Almost all poker games are played at three different betting structures (or limits), they dictate how bets are made and the game is played. These structures can be classified into these three main categories: Fixed Limit (Limit), Pot Limit, and No Limit.
We’ll examine each betting structure in depth and discuss its different variations in this guide to poker betting structures.
Table of Contents
Betting Options
Before we continue, let’s first talk about a basic concept, the betting options you have during a poker hand.
During a poker hand you have 5 options, familiarize yourself with these options:
- Check: Stay in the hand without betting (as long as nobody else bets).
- Bet: The first player to put money in the pot starts off the betting. Other players must then decide whether to call, fold or raise.
- Fold: Discard your cards, relinquishing the opportunity to remain in the hand and compete for the pot.
- Call: Match the full amount that has been bet by another player in order to stay in the hand.
- Raise: Increase the current bet’s value. Other players will have to decide among folding, calling, or further raising your bet.
No Limit Poker
No Limit poker games such as Texas Hold’em have taken center stage and dominate the poker scene. This immense popularity is why No Limit Hold’em commonly takes the spotlight as the main event in most poker tournaments. It is also the game of choice on most poker broadcasts.
In No Limit poker games, as the name suggests, players don’t have a maximum limit on their bets. However, there’s a caveat – your betting is limited by the chips you have on the table. For instance, in a cash game, you can’t simply add more funds from your wallet to boost your bet beyond what’s on the table. This principle is known as “table stakes”.
In addition to the table stakes rule, players have the freedom to place bets using any number of chips they desire, as long as their bet meets or exceeds the minimum bet, typically set at one big blind. When a bet is placed, a player aiming to raise must wager at least that amount again. For instance, if a player bets $2, they must commit at least $4 – comprising the $2 to call and a minimum raise of $2.
The abbreviation “NL” is commonly used for No Limit poker games. As an example, “NLH” stands for No Limit Hold’em.
Fixed Limit Poker or Limit
Fixed Limit is usually reffered to as “Limit” and in contrast to No Limit poker games, Limit games set restrictions on how much you can bet. The defining feature is that players can only bet a specific amount at a time, depending on the phase of the hand.
Most commonly, fixed-limit games have two bet sizes, called the small bet and the big bet. Many limit games use a structure where the maximum bet/raise is equal to the small bet in the early rounds of betting and increases to the big bet amount in later betting rounds.
In games like Hold ’em and Omaha, there are four betting rounds: preflop, flop, turn, and river. If a game with four betting rounds is structured as fixed-limit with two bet sizes, the small bet size refers to the betting preflop and on the flop, while the big bet size refers to the betting on the turn and river.
For example, at a $1/$2 limit hold’em table players can bet/raise in $1 units preflop and on the flop, and in $2 units on the turn and river.
In games like Seven-Card-Stud and Razz, there are five betting rounds. If a game with five betting rounds is structured as fixed-limit with two bet sizes, the small bet size refers to the betting in the first two betting rounds while the big bet size refers to the betting on the final three rounds.
Another important consideration is that in Limit games, each round of betting (street) usually has a maximum number of allowable raises, which is generally capped at three. A bet can usually only be raised three times, and after that all players must call or fold. But each poker room will have its own specific rules, so make sure you check before sitting at the table.
Pot Limit Poker
While No Limit games offer unrestricted betting and Fixed Limit tables adhere to rigid bet sizes, Pot Limit poker strikes a balance between the two. In Pot Limit games, your bet size is limited to the current size of the pot.
In the initial stages of the hand, excessive raises are constrained. With only the small blind, big blind, and potential antes contributing to the pot, the betting limit remains low. However, as the hand evolves, the betting limits steadily rises along with the size of the pot, allowing for situations where a player can go or put another player all-in.
Apart from this difference that limits the size of the bet to the size of the pot, the rest of the gameplay is pretty much the same as a no limit game.
Therefore, Pot Limit games bear a stronger resemblance to No Limit poker rather than Fixed Limit. Notably, Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) stands out as the most known and played game in this betting structure.
Conclusoin
Keep these distinctions in mind as you engage in poker across these different structures. Adapt accordingly to each one as they require different strategies and playstyles and take the opportunity to experiment and determine which one aligns best with your playing style.
