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The first point to note about mixed games is that all the games within the rotation aren't equal. A larger amount of money is traded over the 'big bet' games (usually No Limit Hold'em and Pot Limit Omaha) than the limit games. This means that you should make these your first focus. A big bet player with a lot of talent who is useless at limit would narrowly be able to beat a good limit player who struggled with big bet games. This is because the majority of money is still just traded on the big bet games, even though there are more limit games.

The second point to note is that you should try to learn Seven Card Stud and Limit Hold'em next. The Hi/Lo split games in the rotation (typically Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo, Razz, and Omaha Hi/Lo), can be played using a pretty simple tight aggressive low orientated strategy if you are just starting out. Due to the reduced variance in these games, even if you are losing in them it will be at a much slower rate than the other games. This is not so much the case with Stud Hi and Limit Hold'em and, after the big bet games, these will need to be your next games of priority.

Game selection is the final point worth mentioning. Using the above criteria on what games you should be focusing on, it is also important that you watch to see where the strengths of the table lie. Obviously a table full of known big bet players is not the ideal place to take a seat, even if you know you are much better than them at limit. On the other hand, a line up of very skilled limit players could provide a very juicy game for you if you are considerably better than them at big bet games. This is simply a result of the extra amounts you can make in general in these games.

Not only do mixed games force a player to be skilled in a number of games, they also encourage players to be competent in a slightly deeper form of game selection, player knowledge, and the ability to realize where to focus learning time. As a result, a skilled player typically has a larger edge in a mixed game if they can follow these points, but will also be at a more significant disadvantage if they cannot. It is for this reason that they have always represented the top of the tree in terms of the highest stake cash game, and also provide one of the richest poker experiences you can find.