Mixed Games

One of my goals for this Las Vegas trip was to play a lot of "Mixed Games".

A mixed game rotation would be decided by the players. They would choose which games to play. The classic mixed game format is HORSE --holdem, omaha, razz, stud, and stud/8. The dealer would deal one round (sometimes 8 hands) of one game then it would switch to the next.

Omaha is now usually played Omaha/8. Other games can be added--Triple Draw Lowball, Pineapple, Badugi, etc etc. Many players don't like to play holdem in a mixed format. Many players don't like to have 3 different stud games in the mix.

The initial players to start the game are the ones who decide which games will be played. Later players can request that a game be added or excluded and it will sometimes happen. Initial players can often also change the stakes. One game was called for 3-6 and we changed it to 4-8.

Last week in Las Vegas, I played several sessions of mixed games at the Venetian, Caesars Palace and the T.I. Limits were 3-6, 4-8 and 6-12. Sporadic games will also break out at MGM, Aladdin, Wynn and Red Rock. The casinos would often put the mixed game in a very visable location. Great fun watching the young punkies walk by and look. Their "one trick pony" background had only prepared them for 1-2 NL Holdem.

Mixed games may be trending to more popularity. The HORSE tourney at this years WSOP ($50,000 buy-in) attracted the best players in the world and should perk up some interest when its on TV. Online, PokerStars is about to offer a HORSE format. Triple Draw and Badugi are surging in player interest.

Mixed games have always been the choice of the most skillful players - and these have mostly been for big money. Now we are starting to see the mixed games played for moderate stakes.

Anyone interested?