Picking the poker game that is right for you does apply to making choices between Hold’em and Omaha, Razz and Stud, as you might imagine, but it also applies to choosing between pot limit, no limit and fixed limit, and the stakes at which you chose to play. Nearly all of these choices come down to three factors: risk tolerance, bankroll tolerance, and your playing style.

Risk tolerance comes into play when picking your limit style, no limit, pot limit or fixed limit. Fixed limit games are good fro those with smaller risk tolerance (meaning they are uncomfortable with the idea that they could lose everything in one hand) while no limit is great for those who like the risky games. Pot limit is a nice medium range game.

Bankroll tolerance simply means, how much can you afford to play with? If you are sitting down to a cash game you need to come ready to lose now and then so that when your good play is finally rewarded, you are still in the game to collect. If you feel uncomfortable sitting down with a thousand bucks to play a cash game when you only want to risk a few hundred, for example, try switching to tournaments. A tourney only puts at risk the initial buy in.

When it comes to your playing style, ask yourself why you like to play poker. If you like to grind out long games where your skill gets rewarded over time, try limit hold’em. If you like a more creative game with real “players” over “tourists” stay away from hold’em and play some of the other games, like stud or razz.

In all events, start with small limits and try a variety of games. If you are not having fun and don’t see that changing regardless of how much you learn (i.e. even after you get better at the game) then cross that off your list and try a different game.