what is your favorite mix? (of games). your dream mix.

my mix would be

stud
2-7 TD
PL-holdem
NLHE
PLO
NLO

Dream limit mix:
Razz
Stud
Stud8
2-7 TD
Badugi
Archie

Big bet mix:
2-7 Single Draw
Swingo

I think capped big bet games in a limit mix are dumb and not good. We should keep Kosher in that regard. Two sets of dishes.

I ran a tourney with N/L Single Draw, N/L 5 Card Draw, Pot Limit Triple Draw and Crazy Pineapple! Also my weekly Single Draw got mentioned on a Single Draw WSOP Final Table Live stream! I thought that was beyond cool!!!

I had to Google Swingo, sounds pretty sick. Is NL or PL preferred?

I do not understand the love for razz in your limit mix, IMO this is the most boring of all the stud-dealt games. What's up with that?

We play a 25 game (up from 22 games with the recent addition of dramaha, dramaha 2-7, and double board Omaha high) limit mix (50/100) in Denver, rumor is there's a big (200/400?) limit 40 game mix in the Seattle area. The game I doubt anybody knows is badugi hi/lo, I had a post on this a few years explaining the rules-essentially a split pot game between best low (conventional) and high badugis. Hands such as A789 are strong 2-way hands, 23QK is the worst possible badugi in this game.

Unrelated content for electrical: I happened to be listening to Stooges/Funhouse when I was reading this and decided to remind myself which bands you'd produced, some amazing stuff, and not surprised to find out you are a Stooges fan. If you're ever in Colorado I'd break out the good Japanese whisky in exchange for the chance to listen to stories from the late 80s/early 90s.

Razz is the best regularly played 1 winner limit game in mixed games by a significant margin. Well, 2-7 Razz is better, but still Razz.

My dream mix is the one that includes no terrible limit split pot games (Badacey/Badeucey, Razzdacey/Razzdeucey, Double Board Omaha, Drawmahas). Finding the person who is on an eternal poker heater is like playing pin the tail on the donkey. If a pro is passionate about any of the above games, they are running significantly above expectation in their mixed game careers. Not only are they bad limit poker games, they also typically see only 10-12 hands dealt per hour. 15 in a bad game with a great dealer.

Whatever gets the most popular is my favorite mix. It is a factor that dominates. In practice, it is NLH-PLO mix in live games that might be more like PLO but that might depend on if the regular NLH and PLO games run at that limit.

It can contain 5(hole)-card PLO (big omaha), that is then most often opted (some opt PLO) as that kind of players seek these games specifically.

It could be 6-cards but only the specific players would target it and it is too messy for other players; too many cards, though it is spread in some places but it can be bad for the game if only PLO could be spread instead. And big omaha, as it is way easier for PLO players to make that move and it is still clear enough. Big omaha has a strong following actually, as popular as LHE, especially in the USA (PLO has got more popular there, and LHE less popular, so it is just a matter of time).

Pretty much the only spot to play mixed games is at Stars; that means the 8-game cash and tourneys and possibly some HORSE tourneys. But the only reason players play mixed games is for the mix of NLH and PLO (not played at all) with some other forms mixed in for the variety (and it needs to be 100 bb deep, as that was more popular than the capped one at Stars, as it is an add-on for NLH and PLO players also).

The practical way to play the limit mix is to play it at Stars tourneys as separate games, that gets over the rake problem also. At least the smallest limits but a long shot higher also if the players start to build them, and there are some occasional bigger tourney like at 8-game as a bit regular also.

As the limit games are basically dead, the 8-game will also die at some point, if it already isn't, just getting popularity from the players having some fun or from the older players who played limit poker when they were younger. The highest level players have some love for mixed play.

Considering the future and popularity, the maximum practical mix has at least NLH, PLO, big omaha, possibly omaha-8 and LHE. But we are waiting for developments. It might not be a specifically balanced mix with limit games, stud and draw games, hi lo, lo, but a popular games mix from the most part.

We all have some likings but it doesn't matter if the mix is to be a popular one; basically holdem and omaha only with variations.

I don't think it to be infinitely hard for players to digest the 7-stud hi to be there also together with LHE and as so omaha-8 limit and pot limit could stretch the envelop further.

Draw high in a mix is a nice game, while the low one is more for math lowers, I think, as I think it is lacking a bigger spirit and as so is too nerdy, less as poker, but stretching your ass some more, it could be as big bet also, and then add some joker-like badugi or some other rainbow like that.

7-stud low (razz) and hi lo need to go. We can add some Scandinavian, Italian or American (5)-card stud (short deck or not) and maybe come out with something new or known to add something more interesting here.

