Limit Hold Em
It's limit hold 'em, a very different game than no limit, which is the only reason that I didn't rate it higher. I needed to get that in upfront. That being said, it's a great primer for anyone who wants to learn that game, and if you have good handle on the no limit game, reading this book will help your play there. Limit Texas Hold'em Poker Strategy Tips. Limit Texas hold ’em is deceptive. It appears easy to play, yet beneath that simple facade lies a game of extraordinary complexity. Many variables must be considered when making decisions, and figuring out the correct play is often difficult. Fixed Limit Hold’em is also, therefore, a great game to learn first, because mistakes are much less costly. In No Limit you can lose everything in a single hand because of one error, but the amount you potentially can lose in Fixed Limit Hold’em is much smaller. As a result it is also a great game if you have a risk averse attitude. Limit poker is a variation of the popular card game where the betting limit is set. This can apply to cash games as well as tournaments but the most popular option is Limit Texas Hold'em ring games. Limit holdem is a grindy game that takes time to learn properly. You can always watch videos and read articles to learn about the game. Getting advice from other more experienced players on a poker forum website is another great way to improve your game. But ultimately, time in the hot seat is the only way to really improve your limit holdem game.
Many poker players now start out by playing no-limit hold’em and this lesson is intended for those looking to make the transition to fixed-limit hold’em. We’ll focus on differences between the two games. While the betting rules are the main difference between the two formats, there are many other strategic differences.
In its most rudimentary form the main difference between the two is that implied odds drive no-limit and in limit making or saving an extra big bet is what separates good players from their mediocre brethren. One might make the analogy of the first game being similar to a roller coaster and the second a carrousel. While some enjoy the thrill of speed, others prefer the comfort of the merry-go-round.
For those who have never really embraced limit play and look down upon it, rest assured that there are many pros that make six figure incomes playing limit hold’em without the roller coaster thrashing to their bankrolls that can accompany no-limit play.
The Key Strategic Differences
The following list of differences between the two forms of hold’em should give you an idea of what to pay attention to if you’re switching from no-limit hold’em
Starting Hands
While many unsuited big card starting hands are regularly and correctly played in limit, those same hands can get a player into a heap of trouble in no-limit. Hands such as AQ or KQ can be played aggressively in limit but they can be a disaster in the making in no-limit, especially if the stacks are deep.
Ability / Inability to Manipulate Pot Odds
This difference is obvious but worth noting. Many poker players who play both games will, on occasion, complain at the tables while playing limit that they cannot protect their hands due to the structured betting. Of course these same players, when turning over a losing hand, do not praise the game for allowing them not to have lost their entire stack.
There still are times when a bet and/or a raise can impact the odds offered opponents in limit and accomplished players are always aware of this dynamic.
The Odds
Certainly the knowledge and proper use of odds has a place in both limit and no-limit play. Due to the heightened emphasis on implied odds, no-limit players can many times continue a hand with the worst of it and ultimately prevail and profit handsomely. In limit play, pot odds take on a much more critical role and relying too heavily on implied odds to justify chasing a draw becomes a major downfall of certain players.
Limit is a more mechanical and structured game and adhering to the odds is a must to succeed.
Information
Players need to understand that while one can bet as much as he likes in no-limit, the size of his bets give away information to his opponents as to the strength of his holding. It is for this reason many no-limit players like to keep their bet sizing constant, to avoid giving too much information away. Of course when they play like this – they are playing like limit players. Ironic, don’t you think?
Protecting Your Hand
In no-limit one attempts to manipulate the pot odds to make it ‘incorrect’ for opponents to proceed with draws. Limit players need to focus to the times when being aggressive in an attempt to ‘thin the field’ will work and when knowing all reasonable hands will call your bet anyway. Then your bet/raise will only build a pot that will make it correct for opponents to play.
In limit play pot odds are critical, as implied odds do not take on the emphasis they do in no-limit. Players that fail to make adjustments based upon both the odds they are receiving as well as the odds their opponents are being offered by the pot will not fare well in limit play.
Bluffing
While many believe that bluffing in limit play is a fool’s errand, there is no question that a well timed bluff can work. While bluffs have a much better chance of success in no-limit play, you need to understand that the cost of failure in no-limit can be much higher.
