No-Limit Hold’em is the go-to version of Texas Hold’em for a lot of new players. However, what if you decide you want to play with the big boys? If so, you may be considering trying your hand at Limit Hold’em. This version of the game features bigger bets and more risk. Naturally, this means more excitement.
New Limit Hold’em players face a common problem, though, in that they seem to get “fleeced” pretty often. Are you dealing with the same issue? Well, understanding the difference between limit and no-limit games can help you formulate a better strategy!
Limit Hold’em Vs. No-Limit Hold’em
Here are the key differences between Limit Hold’em and No-Limit Hold’em games:
The Math
Math plays a much bigger role in limit games than it does in no-limit ones. So it is vital you practice calculating pot odds and implied odds accurately. Books on limit play will be pretty helpful in this regard. However, here’s an overview of what will be different:
- When it comes to multi-way pots, you should favor open-ended straights on the flop. It is best to call down these with the river.
- Checking a turn comes with a two-fold benefit. For one, it is quite a profitable play. It can also help disguise your hand.
- You might want to consider saving a single Big Blind. Earning even one extra BB can affect your game significantly.
Folding
The key to winning at Limit Hold’em is to play out hands you would fold in no-limit games. Here’s why: the betting in limit games increases linearly. On the other hand, no-limit games feature an exponential increase in betting. So this means hands, too, increase linearly in limit games and exponentially in no-limit ones.
For instance, say you’re playing a no-limit game. If someone makes a five-fold raise, it means they have the top one-fifth of every possible calling hand. That would be roughly 3-5% of all hands. So a second raise indicates an AA, signaling a good time for you to fold.
However, this doesn’t apply to a limit game. In Limit Hold’em, there is no guarantee that the second raiser has an AA. It is advisable to call with a small pair even if they do have an AA. You could even play a suited connector if there are several callers.
The reason behind this is if you hit a straight, set, or flush, you get to collect from others callers. Usually, this collection will be more than what you lose from the raises.
Wrap Up
So there you have it! Understanding these simple differences should help improve your Limit Hold’em play! Remember, practice makes perfect. So don’t drop the ball just because of a few bad games!