The 7-studs tend to be those egg-head stuffs for looking at details with a small print; the stud hi is somewhat an exception and not done too often as so, and big bet 5(+)cards stud has more spirit, especially when drinking, or vs. who you like to play against? Why not play bridge or rommy if more interested in details?

I like Gin rommy as having a reasonable spirit also, though not my strong point. Add to the mix? If a joker-form also, why not? It is a poker game also, according to me, as limit poker does not have any betting as it is half-automatically bet every street but if the other folds, being about how one plays the hand, not about betting, and that's most clear at omaha-8 limit.

I am a mid-way man (e.g. a semi-aggro), like playing such Shaman in Hearthstone (a digital card game) rather than fast (aggro) or slow (control) decks where the control is the nitty way and possibly most fit for the math guys also, and for the most passive, pipe-smokers, like the full ring games (full ring MTTs, full ring cash). Tourneys and NLH has also plenty of food for the math guys and I like it up to a point but then highly stop and disagree.

Limit poker is more about the control and locked things, small details; especially with a massive amount of board cards. While holdem is the least as so demanding (you could play it blind) and needs more preparations like draw poker and/but is more intuitive, the most intuitive, that's more fun but not the math guy's brain; but the math and GTO part; so, some balance here but not the most fit for them.

PLO is quite mid-way (but not as easy for the "non-card" player where NLH is lighter to play and intuition and exact reads help more, but PLO is easier as not as math and GTO oriented at this time), as hidden hole cards but more meaningful board cards than in holdem. I don't have a problem in sticking to omahas only (finding NLH too light -- less control -- and too math and GTO oriented) but it is a personal choice.

PL is best because otherwise a strong dealt pat hand can just ship and shut out all the pain.

It's a one-winner game for maximum pain where an expert can have a big edge but occasionally a dummy can win big pots because so few streets get checked and river barrels are so common.

Not so many stories but the Stooges changed my life. Funhouse is a perfect record I've been trying to emulate ever since I started working in studios.

Razz confirmed great game for mix. Badeucey has some subtlety, Badacey is a terrible poker game but the fish absolutely love these games so they remain popular in mixes. Dramaha hi is a pretty dumb game, tends to revert to normal Omaha hand ranges and action unless multiway, but 2-7 Dramaha is an extremely interesting game. There are many jam/freeroll spots that can be misplayed badly, meaning the gap between an expert and a live one can be great, but the split-pot nature protects the poor players and lets them have their fun in a high-action game.

I'll admit I've thought more about 2-7 dramaha than I have played it, but it's soon to be added to the mixed game rotation here and I want to be prepared.

Pot Limit Mix games must contain 3-Card Triple Draw Lowball and at least one variant of 6-Card Stud-8 Draw Two or None.

I have played no-limit One Card, a triple draw lowball game where you are dealt one card. It can be played where A is the nuts or
2, depending on your mood. The best feeling is getting somebody to break a pat. The median hand (26th nuts) is 7

What?

Yeah you are not playing Omaha hands in Drawmaha

Well I'm speaking out of school, phrased it poorly and this is mostly a theoretical position (I have played very little dramaha high but talked with other mix players about it some).

I've derived that I should mostly be playing pats and hands with showdown value plus some potential in Omaha -- so two-pair hands that can flop (suits, connecting cards), big pairs with suited/connected sideboards, trips with some coordinated cards, that sort of thing. Apart from trips and flushes, hands you'd be playing in Omaha anyway. I wouldn't look to play the class of Omaha hands with no showdown value like suited Aces, gutters or gapped cards. Drawing to small open-enders and four-flushes should be a leak, but I guess people do it and that's good for the game.

I am not prepared to defend this position until I've played the game more, but those are my thoughts, in classic 2+2 fashion, stated with confidence born of ignorance.

Its fairly easy to figure out based on the distribution of pats and other hands what a reasonable opening or 3b range should look like in most situations in drawmaha high. As far as high vs 2-7, I am of the (unpopular) opinion that high is better than 2-7 but I'm not too passionate about arguing about why I prefer one polished turd over another. I wish neither ever existed. I'd even sacrifice archie, the greatest limit poker game of all time, for the ability to go back to I think 2009 when we were playing 300/600 badeucey at commerce with the nut 2-7 being 75432 and the nut badugi being 432Ar (a way better poker game) and have the terrible poker game split pot madness stop right there

Looks like semantics as it appears you are calling trips and two pair hands as Omaha hands but 22279 and 9955K are bad five card Omaha highs but way better than average Draw hands so just curious on your phrasing

When you say Omaha hands I’m thinking stuff like (AT)KJ9

I played NL 2-card stud hi-lo at a home game in the 70s and 80s. There were three one-card draws: up for up, down for down. (8)8 was sometimes agreed to be an automatic scooper. It was bet-declare-bet (natch), 10¢ ante, at least one >$1000 pot a night.

