Quote:
Originally Posted by stumbras
Anybody thinks that learning Gin Rummy will help to become a better poker player ( improve analytical skills, memory ). Are online games worth playing?
I find Gin Rummy more cognitively demanding than poker. Analytically, it is more like chess with imperfect information. With tricky, tough, and aggressive opponents, multi-level thinking gets deep, so defensive play and playing for a draw are the most challenging.
Another interesting aspect is that you have to adjust your game depending on the current score since it dictates the likelihood of your winning/losing the whole game. This is somewhat similar to playing differently due to stack sizes in a poker tournament.
Finally, unlike poker, this game requires a good memory of cards. Since playing Gin Rummy, I only need to look at my poker hole cards once and remember the rank, suits, and order for the rest of the hand. I never take a second look my hole cards anymore.
Anecdotal similarities/aspects
Since, in gin rummy, you can more easily tell if you are getting outplayed (you get fooled to play how your opponent wants you to play), it can easily get frustrating, and revenge tilt may ensue. It is like getting bluffed in poker. You have to able to deal with that.
Another tilting experience is when an aggressive player chooses high variance lines (similar to playing with a maniac in poker), and you end up dealing with large swings (though not as large as in no-limit poker).