The use of the word limit in the type of hold’em being played is a key part of the game at hand. It tells the story of the betting that can and will take place.
Of course, the amount that a player can bet is important in poker. But when there is a limit on that amount, it changes the game. It impacts the player’s strategy as well as the options available for betting, raising, and even bluffing.
Some professional poker players even say that limit hold’em and no-limit hold’em are completely different poker games. In some ways, this is true. In this article, we’ll fully explore those differences and why they’re important to learn.
What’s the difference between limit vs. no-limit Texas Hold’em?
Limit poker and no-limit poker differ at the very core of their rules. Limit hold’em restricts the amount of chips a player can bet or raise. No-limit hold’em does not cap the betting, which allows for players to use the famous all-in move.
Popularity and risk factor
No-limit Texas hold’em is the game made popular during the poker boom. It is the game played at the WSOP Main Event and at all World Poker Tour and European Poker Tour main events. It is the game that Chris Moneymaker won that changed his life and revolutionized the game of poker forever.
The popularity of no-limit hold’em is multi-faceted, but much of it comes from the excitement of all-in poker. When players can risk their entire stacks, every bit of their money, on one hand, that is the thrill. “I’m all-in” is a phrase that elicits the oohs and aahs of poker fans, as that player’s entire game then rests on one good hand.
Limit Texas hold’em is an older form of poker and one more common among traditional and older players. Sometimes referred to as fixed-limit hold’em, it sets limits on the amount that a player can bet or raise.
Player control
The difference between the two forms of poker, however, is more than just the risk factor.
Limits imposed on betting change the player’s ability to control the size of the pot, as it is restricted in limit hold’em. No-limit allows the player to bet different amounts to test the strength of their opponents’ hands. It allows the player to put more pressure on weaker players and challenge stronger ones.
Variance
Poker limits also affect variance, as there is much more of it in no-limit games. The ability to bet it all on one hand increases variance. These games require more poker strategy to limit that variance.
Betting rules in Texas Hold’em
No-limit poker allows for a player to bet or raise all-in pre-flop or post-flop, after the turn, or after the river. There is no cap on the betting as long as you have the chips to back up your betting amount. The all-in bet can end the player’s game or win a tournament, all based on a single hand of poker.
Limit Texas hold’em poker is an older form of the game, and it’s more common among traditional and older players. Sometimes referred to as fixed-limit hold’em, it sets limits on the amount that a player can bet or raise. It allows players to stay in action longer, play more hands, and put their entire “poker tournament life,” as it were,” on the line less frequently.
For example, if the game is $1/$2 hold’em, that means the small blind is $0.50 and the big blind is $1. A person betting after the flop must bet $1, and anyone with a raise must make it $2. There is also a cap on the betting, as there is only one big bet and three raises allowed per betting round.
A player can be all-in at any time, if the limited betting possibilities exceed the amount of chips a player has in her/his stack of chips.
No-limit betting rules
A player in a no-limit Texas hold’em game must bet at least the size of the big blind. This ensures that players cannot participate in a hand at a cheap-ish rate.
Raises must be at least double the size of the small bet in front of that player. If Player A bets $5 in a $2/$5 no-limit hold’em game, Player B can call that $5 or raise at least $10.
The all-in move is key in no-limit poker and is only restricted by the player’s chip total. A player who goes all-in risks every single chip in their stack. If two players are in a pot and one moves all-in, that all-in player can be eliminated from the game or tournament depending on the outcome of that hand. But if the player wins the hand, they double up.
In a cash game, a $2/$5 game explains that the small blind is $2 and the big blind $5. In a tournament, the betting structure determines the size of the small and big blinds that increase as the tournament moves forward and progresses through levels. Even so, the all-in move is an option at any no-limit cash game or tournament table.
Limit betting rules
Limit players use many of the same rules as in no-limit poker, such as two hole cards, five community cards, and the number of betting rounds. The big difference comes in the amount of money allowed for each bet, raise, and re-raise.
A limit cash game option may be a $2/$4 game. This signifies the amounts of the blinds will be $1 for the small blind and $2 for the big blind. Those are the limits. The first player to bet must put out $2, and a raiser must push out $4 worth of chips.
Play after the flop requires a bet of $2 to start the action, and a raise must be $4. However, any play after the turn and the river requires that the minimum bet is $4 and the minimum raise is $8.
The betting limits may seem confusing at first, but they become automatic with regular limit poker play. Seeing the chips and the action in person makes it clearer, especially if you’re playing games at a casino.
