f you have been grinding No Limit Hold’em (NLHE) or PLO for years, you’ve likely noticed a trend: the edges are getting thinner. As the “Cadillac of Poker” becomes increasingly solved, many profitable players are looking for greener pastures.
Enter Mixed Games.
Whether it’s the dealer’s choice games in Vegas or the prestigious $50K Poker Players Championship, mixed games are where the wealthy amateurs still play for fun—and where the sharks are currently migrating.
Today, we are doing a deep dive into Upswing Poker’s “Mixed Games Mastery“, taught by high-stakes crusher Jake “JLlama” Abdalla. Is this $999 course the shortcut you need to dominate the mix, or is it an overpriced luxury? Let’s find out.
Who is Jake Abdalla?
Before dropping nearly a thousand dollars on a course, you need to know if the instructor is the real deal.
Jake Abdalla, known online as JLlama, is a legitimate end-boss in the mixed game world. Unlike some coaches who only theorize, Abdalla has millions in earnings and a reputation for beating the highest stakes online. He famously battled Phil Ivey heads-up and has successful results across almost every variant spread online.
The verdict on the instructor: You aren’t learning from a theorist; you are learning from a practitioner who has beaten the best in the world.
Course Overview: What Do You Get?
“Mixed Games Mastery” is not a general overview; it is a deep dive designed to take you from a NLHE player to a formidable mixed game opponent.
The course focuses on the five cornerstone variants found in most 8-Game or H.O.R.S.E. rotations:
- Razz
- Seven Card Stud
- Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo (Stud 8)
- Omaha Hi-Lo (Omaha 8)
- 2-7 Triple Draw
The Structure
Abdalla breaks down each game into specific modules. He assumes you understand basic poker concepts (pot odds, equity) but starts from the ground up for each specific variant.
- The Basics: Rules, ante structures, and bring-in defense.
- Street-by-Street Strategy: How to play 3rd street through 7th street (or draws in Triple Draw).
- Heuristics & Ranges: Instead of memorizing thousands of charts, Abdalla teaches you how to construct ranges and estimate frequencies on the fly.
Key Features and Methodology
1. Ranges Over Rigid Charts
One of the SEO-friendly “golden nuggets” of this course is Abdalla’s teaching style. He knows you can’t memorize a solver chart for every Stud scenario. Instead, he focuses on heuristics (mental shortcuts) and range construction. He teaches you how to think about your opponent’s range relative to their up-cards or discard patterns.
2. The “Cross-Training” Approach
Abdalla often uses NLHE analogies to explain complex mixed game concepts. For example, he might compare a specific drawing situation in Triple Draw to a “polarized c-betting strategy” in Hold’em. This makes the content highly digestible for players transitioning from big-bet games.
3. “Perfect is the Enemy of Good”
A recurring theme in the course is practical playability. In mixed games, especially live, you don’t need to be GTO-perfect to win; you just need to be significantly better than the guy playing “bingo” in seat 4. The course focuses heavily on realizing your equity and avoiding catastrophic mistakes.
Pros and Cons
Every review needs an honest look at the good and the bad.
✅ The Pros
- Elite Pedigree: Instruction from a confirmed high-stakes winner.
- Comprehensive: It covers the most common mix variants in high detail.
- Lifetime Access: Like all Upswing courses, you pay once and own it forever.
- Mental Framework: It teaches you how to think like a mixed game player, which is more valuable than just being told what to play.
- Triple Draw Section: Many users cite the 2-7 Triple Draw module as the “gold standard” of the course, worth the price of admission alone for draw game enthusiasts.
❌ The Cons
- The Price: At $999, it is a significant investment.
- Production Style: Some students have noted that the early videos can be a bit “lecture-heavy” with fewer hand examples than visual learners might prefer.
- Minor Errors: There have been reports of minor errors in the “rules” sections (like tie-breaker explanations), though these don’t impact the high-level strategy.
- Niche Audience: If you only play local $1/$2 NLHE, this course will not help you make money anytime soon.
Is “Mixed Games Mastery” Worth $999?
The $999 question. Here is the breakdown:
DO NOT BUY if:
- You are a casual player who just wants to learn the rules of Stud for a $5 home game.
- You are struggling to beat micro-stakes NLHE.
- You are on a tight bankroll.
BUY IT IMMEDIATELY if:
- You play live poker: Live mixed games (even at $4/$8 or $8/$16 limits) are often incredibly soft. One big pot won using Abdalla’s Triple Draw bluffing concepts could pay for the course.
- You want to future-proof your career: As NLHE gets tougher, having a mixed-game edge is the ultimate insurance policy for a professional poker player.
- You play online series (WCOOP/SCOOP): If you are tired of skipping the non-Hold’em events during major tournament series, this course will make you immediately competitive in those fields.
Final Verdict
Score: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
Upswing Poker’s Mixed Games Mastery is currently the best standalone library for serious players wanting to conquer non-Hold’em variants. While the price point is high, the lack of quality information elsewhere makes this a premium product with massive ROI potential. Jake Abdalla successfully demystifies complex games, turning “guessing” into “calculating.”
If you are ready to stop folding every hand in the Stud round and start crushing the rotation, this is the toolkit you need.
Next Step: Ready to expand your poker arsenal? Check out the Mixed Games Mastery course on Upswing Poker.
(Disclaimer: This review is for informational purposes. Always practice bankroll management when investing in training materials.)