How to play
The 8-game mix is the toughest test in poker: eight different games played in turn at one table, with the same chips. It takes the five HORSE games, adds a draw game in front and two big-bet games at the end. Here you sit at a cash table with one to five computer opponents. Everyone starts with 1,000 chips and a fresh 52-card deck is shuffled for every hand.
The rotation. Each game is played for 6 hands, then the next one starts; after Pot-Limit Omaha the rotation begins again with Triple Draw. The middle of the table shows the current game and which hand of the six you’re on; between hands it shows the next game and its betting. Your chips carry over from game to game.
The eight games:
- 2-7 Triple Draw. Five cards, three draws, and the lowest hand wins; aces are high and straights and flushes count against you. See 2-7 Triple Draw.
- Limit Hold’em. Two hole cards and five community cards. See Texas Hold’em.
- Omaha Hi-Lo. Four hole cards, exactly two used with three from the board, and the pot is split with the best eight-or-better low. See Omaha Hi-Lo.
- Razz. Seven Card Stud where the lowest hand wins. See Razz.
- Seven Card Stud. Three down cards and four up over five streets; the best high hand wins. See Seven Card Stud.
- Stud Hi-Lo. Seven Card Stud with the pot split between high and an eight-or-better low. See Stud Hi-Lo.
- No-Limit Hold’em. The same deal as Limit Hold’em, but you can bet any amount up to all your chips. See Texas Hold’em.
- Pot-Limit Omaha. Four hole cards, high hand only, and the biggest bet is the size of the pot. See Pot-Limit Omaha.
Betting. The first six games are fixed limit: every bet and raise has one size, shown on the buttons, and a betting round allows at most four bets. In Triple Draw, Limit Hold’em and Omaha Hi-Lo the blinds are 5 and 10 and bets are 10 in the first two rounds and 20 after that. In the stud games everyone antes 2, the bring-in is 5, and bets are 10 on third and fourth street and 20 from fifth street on. In No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha the blinds are 5 and 10 and you choose your bet with the slider.
Side pots, the uncalled bet and split pots work the same in every game. When an opponent runs out of chips, a new player takes the seat with 1,000 chips; if you run out, you can get 1,000 free credits at a new table. Your table is saved between visits.
Strategy
Know where the big bets are. Six games are fixed limit, where one mistake costs one bet. In the last two games one mistake can cost your whole stack. Tighten up when the betting opens.
Switch your thinking with the game. A pair of kings is strong in Hold’em and Stud, weak in Razz and a losing hand in Triple Draw, where any pair is a bad low. Before each hand, look at the game name in the middle of the table.
Value low cards in four of the games. Triple Draw, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz and Stud Hi-Lo reward low cards. In Triple Draw the ace is a high card, so 7-5-4-3-2 is the best hand, not 5-4-3-2-A.
Count draws and up cards. In Triple Draw the number of cards each player takes is shown on their seat; in the stud games the up cards tell you which cards are gone. Use both before you chase.
If you enjoy 8-Game Mix, try Endless Valley or E.O. Wheel next.
