Before the exciting world of poker became what it is today, even before today’s most popular poker games like Texas Hold’Em and Omaha emerged, there was old-school poker. And although online poker has its perks, like a bigger challenge, convenience and a wider variety of games, classic poker holds its ground as a popular game that’s definitely worth playing. 

What Is Old-School Poker?

Old-school poker is based on psychology. It views poker as a game focused on player behavior, tells and straightforward betting patterns rather than just a game of cards. Classic poker games allow players to engage in a mental battle instead of a game based purely on mathematics. 

Old-school poker players are better at bluffing and seeing their opponents’ unbalanced ranges (range balancing is knowing what kinds of hands your opponent is willing to play and the specific way they play them.) They excel at categorizing their opponents into different playing styles, which ultimately helps them win. 

On the other hand, modern poker strategies often focus more on mathematics, probability and game theory. Take a look at some of the key differences between the two approaches.

Old-School Poker Strategies

Playing the Player

Old-school poker was all about reading your opponents, understanding their habits, tells and betting patterns in order to manipulate these observations to your advantage.

Straightforward Betting

The betting strategy was usually more straightforward, often following the logic of betting when you have a good hand and folding when you don’t. Bluffs were also less intricate.

Tight and Aggressive Play

Old-school players tended to stick to playing fewer hands (tight) but betting aggressively on those they did play.

Modern Poker Strategies

Game Theory Optimal (GTO)

Modern strategies often revolve around GTO, a mathematical approach that aims to make you unexploitable by mixing up your plays in an unpredictable way.

Preflop Charts and Postflop Solvers

Modern players often use these tools to study and decide on the optimal play, depending on the situation.

Multi-Tabling and Online Grinding

With the advent of online poker, players can play many tables at once to maximize the number of hands played and minimize variance.

The Resurgence of Classic Poker Tournaments

Poker’s evolution has been welcomed with open arms. The game of poker has undergone numerous changes to keep players engaged and interested through the years (not least moving into the online space from purely in-person games.) Many of these changes have helped make success in popular poker games more based on skill than luck.

Changes include moving from draw games to stud games. And then moving from stud games to community-card games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha. These changes broadened the opportunities for online poker tournaments, where players could showcase their skills in a larger setting. Poker was no longer confined to the limits of the individual cash game. 

Modern variations on online poker sites are growing in popularity and are even enjoyed by the world’s finest professional poker players. Even so, many people turn to old-school poker when they miss a simpler way of playing. Some players believe that a number of the recent changes haven’t been for the benefit of all involved. 

One rule that’s constantly brought into the spotlight when people are defending old-school poker is the rule regarding re-entry in tournaments. Allowing players to re-enter the event favors wealthy players or professional players with financial sponsorship and backing. The game is no longer about making intelligent decisions to last as long as you can. Now moneyed players have an advantage because they can keep playing and re-entering until they place higher in tournaments. By contrast, classic poker tournament freezeouts make games and tourneys much more interesting and perhaps more fair.

Classic poker tournaments also come with a winning guarantee and simplified schedules. There can never be more than two events running at the same time. One ends when the other one is starting. It doesn’t matter if you’re a poker pro, if you’re still learning how to play poker or what your poker tournament strategy is, old-school poker will help you become a better player overall.

Join Borgata Online for the Best Poker Events

Don’t have a Borgata Online account yet? Register today to take advantage of first-deposit bonuses and prizes. Borgata Online features the best online poker (as well as many other popular casino games) along with a vast blog resource to teach beginners about starting stakes or inspire them with tales of how the top professionals live. 

There are plenty of poker events running throughout the week, including the Daily 10K, the Mega Tuesday, Mega Thursday and the Sunday $35K (with a guaranteed win of $35,000.) Whether you prefer large or small buy-ins, you’ll be sure to find a poker event on the schedule that’s just right for you.