The World Series of Poker Offers More than NL Holdem

For many people that watch the World Series of Poker on ESPN, the WSOP comes across as primarily No-Limit Holdem events. With the exception of the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event and the $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha World Championship, every broadcast is a NL Holdem event. As a result, many people get the wrong idea about the World Series. The truth is, NL Holdem makes up less than half of the overall offerings at the World Series of Poker.

For the years, the WSOP has been a mix of various poker games. Regardless of your skill set, there is typically a game for you. The offerings at the World Series of Poker include Limit Holdem, Pot Limit Holdem, Limit Omaha 8 or Better, Pot Limit Omaha 8 or Better, Pot Limit Omaha, H.O.R.S.E., Seven Card Stud, Stud 8 or Better, Razz, 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball, and NL 2-7 Single Draw Lowball. There are even mixed events such as Mixed Holdem and the $10,000 Mixed Event. Events such as Mixed Holdem are a mix of Limit and No Limit Holdem with one round played at Limit and the next at NL. The $10,000 Mixed Event was a mixed of most disciplines of poker offered at the WSOP.

Turnouts for most of the non-Holdem events have been very strong overall and are beginning to show growth. For instance, the field in the $1,500 Limit Omaha 8 or Better event was the largest Omaha field in the history of the World Series of Poker. H.O.R.S.E events have been showing increased interest over the years as have some of the other mixed events. Many pros have even commented on the fact that the path to a bracelet may be easier traveled via events other than NL Holdem. Barry Greenstein, David Benyamine, Mike Matusow, and Scotty Nguyen all won bracelets in non-Holdem events this year. Daniel Negreanu won his bracelet this year in Limit Holdem.

Many of the mixed games turn out to be pro heavy and also bring out a lot of specialists. I personally played in several events in the 2007 WSOP and many of the events seemed like all-star events. One event I had Mickey Appleman to my left, another I had Jeffrey Lisandro to my left, yet another had Max Pescatori to my left, and the $2,500 saw me play with John Phan to my left the entire day. That didn’t include the other pros that I faced throughout the days.

If you are a player that plays games other than NL Holdem, then there is definitely a spot of you at the World Series of Poker. Many of your events will start in the evening at 5 as most of the noon start times are reserved for NL events.

Don’t mistake this article to mean that NL Holdem still isn’t popular. It most certainly is. NL still draws the most players and shows growth every year. However, the World Series of Poker is not all about Holdem. The World Series of Poker offers something for everyone, so come on out and play.