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Limit Hold'em Tactics To Use In No Limit Hold'em Games


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Don't be a one trick pony. Learning how to play more than just No Limit Texas Hold'em will actually make you a better overall poker player, and, ironically, will make you a better No Limit Hold'em player as well.Limit and No Limit Hold'em are games that are played very differently, but that doesn't mean that you can't use some Limit tactics in No Limit. In fact, there are several poker weapons that are considered Limit plays, but when used correctly are very effective in the game of No Limit. Let's look at a few of these plays and how they relate to each game.Betting the Flop — In Limit Hold'em, it's common practice for a player who raises before the flop to bet at least once more on the flop. The goal is to quickly pick up the pot in the hope that your opponents miss with the first community cards.Well, this is also an effective weapon in No Limit Hold'em. However, there are a few important differences. Betting the flop in No Limit will win you the pot more often, but you'll usually be risking more money. Because Limit betting is structured, in a $10-$20 Limit Hold'em game, it will only cost you $10 to try and steal the pot. If the bet doesn't work, the damage is minimal.In No Limit, though, the pain could be much more severe. Since you can bet all of your chips at any time, you're also risking your entire stack if you push it all-in on the wrong flop.To avoid that catastrophe, take a lesson from successful Limit players. Rather than bet the whole pot in a No Limit game, bet anywhere from one-third to one-half of the pot. A bet of half the pot will generally have the same effect as a pot-sized bet, and it will cost you much less if the bluff doesn't work.Three-Betting Before the Flop — When you watch high stakes Limit Hold'em poker, you'll often see a pre-flop raise, followed by a re-raise. Then, the pot is generally played heads-up, with the player who put in the last raise before the flop taking the lead.This gives the three-bettor control of the hand and allows him to represent strength. If his opponent misses the flop, the aggressor can often take the pot away with another bet on the flop. This tactic works even better when the aggressor also has position.Here's an example of how this might work in Limit Hold'em. Player A raises with 7-7, and Player B decides to re-raise from the button with 5-5. The flop comes A-K-9. Player A checks. Player B bets with position. Now, all Player A can do is fold due to the scary board, thus allowing Player B to win the pot with a weaker hand.This play works well in No Limit Hold'em too, albeit, in a very different form. When a player makes it three bets in Limit Hold'em, the first raiser will always call one more bet to see the flop. That's not true in No Limit.You can raise more than just one bet in No Limit, so you can actually force your opponent to fold before the flop. Let's look at another example, but now in a No Limit game.The blinds are $10-$20, and Player A raises to $60 with pocket sevens. This time, Player B, sitting on the button with AK, re-raises to $200. Player A now has a very difficult decision to make. If he decides to call and see the flop, he'll likely fold to another forceful bet unless he catches his third seven.If the flop comes something like Q-10-4, Player A will check, and player B might bet, say, $300. There is almost no way that Player A can call that bet.The key difference between Limit and No Limit Hold'em is the level of aggressive play employed on the flop.Because it's far riskier to bet after the flop, No Limit players tend to play the board more carefully. By so doing, they're essentially giving up on pots that they could often win with a bet. So, as if you were playing in a Limit game, keep your No Limit pots small by lowering your bet sizes. This will reduce the risk associated with playing the perilous game of No Limit Hold'em.(If you liked this piece, then send a letter or e-mail to your local newspaper and ask them to get Daniel Negreanu's column in your paper.)

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  • 2 months later...

Thanks for the post Daniel, I have to admit I am a No Limit player. I hate limit games cause I get out drawn a lot. I'll have to think about getting back into it. Good luck in your next tournament. On a side note and you post some advice on playing Cash game. I have a $200min-$500min NL cash game I am thinking about jumping into. I have to admit though I am really good at tournaments but not in cash games. I have an aggressive style that hurts me with cash games. I could use all the advice possible. Thanks, J

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  • 2 months later...

i enjoy limit games. it gives me a chance to see lots of flops. also lots of people will call you down in limit and you get to see results, like chances of hitting flushes or gut shots, and openenders, it helps me with no limit because i dont know all the percentages yet but i do have an idea.i enjoy reading and watching you play because you bring fun into playing cards. and thats what its all about for most card players, not to make millions, but that would be nice too!!!!!! :club:

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  • 2 weeks later...

poker 101....... i miss my $5/$10 holdem game back home in milwaukee. i use to win a lot of money. im in florida so if i wanna play limit im stuck with $2 :D what a bingo style of play that crap is. i recommend no one who wants to seriously play poker ever plays that low of limit holdem. its really bad. i just want to say though, that although no limit is the popular game, mid to high limit holdem rules. you will learn to play so much better from limit games when you apply all the strategies you know from no limit. i remember watching dan and e-dog on wpt playing heads up limit or final 3 and it was great to watch. :club:

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Thanks for the post Daniel, I have to admit I am a No Limit player. I hate limit games cause I get out drawn a lot. I'll have to think about getting back into it. Good luck in your next tournament. On a side note and you post some advice on playing Cash game. I have a $200min-$500min NL cash game I am thinking about jumping into. I have to admit though I am really good at tournaments but not in cash games. I have an aggressive style that hurts me with cash games. I could use all the advice possible. Thanks, J
ive played one $200 no limit, but i have played high pot limit cash 2x (i bought in both times for $1,000). im not sure why your aggressive style would be bad in a cash game. the only thing i could think of would be because people can rebuy and are more likely to call you where in a tourney they don't want to be knocked out. stick to playing good hands in good position, dont donkey your chips off raising every time with rags. people catch on and you will go broke in no time. send me a PM if you ever want to chat on aol or msn and we can talk strat. im not Daniel but talking strategy with anyone helps greatly.
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