Three years ago, I was a Hold’em player only, a No Limit Hold’em player only. And honestly, I couldn’t really get my head around the fascination people had with learning new games. Everyone else was getting into HORSE, and Pot Limit Omaha was gaining in popularity, but I felt like I had developed a strong Hold’em game, was doing well in the games I was playing, and was happy enough to keep chugging along playing the game I was the most comfortable with.

From the financial side of the game, I could have made a strong argument that Hold’em was the place to be anyway. No single game was really taking off. It was more of a mix of all of them, with PLO being the leader of the pack, but nothing like NLHE. Maybe my best argument for not branching out was that not only was Hold’em my best game that I had thousands of hours of practice at, it was also, and will continue to be, the entry-level game for a vast majority of players – especially the recreational, happy-to-lose-as-long-as-they-get-to-play type of player that makes games so good for those of us looking to play for profit.

I was wrong. I was just comfortable playing Hold’em, happy to be booking wins in soft games, and not wanting to go through any growing pains or have to deal with any losses as I learned a new game. I got lucky though. Through a series of unforeseen circumstances, I ended up at a game that was going to be all Hold’em, but ended up being a round of Hold’em and a round of Pot Limit Omaha 8 or Better. I didn’t want to play PLO8, tried my best to convince them to just play Hold’em, and am very thankful now that I wasn’t able to.

That first night, we played maybe five or six laps of Hold’em before everyone was tired of it and wanted to play just PLO8. The Hold’em round seemed very tame, with almost no action in comparison to the PLO8 round, which was off the hook with every pot being a multi-way all-in and side pots galore going to showdown.

Strategy wasn’t an issue that first night. I was just trying to figure out the rules, how to read the board, and what in the world was going on. I played extremely tight in a game that was extremely loose and ended up booking a small win, but more importantly, I had my eyes opened to what is now my favorite game. More importantly, I got to where I am now, willing to learn almost any game people want to play.

As I started playing PLO8, I quickly noticed that my Hold’em game was getting better too. I was seeing the games from new angles, gaining a better appreciation for situational hand values, and just generally becoming a more well-rounded player instead of someone that just played better starting hands and played aggressively, which was all it really took to be a winning Hold’em player in the games I was frequenting.

There were some growing pains as I opened my game up, and a few nights I drove home with my head spinning wondering how I had dusted off five buy-ins in a game I didn’t even like. But early on, I knew that the game was beatable, that the players I wanted to be playing with were going to be playing that game whether I was in it or not, and that it was time for me to buckle down, get out of my comfort zone, and focus on learning to be a better all-around player. I’d now take my PLO8 game over my Hold’em game, but would take my Hold’em game now over my Hold’em game of three years ago in a heartbeat.

I’ve also played a little bit of 2-7 No Limit Single Draw Lowball,A-5 Pot Limit Triple Draw Lowball, and assorted Limit Stud games that I would have never been willing to sit down in before. While I am by no means good at those games, as long as I am playing against the right crowd, I’m probably still at least a slight favorite. Even if I am a slight dog, it’s not a bad idea to give a little action to players that give me action on a regular basis and let them have the best of me for a session or two every now and then while I continue to expand my game and grow as a player.

For the Hold’em-only guys out there, I’d suggest you give something new a shot. I was where you were a few years back and thought I was just fine. I’m glad I got knocked out of my shell. It has made me a better player, made me much more money than I would have made just playing Hold’em, and has made the game stay fresh and interesting for me while others that have been around for about as long as I have been are starting to get burned out. Get out there and try something new, and if you aren’t sure which game you want to jump into next, my vote is PLO8.

Court Harrington has worked on the business side of the poker industry in roles including tournament reporting for PocketFives, radio hosting for PokerRoad Radio, coaching for the WSOP Academy, and a variety of behind-the-scenes responsibilities. He also plays in cash games and tournaments. Harrington is currently doing consulting work and exploring business opportunities outside of the poker industry. You can contact him at PokerRoadCourt@gmail.com.