Which Poker Pros Have branched out into Other Games?

Solely sticking to playing poker day in, day out can lead some players to feel jaded, bored, or like they are not improving enough. Well, as the old saying goes: a change is as good as a rest.

Even some of the best in the business put down the poker chips from time to time in order to play other games. Big names like Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, and Bertrand Grospellier have all developed their overall skillsets by playing different games. Here we examine why they do this, what games they play, and which games other than poker provide the best odds.

Do Poker Players Stick Solely to Poker?

To get to the top of the game, professional poker players need to spend a lot of time playing. This goes without saying. But there is no need for them to stick solely to poker. Just as football players do strength and cardio training to improve their on-pitch abilities, poker players can branch out into other card games in order to refine their poker playing skills. Texas Hold’em is one of the most-played forms of the game, but you will often see players sharpening their skillsets by playing Pot Limit Omaha or seven-card stud. Some players even play other games that are completely different from poker.

One of the most famous cases of a poker player enjoying a different game was when Ivey took up baccarat. Negreanu has also played other card games, including Hearthstone. Some players, like Grospellier got famous in the eSports scene before moving onto professional poker. As long as all the games being played share core elements, such as a mathematic foundation and strategy, it is beneficial to mix things up a bit. Because poker players find themselves frequenting casinos regularly, the first games they come to usually end up being other gambling options. And due to the fact that they have a superior understanding of odds, they know which games are likely to yield returns.

What Casino Game has the Best Odds?

Poker players are constantly working out their odds of winning a hand based on numerous factors. In Texas Hold’em especially, players find it fairly easy to calculate odds and the chances of players being able to beat their hands by looking at the five community cards. But in poker, the odds are always changing depending on the situation. This is why poker players like to play other casino games. It gives them a chance to enjoy games where the odds are fixed.

Whenever players play casino games online the odds are always available in the information sections of the site. Whether you are playing slots, roulette, blackjack, or dice and scratch games, you can find out what your chances of winning are. Blackjack is known to have the best odds, and the house edge is around one percent in most casinos. Craps is considered to be the second best, with odds of around 50-50. Games like roulette have varied odds. When betting on red or black, it’s almost 50-50. But going for a single number gives returns of 36 to 1.

By playing games of chance where the odds can be seen easily, it gives players a chance to sharpen their mathematical skills. Ivey found that his understanding of odds helped him when it came to baccarat, and the player won a lot of money from the card game.

Are there any Other Games that Help to Improve Poker Skills?

People who already love gaming and want to get into poker would learn a lot from players like Grospellier, better known as ElkY. The Frenchman started out playing StarCraft: Brood War, and was one of the best players in the world. He earned second place at the World Cyber Games in 2001 and then went on to master other games like WarCraft III: Reign of Chaos. Playing these games helped ElkY refine his strategic way of thinking, and he found that his skills were perfectly suited to playing poker. For this reason, he decided to move from the eSports scene and put more focus on the latter. It turned out to be fruitful, and the 38-year-old won the 2008 World Poker Tour title and walked away with more than $1 million.

ElkY and Negreanu have found that the Blizzard Entertainment title, Hearthstone, has numerous similarities with poker. Differently from poker, the fantasy game only pits one player against another, so it can be a great way to practice for heads up play. It requires bluffing, strategy, and mathematical skill for a player to prevail. These players take what they know from poker and apply it to the computer title, and vice versa.

There are many poker players who go from Texas Hold’em to other games, just as there are gamers who move onto poker. Playing a diverse range of games is an excellent way to improve the poker skill set.