Poker guide

The Difference Between Limit and No Limit Texas Hold 'Em

No Limit Texas Hold 'Em is by far the world's most advertised and televised poker game in the world. The reason why it is so popular is due to the amounts that are won and lost and also due to the emotions involved in playing a game where your opponent could make a raise for all your chips at any time. There is an inherent adrenaline and fear factor in the No Limit version of the game and it is this factor that draws viewers from around the globe. In addition, No Limit Texas Hold 'Em is the variation of poker that is used to decide which player is world champion for a give year. This happens in a yearly tournament known as the World Series of Poker Main Event. Also, the majority of other televised poker tournaments are in the No Limit Texas Hold 'Em format.

Walking on Ice

No Limit Hold 'Em is a poker game of slim margins of error, like walking on ice. Where in Limit Hold 'Em if you make a mistake it can only cost you a few small bets, the same mistake in No Limit can cost you all the chips you have in front of you. It is these small margins that make every decision in No Limit important. Limit Hold 'Em is mainly a mathematical game. You sit and wait for good hands and them play them to the best of your ability. Most Limit Hold 'Em hands reach showdown where two players or more must expose their hands to determine who is the winner. In No Limit, this is quite different. Because a player can make a large bet as a bluff or to protect his hand, most hands end before a showdown is reached. Additionally, making several mistakes over the course of a Limit Hold 'Em session may not make that much of an impact in the bottom line for the session. However, the same mistakes made in bad positions in a No Limit game could mean that a player has no chance of winning for the session.

Bluffing and Reading Hands

Another major difference between Limit Hold 'Em and the No Limit version of the game is the importance of bluffing. In Limit games, bluffing is not a major factor because you cannot force a player to call a large bet. If you try to bluff, an opponent only needs to call one or two bets to see if he has the best hand. In No Limit, because of the variable bet size, a bluff can be done by making a big bet. Instead of only having to call one or two small bets, the player is now faced with a major decision. Does he risk a large portion of his chips when he holds just a marginal hand? It is these factors that also make the ability of hand reading so important. Being able to isolate the possible hands an opponent may have is the quickest way to figure out when he is bluffing. If you have determined the range of a player's hands and then he makes a large bet that represents a hand that is not within his range, chances are he is bluffing and you have an excellent opportunity to pick up some extra chips.

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26.02.2010

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