Over the years limit gurus, such as David Sklansky, have advocated that in limit play losing a bet on the end is okay but losing the pot is a disaster. This dictum has led a legion of players to lose a lot of bets on the end and has lost favor in the current limit thinking. Today’s accomplished limit players are not as quick to pay off on the river fearing being bluffed out. This, of course, would indicate that there may well be more opportunities for river bluffs in today’s limit hold’em.
Just know your players, understand the image you have been projecting, assess the board and put yourself in their shoes to evaluate if your bluff is believable.
Stack Sizes
The size of your stack and also your opponents’ has a much greater importance in no-limit versus limit play. Playing with or against a deep stack in no-limit can make significant differences to your strategy. The threat that is evident by the amount of money behind a bet is much larger in no-limit. However it still exists in limit play. In addition, the amount of money a player has on the table also helps create an intimidating presence which can help create positive results in either form of the game.
The Goal
There should be consensus that the single most popular goal of playing poker is to accumulate more chips than you started with. However, in no-limit players are constantly on the lookout for opportunities to double up or take an opponent’s entire stack. In limit play, the accepted guideline for middle limits is to earn one big bet an hour over time. Individual sessions can spike wildly in either direction but a winning player, whether a dedicated amateur or professional, who keeps accurate records will be able to chart this one big bet an hour earn rate.
Conclusion
While the two games look very much the same on the surface they are very different. This will become even more apparent as your progress through our lessons on limit hold’em.
Many players tend to play just one of the hold’em variations, usually being the one they initially learned. There are many others that feel comfortable playing either format. There are then those that can excel at both formats and they are forces to be reckoned with. You should strive to be in this third class of players because they are truly poker players. This third group usually feels right at home with other poker variations such as stud, Omaha, razz and all the different formats. They are truly poker players not just hold’em players.
Related Lessons
By Tom 'TIME' Leonard
Tom has been writing about poker since 1994 and has played across the USA for over 40 years, playing every game in almost every card room in Atlantic City, California and Las Vegas.
World's Best Poker AI
You will play poker against the strongest poker engines including the world famous: Jagbot, Pokibot, Simbot, Sparbot, Vexbot, Averybot, Jambot, Oddbot, Xenbot.
And even write your own poker bot.
Read more...
Simulate Everything
All types of Limit and No-Limit Holdem games: Full Ring, 5-max, 6-max, Heads-Up. Master any poker tournament structure. We've included numerous predefined tournaments such as Sit-n-Go, Pokerstars Sunday Million, WCOOP, Turbos, Double-or-Nothing.
Analyze. Optimize. Grow.
Find weaknesses in your poker game using powerful analytical tools. Work with poker engines to correct mistakes. Test any ideas and strategies. You will see how this software improves your game. Beat real opponents. The time has come to become a Poker Genius!
Buy the best poker training software!
Special discount 30% OFF until December 31, 2021
5 Reasons to Download
The Strongest Poker AI Opponents
They never sleep, never get tired. They are always ready to play against you. Poker Genius software includes the strongest poker engines which have been successfully tested in real Man vs. Machine poker tournaments, both Limit and No-Limit Holdem. Moreover with Poker Genius you can customize AI playing style: set aggression level, pre-flop and post-flop strategy, bluffing... simulate any real opponent's behavior.
Limit, No-Limit ring games, MTTs, heads-up tournaments
Simulate any game structures. Set the rake amounts for the ring games. Starting chips, players number, levels length for multi-table tournaments. With Poker Genius you are able to check your skill at such famous MTTs as Pokerstars Sunday Million, WCOOP events, FTOPS, Maximus... etc. It will be priceless experience which will definitely make you stronger when playing against real opponents.
You've got Your Personal AI Coach
The in-game AI advisor will help novice poker players to make a decision. It will show what AI thinks is a better move in the current situation. These advices are presented in percentages for raising, calling or folding as a pie-diagram.
Limit Hold'em Poker Strategy
Analysis is the Key to Success
Poker Genius is not only a game against AI opponents. It is a huge poker training complex which includes such tools as: Poker Hand Evaluator, Showdown Calculator, detailed Player Stats, Hand History Databases and Importer. You will feel the power of modern technologies and see how your poker skill is improving.
We Are Always Here to Support You
Limit Hold'em Books
Poker Genius was developed by a group of talented programmers with the primary goal of bringing back the interest in poker AI. Technical support is available to all our customers with an average 1 hour response time. Just e-mail our support team or contact us via Skype.