Comparing strategy in Limit to No Limit

[gmcarroll33]

Can somebody here explain to me the major difference in Limit to No Limit and how it changes your strategy? All I've ever played is No Limit, so limit seems confusing to me about how things might change for you in limit. For instance, it seems to me that in Limit, you can't bluff anybody 2 pair for all your chips representing a set, so for only 1 more bet it seems like they would most likely always be making a huge mistake to fold as opposed to in No Limit to where for all your chips you better be right on your calls.

Also does your starting hand requirements change? Do you need to tighten them up in limit because implied odds are not as good, or basically keep them as they are?

So is that what they mean by limit when they say it's a mechanical game? Does this mean you pretty much bet all your good hands for as many bets as you can get them for, as opposed to determining how much will make your opponent fold or how much he will call for, and for the most part don't bother bluffing as much?

Maybe this is all the wrong thinking about the game, but I just don't understand the idea of how the game becomes different when it's a fixed limit game, so if somebody could help me out I'd appreciate it.

[SplawnDarts]

1) you don't generally bluff people off big (TPTK+) made hands in limit. It'll almost never work.

2) Your starting hand requirements change. "Trouble" hands from NL like AQo are now perfectly playable (except maybe UTG) and hands like AXs are now less valuable. All drawing hands - AXs, suited connectors and small pairs - need to be multi-way and not for a raise (unless you get trapped and odds are super-attractive) because you're counting more on pot odds and less on implied odds

3) Limit is somewhat more mechanical - you rarely lay down a decent made hand. However, bluffing is still a big deal, but you rarely bluff into strength, unless you also have a draw, because it just doesn't work well because the pot odds are too attractive. Many hands such as TPTK and overpairs are a through-ticket to the river against most opponents.

LHE is not by any means a bad game, and is very subtle against strong opposition, but the skill lies in different places than in NL and the fish can't make as bad a mistake on one hand.

Hope that helps.

[weknowhowtolive]

Limit is all about making or saving that extra bet. Limit should be thought of in bets more than NL because the bet size only changes once, and then its only double.

Limit is also quite a bit more math reliant than NL. You will call a lot more on the river because you will have 10:1 odds and no one can do a thing about it.

My recommendations are to pick up SSHE and read it carefully.

PS I hate limit, and going from NL to Limit will drive you nuts :P

[alexdered]

Well I went from NL ti limit and I am very happy... evn though I occassionally still play profitable small stakes no limit holdem.

The difference...hmmm well NL is about implied odds, limit is about pot odds, expected value etc...
Imagine NL is like heavy weight boxing where one single punch or two end the game. Limit is like in featherweight where you need more action (more points)... well this is just a thought...
So why is a hand like A3 suited much more valuable in NL? because if you trap someone who has a strong hand lets say with a smaller flush you can win his whole stack... this is the idea of implied odds...

[Ocho]

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and going from NL to Limit will drive you nuts :P

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True 'dat. It's painful.

[GiantBuddha]

avoid FPS at all costs.

[GiantBuddha]

I actually quit poker about 7 years ago when after I had moved from $15/30 limit to a $5/10 no limit game which played just ridiculous. I got myself politely disinvited to the no limit game (apparently I didn't play enough hands) and started playing limit again. I'd sort of gotten spoiled (I firmly believe that NL is easier for a good player to beat than limit) playing no limit, and had a hard time adjusting back. Limit requires a lot of skill, but it's more of a science and less of an art. Both NL and FL require science and art, though. Just be careful not to get too creative.

[ottsville]

Limit is whittling away at your opponent with a scalpel, Nl is beating him with a club.

[johnnyrocket]

yea limit is more mathematical and tougher to master i think, no limit is more of an art, both games are very good to know.

[Mr Know It All]

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yea limit is more mathematical and tougher to master i think, no limit is more of an art, both games are very good to know.

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you is wrong as limit is easy and dont need to no much math to win at it