Limit vs Big Bet Hold’em

Texas Hold’Em can be played with betting limits, or with no restrictions whatsoever. But Hold’em is Hold’em, right? Surely a good poker player can win whether the game is Fixed Limit, Pot Limit or No Limit? Although the rules of the game remain the same, there are subtle differences between Limit and “Big Bet” Hold’em. If a poker player can grasp these subtleties, there is no reason why he or she can’t succeed at all varieties of Hold’em.

Betting: The most obvious difference is the limit on the size of your maximum bet. You may be able to bet the flop with air in No Limit Hold’em and win, but if your opponent knows it is only going to cost one more bet to call, they are more likely to stay in and try and pick up a cheap draw. Players will call pre-flop with a wider range and it is harder to thin the field when holding a premium poker hand, leading to more frequent outdraws.

Hand Selection: As touched on above, hand selection varies with the type of table limit. Players are more inclined to take flops with drawing hands, knowing that they can’t be bullied out of a pot. In No Limit Hold’em, it is a fairly common sight to see all but the most premium of hands folded, but in Fixed Limit, it is much safer to limp in mid-position with suited connectors, for example. Limping in earlier positions improves the pot odds for those in later positions, generating further action.

Position: Arguably more important than the cards being held in any form of poker, playing position is essentially the same in both Limit and Big Bet Hold’em, but the extremes are magnified. A raise in early position is a far greater show of strength when the table sees how you are attempting to come through every player, to try and win a small pot. Raising for information is a more valuable strategy in Limit Hold’em and those is later positions are better placed to take advantage.

Because of these subtleties, poker players with good hand reading skills, that are able to play well post-flop and that possess a good knowledge of pot odds, will tend to excel at Limit Hold’em. Big Bet Hold’em places greater emphasis on courage and psychology.

It is a fact that some poker players are terrific at No Limit, but awful at Fixed Limit and the reverse also holds true. If you like to mix up the games you take part in, it is essential that you keep good records, to allow you to discover your own strengths and weaknesses. Playing the type of limit in which you perform best will help your bankroll in the long term.

Saturday 27 March, 2010, 6:00 | Category: Poker Tips
RSS feed for comments and replies | Post a comment | Trackback from your own web site.