Casino & Gambling Information brought to you by casino bonuses and top online ecasinos

Why No-Limit Poker is Better Than Limit


If you are a tight-aggressive player, you need to consider playing No-Limit Hold 'em if you aren't already. With proper play, not only can you expect to increase your hourly win rate, but you can make it much more difficult for your opponents to draw out on you.

First of all, let's explain the fundamental differences between Limit and No-Limit. In Limit Hold 'em, you can only raise the amount of the big blind and most cardrooms and online poker rooms will cap the betting at 3 raises. In No-Limit Hold 'em, the only betting rule is that the minimum be at least the size of the big blind. You can bet your whole stack if you want to.

Sure, it takes more knowledge, experience, and courage to play No-Limit (NL) well, but it will pay off for you if you play it right.

To get you started, the standard raise in NL is 3-4 times the big blind. After the flop, a good bet to make when you have a strong hand is about the size of the pot. If you're looking for information on the flop, you might consider a bet of 1/3 to 1/2 the size of the pot. You also might consider making only a small bet if you're holding a monster hand and want to get called. Or you could always check-raise in that situation. Also be aware that the value of drawing hands that play well in limit games like K-J suited goes way down in NL play. Better hands to have are big pocket pairs or suited connectors.

So, why is it better to play NL? Simple: It's much easier to make a lot more money. Playing NL, you can afford to play only your strong hands. For example, in a two hour poker session you can play only one good hand and still make good money. You can more than double your stack on any given hand. In Limit poker, you have to constantly be winning pots to come out ahead. The blinds come around too quickly to sit on your hands. You have to work hard, play for a long time, and play your best game at all times to make good money at Limit poker.

Think about this: Most good poker authors will tell you that a good Limit player can expect to make about one big blind per hour. So, in other words, you can expect to make $10 an hour at a Limit $5/10 game if you play it right. On the other hand, if you buy-in for $500 at a $5/10 NL game, go all-in on your first hand with pocket Aces, get called by one opponent with pocket Kings and he doesn't improve, you've just won another $500 without breaking a sweat. That's an average of 50 hours of Limit gameplay.

Also, you can make your drawing opponents always go against the odds. In NL, you control the pot odds that your opponent is getting. If you see two suited or connecting cards on the board, betting the size of the pot into one opponent will make them go against the odds to draw. Sure, they're still going to hit their draws occasionally, but at least you made it a bad play for them to do so.

It takes the right personality to play at NL games. You can't be timid, and you have to know how much to bet at the right times. If you can't do that, then stick to Limit poker for now and come back to try NL if and when the time is right.

As a Limit player who converted to NL, I can tell you that it isn't too difficult to adapt your game. I can also tell you that after I learned to play NL, I never sat down at another Limit table. You can also tell you that after I learned to play NL, I never sat down at another Limit table.

Joshua Heilpern is a contributor for several poker strategy websites. He also runs Beat The Fish - http://www.beatthefish.com - an original poker strategy and review site.


MORE RESOURCES:

A full house: Galveston businesses press for casino gambling
CultureMap
Casino gambling is illegal in Texas, so the state legislature would have to decide to allow it before the Chamber of Commerce would have any local control. ...
City needs to place its chips in casino debateDaily News - Galveston County
Survey: Most Galveston Businesses Want Casinos39online.com

all 9 news articles »


Casino-gambling site criticizes Deal's change of heart
Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
Deal, who originally voiced his willingness to consider casino gambling expansion in the state, has now backpedalled from that position. ...

and more »


Deal makes controversial statements about casino gambling
PolitiFact
During a forum on tourism in Savannah, Deal said the state should keep an "open mind" about casino gambling and other types of gaming. ...



Hurricane Earl Path May Disrupt Atlantic City Casino Gambling
Casino Gambling Web
The Hurricane Earl path has been laid out by meteorologists and the news is not good for New Jersey and the Atlantic City casino gambling industry. ...

and more »


A Plan to Bring Casino Gambling to the City
New York Times (blog)
David A. Paterson and legislative leaders have finally agreed on a plan to bring casino gambling to New York City. The agreement gives Genting New York the ...
Casino gambling heading to Big AppleUPI.com
New Casino Agreement for New YorkCrunchCasino.com

all 13 news articles »


iFreshNews (blog)

August Gambling Revenue In Macau Jumps Forty Percent
Casino Gambling Web
Macau has quickly become the largest casino gambling destination in the world, taking just a couple of years to overtake Las Vegas, Nevada. ...
Macau Casino Gambling Revenue Rises 40% on VIP TablesSan Francisco Chronicle
Macau's gambling revenue soars 40% in AugChina Knowledge Online

all 39 news articles »


Gomes Looks To Revive AC Casino Gambling With Resorts Purchase
Casino Gambling Web
Atlantic City, New Jersey is in desperate need of a jolt to help revive the struggling casino gambling industry. That jolt may have come on Monday when it ...

and more »


Providence Business News

RI lawmakers won't return on casino gambling issue
BusinessWeek
Rhode Island lawmakers won't return to override the governor's veto of a proposed ballot question authorizing full-scale casino gambling. ...
Deadline passes to put casino issue on ballotProvidence Journal

all 45 news articles »


Beau Rivage Resort And Casino Gambling Up With Jay Leno In Town
Casino Gambling Web
Celebrities can often be counted on to help different areas of the US after catastrophes. Jay Leno came to the aid of many in the Gulf Coast region on ...

and more »


Westport selectmen 'on the fence' on casino gambling in Southcoast
Fall River Herald News
Selectmen are just beginning to hear details on what a proposed casino in Fall River might mean in their town. ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006