Main differences between Limit and No Limit Hold'em

Question

I have some No Limit experience, but this hasn't stopped me from getting fleeced at Limit games, which I started playing out of curiosity.

What are the strategic adjustments that must be made to move from NL to Limit Hold'em?

Answer 1

When you move to limit, math is going to be a much bigger part of your play.

You have to learn to correctly calculate pot odds and implied odds, since it is very different.

You can and should read whole books on the subject of limit play, because it is very different.

To summarize the MAJOR points that change.

• Open ended straights on the flop on multi-way pots become much more favorable to call down to the river with.

• Check raising a the turn can be a very profitable play and can help disguise your play.

• Earning a single BB more or saving a single BB makes a HUGE difference over time.

Small mistakes have big consequences. Many times the correct play is only a few percentage points better on the positive EV.

Answer 2

If you are getting "fleeced" in limit games after playing no limit, you are probably folding too many hands in limit, that you should be playing out.

The difference between no limit and limit is that the betting increases exponentially in no limit, and only linearly in limit. Because of that fact, hands also have to increase in value exponentially in no limit.

In no limit, if there is a five-fold raise, the raiser has something like the top one-fifth of all CALLING hands, maybe 3-5% of ALL hands. A second raise probably means AA and you should get out. That's not true in limit. The second raiser may not have AA, and even if s/he does, you might want to call with a small pair or a suited connecter if there are a lot of other callers, because if you hit your set, straight, or flush, you will collect more from the other callers than you lose from the raises. In no limit, there are fewer callers, which means you have to get out faster with a "drawing" hand.

Answer 3

When Moving from NL Holdem to Limit Holdem you should notice the following:

1. there is a limit sum of chips you can put in the middle, therefore more players will see the flop (In most places there is a maximum of 4 re-raises in a betting round ).

2. In one hand this will improve your pot odds, but in the other hand increases the chance that one of the players will hit the flop.

3. Its pretty cheap to call, so you should increase your playable hands portfolio (for example: low suited connectors, two cards of the same suit, two cards 9 and above, you choose...).

4. Its very difficult to bluff or scary someone out because you cannot bet a large amount of chips. Players will stay to the river on draws, because its profitable for them.

5. You must control the pot odds calculation.

6. Just to remind you that on a 10$/20$ Limit game the pre-flop and post-flop betting rounds are in jumps of 10$ (up to 4 re-raises - 40$) and the post turn and post river betting rounds are in jump of 20$ (max 80$). You might consider calling up to the turn and then fold if you didn't hit.

7. The most important thing you should take in consideration is that Limit game is much more risky and you can loose all your money much quicker than in no-limit game.

Amigal