having to pay to do so. Many of these freerolls even offer real money prizes.