Variations of Texas Hold ‘Em: Limit Hold ‘Em
Texas Hold ‘Em has some interesting limit variants to spice up (or tone down) the game. Among them are Spread Limit Hold ‘Em, Pot Limit Hold ‘Em, Limit Hold ‘Em and a few other variants. In this article, we’re going to talk about one of the most popular variants, Limit Hold ‘Em.
Like the name suggests, Limit Hold ‘Em gives you limits to your bet. Sometimes the lower limit gates are referred to as, “No Fold ‘Em Hold ‘Em” (say that three times fast!) The name comes from the tendency of players to see hands to the very end due to lower bets. With lower bets, the loss is lower so players stick around because “Hey, you never know, anyone can get lucky and win!” Therefore, bluffing these players is usually pointless. But for some people, that is the charm of the game.
Poker, being an ever-changing game, has different types of limits. Besides the already-mentioned low limits, we also have medium limit; and high limit games as well. This lets you find a price (or comfort level) you like. These games are good for players wanting to take the next step past low limit games. Think of it as going to the deep end of the pool.
Normally Limit Hold ‘Em will have one bet and that will be the betting unit for the game. If we’re able to bet “up to” a limit, that’s usually referred to as, “Spread Limit Hold ‘Em”. In that game, you’re able to bet anywhere from the lowest limit to the highest and anywhere in between. Limit Hold ‘Em can also have a maximum limit on raises (this is because unlimited raises defeat the purpose of having a limited bet.)
Now, the question on your mind is, “Why do I want to limit myself?” Well, the answer is usually “because Limit games are good for beginning players”. Since Limit Hold ‘Em puts caps on bets, and it’s not usually a high stakes game, you can afford to see hands out longer, and can afford extra hands. If you’re a new player then this is an excellent time to get some real word experience with Texas Hold ‘Em.
It’s also a good time to discover any bad playing strategies you may have. It’s better to learn that you’re an overly aggressive player during a limit game, than during a thousand dollar per chip night at the Bellagio casino.
So if you’re a newcomer to Texas Hold ‘Em or just a player moving up the ladder, Limit games are a great way to cut your teeth while preventing you from biting off more than you can chew at the tables.
Good luck and we hope to see you graduate to the high limit tables soon!
