More About Betting: Poker Limits
They say the sky is the limit. But poker’s can even be higher (or lower, depending on the game.)
A limit in poker is basically a structure or cap on the amount that may be bet on each/all round(s) of play. The limit is essentially a venue rule, as any particular game can generally have any limit. So whatever your poker game of choice, be it Texas Hold ‘Em, Caribbean Stud, Seven Card Stud, or Omaha, there’s likely a limit that makes you comfortable.
There are generally four types of limits: Fixed Limit, Spread Limit, Pot Limit, and No Limit. It is important to know the difference between them.
- “Fixed Limit” poker is the most common form, and is usually referred to with numbers like 2/4 Texas Hold ‘Em or 10/20 Seven Card Stud. This doesn’t mean a fraction (a la high school math) is coming, so belay those panic attacks. What the numbers represent is what the size of the bets must be on certain rounds of betting (feeling better, now?) The bets that consist of the first two (or several) rounds is the first number, and the bets that make up the last two (or several) rounds are the second number. Fixed limits may also have a “maximum number of raises” limit as well.
- A Spread limit gives a minimum and maximum for each bet / raise round – saying $10-$20 says you can bet / raise from $10 to $20. Sometimes the limits go up in later rounds. There can also be a limit on the number of raises as well.
- “Pot Limit” refers to the size of the current pot as the limit. With this tactic, the player may bet / raise any amount up to and including the size of the current pot. However, the rules for determining pot sizes are fairly arcane (they include the number needed to call in many games, not what is just in there), so this type of poker limit is the least common type of limit.
- “No Limit” poker is exactly what it sounds like: there are no limits. It’s easily the most exciting and nerve-racking type of game, and is almost always the preferred play style for both TV tournaments and for hardcore players in the individual poker rooms and garages worldwide (let’s face it – bluffing is harder when there are limits). When it comes to “No Limit” poker, the player can bet any amount that is up to and including the amount of chips that they have on the table.
While “No Limit” poker sounds like the ultimate way to cut loose, there are two betting limit guidelines that most games will follow. Both guidelines deal with the minimum amount that you can raise: The first guideline is that any raise must be at least the size of the last bet on the round of betting (i.e. you can’t raise a $100 bet by $50). The second guideline is that any bet must be as much as the big blind.
Now, go out there and test your limits!!
