Sklanksy & Marlmuth: Why Play Holdem?

Well put:

Specifically, the poorer the relationship between the expectation (win rate) and the standard deviation the larger the fluctuations that you - the skilled player - can go through. Or, put another way, the worse you can run. Consequently, you usually should prefer a poker game where your bankroll requirements when compared to the size of the game, are not too steep.

There is no question that once you have achieved expert status, hold 'em offers an excellent relationship between the expectation and the standard deviation. The reasons for this are that the best hand holds up more often in hold 'em than in any other game, and that you have the advantage of being able to see your opponent's last card which is yours as well. This means that sometimes you can throw away a hand that you would have to call with in other forms of poker, or you might be able to get in an extra bet, whereas in other games you might be forced to check. Of course, hold 'em can still be very frustrating - especially when it seems as though your opponents are always making their two- or three-out hands. However, with the trem endous growth of hold 'em, along with what we have just stated, there is no question that anyone who becomes an expert at this game will do very well indeed.