[SCSTWG]

I have always been a stud player (Stud, 8 or Better, Razz) and I continue to play mostly stud including HORSE. Hold'em is alright, but doesn't it get old after a while? It is on TV every night, it is about the only game running in card rooms and everyone professes to be a great player. The thing that surprises me is that it doesn't seem to be losing any popularity. Granted the WOSP is giving some other games a little exposure, but that is the only coverage of alternate games. For awhile I thought Omaha was going to step-up, but that hasn't panned out. Sooner or later though it will lose poularity just as 5 card draw and stud have before it. Any predictions?

[snakster]

Omaha. I would be bold and say Omaha 8, but I don't think the masses are too keen on split pot games (requires too much thinking for the avg Joe). But IF hold 'em gets old, PLO could take hold.

For the record, I'm not a big stud fan, but oddly, love Razz.

[ipgyst]

I like 'em all. But if hold'em is where the schools of fish reside, then it's hold'em I'll learn how to play.

[Big Mike]

Originally Posted by SCSTWG

.....it is about the only game running in card rooms and everyone professes to be a great player.

But they're not, making it very lucrative. I like playing other games, but I'm far from sick of hold'em.

[tomb1]

Not sick of Hold 'Em at all. I respect the other games but think NLHE is the best.

[kmalsom]

Not sick of it, but Stud is still my game (esp hi/lo)

[Ikkans]

Hold 'Em is by far the most boring of all the games. I'll take Razz or 2-7 Triple Lowball anyday.

[jbones]

I think it's so popular because it's really the only game that works as no-limit, and people loooove that. Triple Draw might work, but it's much less skill intensive (like 5cd, or even blackjack)- once you know how to play correctly, you pretty much play the same as everyone else.

[AceDeuceNoUse]

I cut my teeth on casino 7stud as well. When I have a choice, I avoid HE it as much as possible; that way, when I don't have a choice, it seems brand new.........

IMHO, NL anything is a game for suckers and sharks....I lean towards the former, as I can't seem to break out of God's little acre between the two...

I have a feeling that the only other variant that will maintain longevity in the B&M's is Omaha/Omaha8, with the online sites keeping the non-HE games going.

I personally would be very happy if Hi/Lo games (Stud or Omaha) survived any HE apocalypse as theorized in the OP.

(I have HE filtered out on my P*Stars client.)

[smoore]

Originally Posted by jbones

I think it's so popular because it's really the only game that works as no-limit, and people loooove that. Triple Draw might work, but it's much less skill intensive (like 5cd, or even blackjack)- once you know how to play correctly, you pretty much play the same as everyone else.

Ding ding ding... winner!

Playing 5CD or lowball is strictly technique, very little imagination is required.

I can't speak for stud much, as I'm no good at it. It appears to be very mechanical also from the outside.

NLHE is the single most creative card game around.