Poker Fixed Limit Vs No Limit

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

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 no-limit poker implied odds are hugely important, while in fixed-limit games the significance of implied odds is, well, limited. For those of you not familiar with the term, a quick primer on. The most accurate analogy is that limit is like a carousel, while no-limit is like a rollercoaster. While some people prefer the comfy merry go round of limit, others are more excited by the thrill of going on full speed with no-limit. No-limit and fixed limit are not the only variations of Texas hold’em. Texas Hold’em Games: No Limit vs Limit. Most people start their playing careers with No Limit games. If you’ve ever sat down for Texas Hold’em games in the past, it’s probably where you started as well.

Understanding The Differences Between No Limit & Fixed Limit Poker Posted by on 2/13/2014 7:46:42 PM For the experienced online sports betting player that has spent a good amount of time playing Texas Hold ‘em Poker with limits and without them, the difference between the two games is common knowledge.

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.

Jon YoungOctober 9^th, 2020 - 07:21pm

Two of the most popular forms of poker are No Limit Texas Hold’em and Limit Texas Hold’em. Limit poker is still popular in US cardrooms, and you’ll find a decent range of cash games online in poker rooms at top online casinos in the US.

When it comes to No Limit poker, you’ll have a massive variety of tournaments and cash tables at your disposal.

So which game to go for, especially if you’re a poker player just starting out? Let’s examine the similarities and differences, and work through some key strategies for both disciplines.

May the Odds Be in Your Favor

Whatever type of poker you’re playing, you’ll need a rudimentary grasp of odds. Essentially, the odds help a poker player work out whether a hand is worth continuing with. If the odds aren’t in your favor, you can make an informed decision to let the hand go. If it is, it will help you determine bet size.

Pot Odds: In a nutshell, pot odds refers to the ratio of the size of the bet you need to call compared to the size of the pot.

Imagine there is $90 in the pot. A player on the other side of the table bets $10, making the total pot $100. You’ll need to bet $10 in order to call, so your pot odds are 10/1; you stand to win 10x your bet by making the call.

Drawing Odds: Now you can work out the odds of your hand improving. Let’s say you hold two pair on a board and need one of 8 possible cards out of 32 left in order to improve your hand.

Your hand odds, or drawing odds, would be 32/8, or 4/1. As that’s lower than the pot odds of 10/1, it’s an easy call to make.

Implied Odds: Implied odds is a little more complex to understand. Essentially, implied odds refer to the amount of money you can potentially make if you hit outs on later streets. Implied odds also consider the likelihood of your opponent calling you down all the way.

Your implied odds also increase if you go to the flop multiway. You can make a call with a marginal hand preflop if you think there will be a lot of callers. Hit your made hand on the flop and your implied odds are huge with so many players left in.

CHECK OUT: Our Guide to The Basic Rules of Poker

Limit Poker Games

When comparing Limit vs No Limit poker, we need to look first at the standard betting during the hand. The betting limit varies between the two disciplines, and this can have a huge impact on how you play a hand.

In Limit Texas Hold’em, there will be two bet sizes available: the small bet and the big bet. Imagine you’re playing a Limit poker cash game where the blinds are $1/$2.

The small blind will be $1 and the big blind $2. However, the small bet is worth double the small blind, or $2. The big bet is worth double the big blind, or $4.

In Limit Hold’em the small bet is used preflop and on the flop. The big bet is used for the turn and river.

Let’s say you are heads-up against an opponent in a Limit cash game with blinds of $1/$2. You decide to raise but you can only make it $4. Your opponent raises, but can only make it $8 to go. You make the call and we see a flop.

Flop: Again, the maximum bet size is $4. You bet and your opponent calls.

Turn: Now you can use the big bet. You bet $8, and your opponent raises to $16. You fold and the villain takes the pot.

Some cardrooms will cap the betting in a limit game after a certain number of raises. However, this varies between casinos, and online cardrooms will have their own rules too.

No Limit Poker Games

Poker Fixed Limit Vs No Limit Income

In a No Limit Texas Hold’em game, you aren’t restricted by a betting limits. As long as you raise at least double the big blind or previous bet, you can bet what you want.

Imagine you’re playing in a No Limit poker cash game at $5/$10. The small blind is $5, and the big blind is $10. You’re first to act.

Your minimum raise amount would be $10, but there would be no limit on your maximum raise. You can even bet all your chips, even if you can’t match the current bet.

Imagine you are sitting at a No Limit poker cash game and have $500 behind. The blinds are $5/$10 and your opponent raises to $100. You now have the option of raising the minimum to $200 or going all-in for the whole $500. Even if you have your opponent covered, they can call for whatever chips they have left.

Buy-ins in Limit Poker Games

When comparing Limit vs No Limit poker, we need to consider buy-ins. You need to assess three things when deciding what to sit down with:

Min/max buy-in available on the poker site
Your personal bankroll
Your skill level

Most online poker rooms will carry a min buy-in of 10x the big bet. So, in a game of $2/4 Limit poker (blinds $1/$2), where the small bet and big bet are $2 and $4, the minimum buy-in would be $40. The maximum buy-in varies, but some sites won’t impose an upper limit.

Because there are strict rules to the betting in a game of Limit Texas Hold’em, a limit player don’t really need to sit down with a lot. However, because more hands in Limit poker go to showdown, you should always be prepared to have a few re-buys available.

Buy-Ins in No Limit Games

Now let’s consider what you should sit down with in a game of No Limit Texas Hold’em. Buy-ins need to be large enough in a No Limit poker game so you can comfortably cover most bets.

