Before actually trying your hand with heads-up poker, it is imperative to know about the betting limits pertaining to the games. There are three different types of limit games you can play in Texas Hold’em:
1. Fixed-Limit
2. Pot-Limit
3. No- Limit
FIXED LIMIT
A fixed limit game means that during each betting round, limits are placed on the bets. Thus, a $4/$8 fixed limit table means that during the first two rounds of betting the maximum bet any player can make is $4, and in the last two rounds of betting the maximum bet is $8.
If you are a beginner player, or would like to keep your budget capped, playing Texas Hold’em at a fixed limit table is a good idea, as it will help you to stay in control over your losses and improve your game before you start to play with the big fish.
POT LIMIT
A pot limit Texas Hold’em game begins with a minimum bet designated by the table which is posted by the big blind. However, as the game gets underway, players who make a raise can not make one smaller than double the amount of the previous bet, or one larger than the total money amount in the pot during any time of the game. Thus, if there is $100 in the pot and the previous bet before yours is $20, than the minimum raise you could make is $40, and the maximum raise would be $100.
The only exception to this pot limit betting rule is the all-in. An all-in is when a player chooses to wager all of his or her remaining chips. For example, should a player choose to wager all their chips as a raise, but the total amount of their chips is smaller than the minimum bet, their wager will still count, because the player has no more chips to offer.
As far as pot limit game goes, there is much more flexibility when it comes to betting, compared to a fixed limit game. Furthermore, players have more liberty to use strategies that involve bluffing, and more risky techniques. For this reason, pot limit games aren’t always the best choice for beginners or apprehensive players. However, if you are determined to give it a go, try to enter a pot limit game where the buy-in is reasonably low.
NO LIMIT
Like the pot limit Texas Hold’em game, the only time a no limit game is designated by a wager at the table is the minimum bet which is posted by the big blind. After this initial betting takes place, the minimum raise graduates to double the amount of the previous bet. However, unlike pot limit games, the maximum raise is all the chips you have. This means that in a no limit game, players can wager all of their chips at any point during the game.
Players can raise as much as they like, as long as it does not exceed their total number of chips, and it is double the amount of the last bet. If players choose to go all-in or if they run out of chips they can not be “bet out” of a hand, just as in the pot limit game. However, if a player runs out of their chips before the game is finished, a “side pot” is established if there is more than one player with chips still remaining in the hand. The players who have no more chips, or who have gone all-in can not win any more than the amount that they are “in” for. That is why the side pot is created for the remaining players with chips.
No limit game is the most exciting of all limit games, however, usually only professionals participate in no limit games because the stakes are so high, and you need exceptional skill in order to win the pot. In fact it is the no limit style game that is used in The World Series of Pokerchampionship tournament.