In a limit hold’em tournament, the structure determines the limits, which rise with the levels as the event progresses through the levels.
No-limit Hold’em strategy
Strategy for no-limit hold’em is multi-faceted. It requires using position and reads on opponents to determine the amount you want to bet. It also requires attention to the betting patterns of opponents.
Courage
Courage is equally important when it comes to making strong bets and being willing to risk all of your chips with confidence. It requires fortitude to keep from allowing opponents to force you into all-in positions when you are not ready. And you must have the discipline to wait for the right starting hands in the right positions to play. This means more folding in order to be ready for the action-packed hands.
Choose your table carefully
In a no-limit cash game, you need to choose your table carefully to ensure you have a comparable or better stack than your opponents. You also want to keep a strategy in mind for playing strong hands, at least until you get a read on the other poker players. And you want to have enough money in your pocket to be able to confidently make an all-in play without being scared to bet your last dollars. You also may want to be able to buy-in again if you lose your all-in bet.
Revise your strategy
In a no-limit tournament, you will likely want to play conservatively early in the event and revise your poker strategy as you go. A no limit hold’em tournament is a major commitment, and you want to be able to accumulate chips over time for a deep run.
Fixed-limit hold’em strategy
Limit hold’em requires patience and great attention to your opponents. Since bet sizing is not a factor in reading the other players, you must instead watch their patterns of betting, such as position and betting or raising frequency.
Different “intimidation” moves
While the all-in move is not as common an intimidation factor in limit poker, you can make sure to bet or raise to force players to commit to plays. Call less frequently. You can use raises to intimidate more conservative players.
Slower pace
In limit hold’em cash games in poker rooms or in online poker, gameplay may move a bit slower than in no-limit. This gives you more time to consider pot odds, which are also easier to figure out with fixed bets. Keep in mind that it is more difficult to bluff people out of pots because the bets are limited, so you must develop alternative strategies to garner calls or folds from the other players.
Patience is key
Limit tournaments require maximum patience. You are more likely to play more hands, but you should be prepared to commit to them or be willing to let hands go. Also, avoid calling bets just to see more cards on the flop, turn, and river.
Betting may be limited, but players can still switch up their betting and raising frequencies to confuse opponents. Players should be willing to mix it up to keep opponents from figuring out your strategy.
Why play fixed-limit Texas Hold’em?
Players often choose fixed-limit poker out of habit, but others choose it to play more conservatively. They don’t want to risk everything on a single hand, and they can play more hands over a longer period of time in limit play.
For some, it is easier to play a pot odds-focused game in limit hold’em because the bets and raises are fixed and easier to use in calculations. They can focus more on position and player reads when there are no surprise all-in moves or varying raise amounts.
Improve as a player
Limit hold’em takes the focus off of betting ranges and other bet sizing-related factors. This provides an opportunity to take a deeper dive into the importance of position and evaluating other players’ strategies. Plus, easier pot odds calculations can leave room for players to learn various calculations and how to best implement strategies.
This type of game also forces players to be more selective about calling raises, as calling stations lose money the fastest in those games. The key to improving is picking your spots and more closely watching other players’ betting patterns — not the amounts.
Limit your losses
By using the raise or fold motto when playing limit hold’em, you can be more selective when playing hands. At the same time, you can see more flops without the danger of making decisions that could risk your tournament life around every corner.
A good limited hold’em player can stay in the action for a long time by being selective, refraining from bluffing, and limiting the amount of raising possible. Also, you can better monitor your stock sizes because the betting is standardized. This helps you know when to leave the game and minimize your bankroll losses.
Improve your mathematical analysis
Poker requires you to calculate simple equations, at least for the purpose of determining pot odds and even implied odds. When the bets and raises are always predictable in amount, you can focus on those calculations. You can then calculate the odds more quickly and memorize certain common situations.
Knowing how much money you’ll face in a bet or raise also makes it easier to determine how much a poker hand may cost from the beginning. You can see how many players could be in a hand, and as soon as betting starts, you can watch for betting patterns to get a jump on calculations.
The takeaway
Limit and no-limit hold’em are very similar but require different levels of risk-taking and strategy. These differences are so important that many players choose limit or no-limit poker and stick to it.
If you’re just starting to play poker, you should try both limit and no-limit poker games to see what works best for you. Once you’re in the game, you can determine which one is a better fit.
Featured image source: Flickr by Valentina Thörner used under CC license