In any case, most cardrooms will impose a minimum buy-in limit before you sit down. This can be anywhere from 30-40 big blinds. The maximum buy-in might be 100-250 big blinds. If you’re playing online, you’ll see the min/max buy-in limits clearly displayed in the lobby.

So, how many buy-ins should you have in a standard NLHE cash game? It all depends on what you are prepared to lose, and the levels you’re comfortable playing at.

Let’s say you’re happy playing at $0.25/$0.50 tables online. You don’t get caught out too often, and you have found a lot of mediocre opposition. Consider, then, sitting down with a bankroll of 100bb.

Of course, if you learn to multi-table, you’ll need to have enough buy-ins to cover every table you’re at. For four tables at once, that means having 400bb.

What if you’re an aggressive player who likes to play lots of pots? Now you can consider dropping your buy-in. Instead of 100bb, sit down with 20-25bb.

RELATED: Check out the top online casinos in Pennsylvania New Jersey West Virginia

Advantages of No Limit vs. Limit Poker Games

So, which discipline should you go for? When judging Limit vs No Limit poker, you can compare a range of factors to help you decide which discipline to concentrate on.

Pot Odds vs Implied Odds: Limit poker is definitely a game where pot odds come to the fore. You will often get good pot odds to call in a Limit game. But in No Limit games, you are often relying on implied pot odds where you have a read on a particular opponent. If math is your thing, you’ll be more comfortable with Limit poker strategy.

Handling Downswings: Because of the bet restrictions in Limit, you can keep a better handle of the pot size. That means keeping a better handle on your bankroll. In No Limit poker, you are taking much larger risks with your stack when a player moves all-in. In a cash game, you may find yourself going bust time and again if you keep being outmuscled by an aggressive player.

Showdown: Limit Hold’em encourages chasing. It’s easier to go to a showdown when the betting sizes are so small. There isn’t that issue in No Limit Texas Hold’em, where you can make an opponent fold pre-flop with an aggressive bet.

Standard of Players: Because No Limit Texas Hold’em is the more popular form of the game, it attracts far more players than Limit poker. That means the general quality of player in NLHE is a lot lower than Limit. Indeed, the standard of Limit Texas Hold’em is considered very good at the biggest online poker sites. Plus, Limit is played a lot more in brick-and-mortar cardrooms, especially in the US. Many players have migrated online, taking their skill set with them.

No Limit Poker Strategies for Cash Games

Let’s move onto some basic strategy for cash games. Once you know the No Limit Texas Hold’em rules, you’ll need to grasp a few simple moves.

Understand Bet Sizes: Knowing how to bet in Texas Hold’em no limit games is essential if you want to win at cash games. Keep your raises standard so you don’t give off too much information. So, pre-flop that means making your raises 2.5x to 3x the big blind without deviating. Post-flop, modern strategy suggests you bet around 13-14x bb to thin out the field.

Play Premium Hands Strongly: As in tournaments, you need to raise your strong hands pre-flop in No Limit Texas Hold’em cash games. Cash games attract a lot of callers, so you need to thin the field out as best you can.

Check Multiway Flops: In cash games, you are going to see a lot more multiway pots on the flop than you will in tournaments. That means your strong hands may struggle when up against more than one opponent. Consider checking top pairs and overpairs, especially if there are 4 or more players in the hand. Don’t be afraid to fold hands when you’ve missed, even if you think you have odds to call.

Play Position: It’s important to be in position when you make strong bets. If an opponent just checks, especially a weak one, don’t be afraid to over-raise to force them out.

CHECK OUT: More Online Poker Strategy & Tips

Limit Poker Strategies for Cash Games

There aren’t the same choice of Limit Hold’em poker games as there are No Limit. But just because the variety is limited, it doesn’t mean your Limit poker strategy needs to be.

Play Your Premium Hands Aggressively: In No Limit Hold’em, you can be pushed off marginal hands in early position with a well-timed all-in. There won’t be that problem in Limit games. You’ll be going to showdown cheaply with a lot more hands, so make them count. Consider folding your small pairs that may well be behind on the flop or turn. Similarly, make raises or re-raises with premium hands like big pairs and big suited connectors.

Try Limit Hold’em Before No Limit: If you’re a beginner just starting out, it’s worth trying Limit poker before you hit the NLHE tables. Limit is great for learning basic pot odds and understanding the math. You also avoid crazy players in NLHE games who love to move all-in with junk. Plus, you’ll have much more joy from adapting your Limit play to No Limit. It’s much harder doing it in reverse.

Make Your Raises Count on the Turn: Players love to chase river cards in Limit Texas Hold’em. That’s why utilizing the big bet on the turn is a great way of forcing out marginal hands. Learn to check-raise more too. They are much easier to get through in a game of Limit Hold’em than they are in No Limit. Remember, in Limit poker, you’re trying to get as much money into the pot as possible.

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tweetcopy linkLink copied!WRITTEN BYJon Young is a writer and magazine editor with over 12 years' experience in the gaming sector. He has written on everything from poker and slots to casino, sports betting and mobile gambling. When not trying to take down the Mega Moolah jackpot he can be found playing poker tournaments in casinos.... Read MoreJon Young is a writer and magazine editor with over 12 years' experience in the gaming sector. He has written on everything from poker and slots to casino, sports betting and mobile gambling. When not trying to take down the Mega Moolah jackpot he can be found playing poker tournaments in casinos.... Read More

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