Specialise or variety?

Sky_Poker

Does specialising in a particular game give you better results?

Or does variety make you a better player?

Or, is it a bit of both?

TommyD

Variety 100%

You never know where the value is going to be in both the short and the long term.

devonfish5

Specialise

find a format that suits you stick with it.
most players don't play optimally in there chosen game so playing more than 1 format isn't going to help.

Lambert180

In Response to Re: Specialise or variety?:

Variety 100% You never know where the value is going to be in both the short and the long term.
Posted by TommyD

+1

Variety is the spice of life, and most formats are gonna help in some way or another improve your overall game.

For instance playing HU SnGs is gonna put you in good stead for when you get HU in an MTT and already know how to play different stack sizes well. If you try to just get HU practice purely in MTTs, you aint gonna get to practice it very often

Also I think it's good to just generally exercise your 'poker brain' and actually know why you're doing things and not just playing like a robot. If you know the reasons behind doing things then it becomes alot easier to switch from one game to another. You haven't just 'figured out the game' and just do auto pilot

calcalfold

Variety is the spice of life, but in terms of cars/dinner/women etc where you can enjoy different things.

Poker, I stay with what I am good at, and what I win at. As for me the objective is not gratification, but income.

unknown_username

Playing a variety of formats probably does improve your overall game, but for a purely recreational player it's best to just stick to what you're best at as that is going to be what you enjoy the most. In my case I don't enjoy playing cash so I stick to DYMs and the occasional MTT.

10NGY

Came second in a sizeable 5 card draw tournament yesterday.... There was massive overlay. But seriously I enjoy the variety. If anything it stops me getting into set modes at a particular game that might become sub optimal. PLaying different games you constantly train your ability to adapt to any situation. Grinding out mid level cash might be good for income at first until the game changes and you get stuck in your ways.

markycash

In Response to Specialise or variety?:

Does specialising in a particular game give you better results? Or does variety make you a better player? Or, is it a bit of both?
Posted by Sky_Poker

Good question however not one that has a "correct" answer IMO.

It really depends on the individual.

People generally have different goals as to what they want out of poker. The answer to OP's question will depend on what you are looking for out of poker. If you are a casual player looking to kill a few hours of boredom or a grinder looking for a career and income or maybe you are just looking to gamble it up and have a few thrills.

Also i guess it depends on your personality and if you are easily bored.

Most of the top top players are comfortable playing many variants of poker and in general it is good to diversify so you have a broader understanding of the game. Also many of the skill sets required to excell in one poker variant are interchangeable with other variants.

On the flip side though only a minority of players actually turn a profit and if turning a profit is your main goal then with ever dwindiling margins to exploit as the average player becomes more knowledgeable specialising in one variant to try and attain a significant advantage isn't a bad idea.

Each to their own though.