The World Series of Poker is barreling toward us again. If you’re a no-limit hold’em tournament grinder, you know what’s coming: eight relentless weeks of the same damn game; endless downswings that gut your stack and your spirit; the long, snaking lines at the Horseshoe or Paris, where you’re stuck breathing stale air and dodging the guy coughing into his sleeve; the monotony of watching short stacks tank-fold 7-2 offsuit as the bubble approaches.
It’s a treadmill of torment, and by week three, you’re wondering why you ever thought this was fun.
But there’s a way out. Learning mixed games doesn’t just broaden your poker palette — it’s a lifeline to keep your sanity intact.
Picture this: you’re slogging through another soul-draining NLH marathon when the schedule offers a glimmer of hope: a razz or triple draw event. Suddenly, your pulse quickens. It’s not just a break; it’s a rebellion against the grind. Mixed games pull you out of the hold’em haze and remind you why you fell in love with poker in the first place.
Why mixed games save you — and your NLH edge
The truth is, NLH tournament life can be a meat grinder. Variance hits like a sledgehammer — hours of perfect play erased by a rivered two-outer, leaving you staring at the felt, broke, and broken.
The boredom sets in hard, too; every table starts to look the same, and every shove feels scripted.
Mixed games? They’re the antidote. They demand curiosity when NLH has beaten it out of you. They force you to wrestle with new strategies when you’re too numb to care. And yeah, they’ll make you a sharper no-limit hold’em player when it’s time to go back to that battlefield.
I can’t point to one magic bullet that’s leveled up my NLH game from playing mixed variants — it’s more like a slow burn. Each game drills different fundamentals into your skull.
Razz teaches you patience when you’re ready to snap.
Omaha hi/lo forces you to rethink equity on a level NLH never touches.
Deuce-to-seven hones your bluffing instincts when you’ve forgotten how to pull the trigger.
It’s like recalibrating your poker soul, piece by piece. When you return to NLH, those brutal downswings don’t sting quite as much. You’re enjoying the game again, full of new insights and engaged curiosity.
My refuge: Omaha eight-or-better
If I had to pick a favorite mixed game, it’s Omaha eight or better — O8 for short. I got hooked 20 years ago playing heads-up and shorthanded online, back in the glory days of online poker.
Something is soothing about it: freerolling a flush draw while betting your nut-low or scooping a pot when the table’s still counting their outs. It’s therapy for your inner poker player, a stark contrast to the predictable slog of NLH late-stage tourneys where you’re just praying for a flip to go your way. O8 keeps me sharp when the hold’em grind has dulled my edges.
O8 keeps me sharp when the hold’em grind has dulled my edges.
Peek inside the journey on ‘Baldy’s Mix’
Are you curious about what it’s like to step off the NLH treadmill and dive into the world of mixed games? Catch me on my Twitch stream, Baldy’s Mix, where I share every step of this adventure. It’s a front-row seat to an NLH tournament pro — me — unlocking the secrets of new variants, one hand at a time.
Expect informative breakdowns as I learn the ropes, interactive chats where you can toss me your questions, and plenty of fun as I discover what makes these games click. I’ve got a developing handle on the basics, and I’m excited to keep building — join me on Twitch.tv and jump into the action!
A mixed-game haven at Phenom Poker
If you’re itching for a spot to play mixed games, I’ve been loving Phenom Poker — a site I’m proud to rep as an ambassador.
It’s the only platform out there dealing every variant under the sun, from razz to badugi, and it’s built by players, for players. You even get a stake in it just by playing — think of it as owning a piece of the action while you grind. It’s been a game-changer for my WSOP prep, and it could sharpen your edge, too — you’ll feel ready to win WSOP gold.
Eric Baldwin has won two WSOP bracelets and three Circuit rings. He was CardPlayer Magazine POY in 2009, has more than $9,300,000 in career earnings and is an ambassador for Phenom Poker. Follow Eric Baldwin on X and his mixed game journey on Twitch.tv.
Additional image courtesy of Jamie Thomson.