1. Difference Between No Limit And Limit Poker Betting
2. Difference Between No Limit And Limit Poker Table
3. Difference Between No Limit And Limit Poker
4. Difference Between No Limit And Limit Poker Rules
5. Difference Between No Limit And Limit Poker Bonus

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.

No limit hold’em has been called by many but most notably, Doyle Brunson (legendary poker player), as the ‘Cadillac of poker’. Its name says it all – there is no limit, except the size of the blinds. Still using the same blind structure as $1 and $2, the first player to act can call, fold or raise. However, it is possible to take poker in one of its purest forms, Texas Hold’em, and weigh up the differences between Limit and No Limit games. Even though this overview won’t cover Pot Limit, that doesn’t matter too much because this style is basically a halfway house between Limit and No Limit.

1. See full list on poker.fandom.com.
2. But I could still point out a few differences between limit and no limit. In no limit, there are no useless 'all ins' from weaker players who get lucky on the turn or river and get by you with a 2.

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.

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.

Online Poker » Poker Strategy » Texas Hold Em » Limit vs No Limit

It is quite interesting how two almost identical games with the same rules and overall objective can be almost polar opposites of each because of one simple difference, the betting format. But that is certainly the case when comparing the 'Cadillac of Poker,' No Limit Texas Hold'em to Limit Texas Hold'em.

So what's so different between the betting formats? Well, as many of you probably know, no limit hold'em allows players to bet as little as the big blind to as much as their whole stack whenever it is their turn to act on any of the 4 betting rounds. So for example, if a player was involved in a hand, the blinds were $1 /$2 and he had $128 in front of him, he would have to bet at least $2 but could bet as high as $128. Players are not capped in any way in terms of the amount they can bet or how many raises can be made in a single betting round.

Fixed limit is quite the opposite. A 'fixed' limit can be bet each round that cannot be deviated from and there is in most cases a cap of no more than 3 raises allowed per round. The first 2 betting rounds will consist of the smaller bet being allowed while the last two rounds will allow players to use the bigger bet. For example, in a $1/$2 game, pre-flop and post flop players can bet and/or raise in $1 increments up to a maximum of $3 per round. On the turn and river, players have to bet/raise a minimum of $2 with a maximum of $6 per round/per player.

So as you can see, there is a substantial difference in how these two games are played. This difference in betting forces players to have a completely different approach from one game to the other in terms of mindset and strategy. We have outlined a few of these things for you below.

No Limit vs Fixed Limit Poker

Before I start with some of the differences, I'd like to share a quote that I just read online:

'Limit poker is a science and no limit poker is an art form.'

Let's analyze the differences using the quote above.

Starting with limit hold'em, the 'science' aspect of the quote makes sense because limit hold'em is more of a mechanical game. Since you cannot make a raise high enough to protect your hand, everyone will chase their draws and in fact, are correct in doing so. In light of this, it is important that players understand and realize when they are beat so that they can fold. This is the single handedly the most important aspect of limit hold'em; know when you are beat, fold and save your chips for a better spot. This is how players win at limit hold'em.

In no limit however, players can bet as many chips as they'd like at any given time. By being able to do this, they create incorrect odds for their opponents to chase hands that players would normally chase in limit hold'em. If the opponent decides to chase their hand, you know that you have forced them to make a mistake that in the long run will cost them and will show a nice profit for you. This really touches base on the 'art form' of the quote simply because there is no structure to the betting. Players need to be creative in their betting and raising so that they can control the pot in attempt to manipulate their opponent's decisions depending on whether the player is ahead in the hand or behind. This will help to minimize losses and maximize wins.

Now, aside from the quote above, let's go over some other important key differences between these two betting formats.

Bankrolls/Variance

Although it would make sense in ones mind that since you can risk your stack at any one time, that a player should have a bigger bankroll for no limit games in comparison to limit games.

But that's not really the case. In fact, players should have just as much of a bankroll for limit games simply because players will face bigger and longer periods of variance in limit hold'em then they will no limit hold'em. The biggest reason being is that it is correct most times for players to chase draws, thus making it difficult to control any aspect of the hand. This will often result in being beaten much more.

Difference Between No Limit And Limit Poker Betting

Since in no limit hold'em players can bet as much as they want, they can try to attempt to control the pot so that they lose less to these types of beats.

In short, players should look to have at least 300 to 500 big blinds of the stakes they wish to play in either games.

Making Money

Difference Between No Limit And Limit Poker Table

This will be pretty brief since it should be obvious. But in terms of making money, no limit hold'em would be the way to go simply because you can stack a player at any time whereas in limit hold'em, the most you can make is about 9 times whatever the big blind is per person.

Difference Between No Limit And Limit Poker

It is important to keep in mind that with both making money and having a bankroll that these factors are considering that the players who utilized these tips are winning players. No money in the world will save you long term if you are a consistently losing player.

Difference Between No Limit And Limit Poker Rules

Strategy

Obviously, there are books and books on both of these subjects so what we provide here is just a generalization. But in terms of strategy, one of the biggest differences is that in no limit hold'em, players are playing more than just their cards, they are playing their opponents as well. Players can make bluffs, huge bets, check raises or whatever they think will work against that one opponent. Since each player is different, these strategies will obviously be different as well.

But in limit hold'em, players can only bet so much so there is little room for maneuvering. This forces players to play their cards in relation to the board that much more than no limit hold'em.

No Limit or Limit Hold'em

They have the same name and they have the same rules, but it is obvious that No Limit Hold'em and Limit Hold'em are worlds apart in difference.

Difference Between No Limit And Limit Poker Bonus

So which game should a player master? In all honesty, I don't quite think it matters since both games utilize strategies, concepts and theories that can only benefit a player's overall poker game. In my opinion, why not learn how to play both of them well?

But if it really comes down to picking only one game, why not just ask yourself which do you like best, science or art?