9.As you get near the cash, and particularly on the bubble (one more player to bust out
before everybody is in the money), many players will become extremely tight and play
very conservatively, unwilling to be the last one to bust out before the money. Take
advantage of this - you should be able to steal blinds frequently. This will set you up with
a good stack once you've gotten into the money.
Most of the advice given in this book applies to no-limit hold ‘em games. Many might say
there’s no di erence in betting when it comes to limit and no-limit. We beg to di er.
Chapter 15 - Limit Games
(Return to Contents)
There are many di erences between limit and no-limit poker. Many no-limit players have
di culty gearing down for limit play, and limit players lack the courage and feel needed
for no-limit games.
Many of the high-powered strategies that are available to the aggressive no-limit player
can’t be used to great advantage in limit. Speci cally blu ng and getting small pots are
much more di cult when the game limits you to a maximum bet.
However, one thing remains constant between the two games. That is the need for an
aggressive style. The nature of limit hold ‘em makes it necessary to keep a tighter rein on
your aggressive play, but when you play a pot, play it strongly.
In limit poker, you should play big cards most of the time. The straight forward nature of
limit play means that most of the time you have to show down a hand. You’ll make the
best hands more often with big cards rather than with smaller ones like 2-4 suited. This is
mainly because there isn’t much money at stake in limit hands. If a player doesn’t have to
jeopardize many chips, he is most likely going to call anything you put out there. If you
don’t have a big hand, you risk losing even on suited connectors.
Poker great Doyle Brunson suggests that patience and self-discipline are essential to
playing limit hold ‘em. You need to know which hands to get into and which hands not to
bother with. He suggests you need to pay attention to what the other players are doing –
even if you’re not in a hand.
Don’t get overly stressed about deciding what cards to play and what cards not to play.
You’re not going to lose your shirt in limit games by calling a raise with pocket 2’s and
getting an A-K-K op. Just fold out gracefully and wait for the next hand.
Professional Chris Ferguson o ers up the following advice:
In Limit Hold 'em, it is not uncommon to see pots that are contested by four, ve, or even
six players. This happens with some frequency at lower limits, especially when playingOnline Poker Winning Strategies Revealed # 37