This game needs to be revived.

I think you underestimate how good of a game badeuxy is. Razzdeicy and dramah and stuff are generally awful and I agree but the mistakes that consistently get made in Badeuxy trump every game out there.

I think in terms of extracting money from clueless players no game is easier to do that in than Drawmaha high. People are cold capping two pair when they should be folding.

2-7 Drawmaha is more of a crapshoot as equities of your 2-7 hands run much closer.

But why do you guys dislike Drawmaha so much? Players typically play it very badly and while I’ve only played it online I would imagine it generally plays much faster than games like Badeucey.

Only one draw so should be no reshuffling and probably less hemming and hawing about what to discard particularly in 2-7.

It’s super slow live, and it doesn’t take very long for everyone to figure out to start with AA+ basically. 2-7 version is much better but Hu-HI is hororble once people stop playing A hi UTG

Ok never played it live so I will default to you but still surprises me given only one draw. And AA+ includes two medium and small pair which some people come in with for a cold cap which is a terrible play.

We are getting off topic possibly but from first position I’ll fold 9955 but play KK with a suited ace kicker. Then all KK from hijack.

To answer the original question I agree with electrical that I prefer limit and big bet to be separate and I prefer limit anyway

Think there should be flop, stud, and draw games

So

O
E
Razz or Stud but both are fine
27 TD
Badugi
Badeucey or Badacey but not both
Drawmaha (High preferred)
Archie

I’m fine with more though, I like them all. The only thing I’ll fight against is if they try to add all split pot and take out faster one winner games

i think its interesting that you guys like a separation of big-bet and limit games. ive barely played any kind of mix that didnt feature big-bet.

ive always thought it would be interesting to play a mix where one of the games is invented on the spot before starting the mix (for example, "lets play 3-card omaha with a single draw after the flop," "lets add limit betting until the flop, then no limit on turn and river"), and the players could modify the game after each round if it wasnt working. there are so many possibilities when it comes to poker, so many elements that can be added to a game: drawing, window cards, betting structures, community cards, omaha type restrictions, multiple streets, etc

Most of us here are in US and play in casinos so unless it’s in Bobby’s room or something sporadic mix is almost always just limit and most players who gravitate to these games are from s Limit background

This kinda happens sometimes. Experimenting with how cards should be distributed in pot limit stud variants (starting with 2 down 2 up, dealing 4th and 5th at the same time, doing 3 up 2 down, only playing 6 cards which can mean river is up or down, etc), when the discard should be in pineapple/super stud variants (doesn't really matter in razz, can matter in high low and high), what kind of board should bet first in new stud variants, how the dealer should handle the postflop burn+deal in drawmaha (obviously doesn't change anything but the procedure was changed mid session in LA), etc. I'm sure it happened in-game at whatever point people decided 75432/5432r should be the nuts in Badeucey instead of 75432/432Ar.

On a related note, I've always thought a limit opening round of betting, pot limit up until the river and no limit on the river would be an interesting game. I believe Chip Reese suggested this or something very similar as an alternate form of holdem at some point. I think a lot of poker games would work well with this structure.


Pretty much any mix over 200/400+ on the west coast is going to have big bet games in it and 2/4+ is the stakes traditionally associated with mix. I'd go into detail as to what I believe the most likely reasons are that some people prefer certain types of games but it would likely come off as very rude so I'll keep it to myself.

I personally have very little interest in playing a mix that doesn't feature either a lot of big bet games or a lot of 1 winner games. If I walk into a casino and there's no game that I actually want to play, I would prefer to sit in a 5/10 NL or 60/120 lhe game over a 100/200 mix game with a bunch of slow split pot games. I have no data to suggest that any meaningful bb/hr can be generated in a typical lineup with a split pot oriented mix. However, I also have >2mm hands and thousands of hours experience in nlhe and lhe so the decision I should make may be different than what others should do. And I'll sit in the mix game anyway since there will be people I know and like so it'll be more fun.

Anyway, sorry for the repeated derail. I will finally contribute my favorite games that are actually played regularly. They will never be seen together as the only games in the mix, but they are the games I like.

2-7 Razz
Archie
PLO 30+bb cap
Big O 30+bb cap
NL 2-7 single draw 40+bb cap
PL 2-7 triple draw 80+bb cap

Lots of action and every poker skill matters. After this my list basically just goes down every imaginable big bet game and 1 winner limit poker game until it finally hits Stud8 and O8. Then it gets into the danger zone of Stud high low regular. And then finally Badeucey and the rest of the forbidden kingdom.