There are many forms of poker, and most have additional staking rules. They are either played as Limit, No-Limit, or Pot-Limit poker games.
Texas Hold’em poker, the most popular form of poker, can be played as either Limit poker or No-Limit poker, but it is much more commonly played as No-Limit—such as at the Irish Poker Open.
The Irish Poker Open Main Event is the oldest tournament outside of Las Vegas and the oldest in Europe, boasting a history going back more than 44 years.
In this guide, we look at the key differences between Limit poker and No-Limit poker, the basic strategies needed for both forms and what types of players are best suited to playing Limit poker and No-Limit poker.
History of Limit and No-Limit poker
Limit poker was the earliest form of poker, with the first No-Limit Texas Hold’em World Series of Poker tournament only taking place in 1972. Since then, No-Limit poker has grown astronomically in popularity, with No-Limit Texas Hold’em poker now by far the most commonly found form of poker, both online and in casinos, as well as in the biggest poker tournaments played across the world.
What’s the difference between Limit and No-Limit poker?
What does No-Limit mean in poker? The major difference between Limit and No-Limit poker involves the staking rules during a game. In a Limit game of poker there are pre-determined limits on the amount players can bet during each round, whereas in No-Limit poker these don’t exist.
This means in No-Limit poker players can, if they want, bet their entire stack or go ‘all-in’ at any point.
In Limit poker, the maximum bet for each round is predetermined, meaning players only have a few opportunities to raise their bet before the limit is reached.
The minimum bet in a No-Limit poker game is the same as the highest bet staked – players must follow the level of the bet staked by the previous player.
With no higher bet limit the scale of bets can accelerate quickly.
How to play Limit poker
In Limit poker there is a small blind at the beginning of each round, the amount staked by the player immediately left of the dealer. The big blind, the amount staked by the player to the left of the small blind, is normally double the amount of the small blind. Betting takes place in four rounds; pre-flop, flop, turn and river.
The amount of bets and raises is typically limited and set in advance. During the first round of betting, this amount is called a small bet and is equal to one small blind. In the first round of betting the number of raises is limited to three: raise (1), re-raise (2), final raise (3).
For example, in a €2/€4 game, where the big blind is €4, a player may choose to fold, match the €4 bet or raise.
A game of tournament poker continues until one player wins all the chips in play or a determined time limit is reached.
Strategies for playing Limit poker
Although less popular now, Limit poker games and tournaments are still played online and in casinos. Here are a few things to watch out for when playing Limit poker.
Management of your bankroll
Due to the slower nature of Limit poker, patience is necessary. There are more decisions to make in each game as to whether you raise or fold, but these tend to be smaller decisions than in No-Limit poker, as the staking is typically smaller. This makes tactical management of your bankroll more crucial in Limit poker games – for example, it can be wise to bet to the equity or percentage chance you have of winning a hand. Players should fold or raise in accordance with the strength of their hand.
Bluffing is less important
Bluffing still takes place in Limit poker, particularly in the final betting rounds, but is less important than in No-Limit poker. This is because players tend to fold quickly if they hold a weak hand, with the possibility of quickly acquiring chips through skilful bluffing less than in No-Limit poker games.
How to play No-Limit poker
How to play No-Limit poker is a question often asked by new poker players. After the small blind, players cannot raise at a level smaller than the big blind staked. Betting takes place in four rounds; pre-flop, flop, turn and river.
With no upper limits in place, players can technically bet up to all their chips, but cannot bet more than the sum of their chips.
A game of tournament poker continues until one player wins all the chips in play or a determined time limit is reached.
Strategies for playing No-Limit poker
Most poker competitions are No-Limit events, which gives players greater decision-making power each round but also exposes them to higher risk. Here are a few things to watch out for when playing No-Limit poker.
Being aware of table dominance
In a No-Limit game, more experienced or confident players will try to force newer players into going ‘all-in’ early on, allowing them to quickly build up a base of chips and gain dominance at the table. To avoid this situation, players need to know when their hand is likely to be dominated by another and fold accordingly. This will stop players from being drawn into major high-value battles early on.
Risk-taking
Statistics show that players who play more aggressively in No-Limit poker tend to perform better over the long run. The key to being aggressive is weighing up risk and betting more when you have a strong suspicion you hold an edge.
Bluffing is more important
Bluffing in No-Limit poker offers a chance to gain control of a hand and table to quickly acquire chips. Due to the nature of the game and the potential for huge bets, bluffing plays a more prominent role in No-Limit poker.
Which game has a higher risk factor?
When it comes to Limit vs No-Limit poker, where does the bigger jeopardy lie? No-Limit poker comes with a much higher risk than Limit poker, as you have the potential to lose all of your chips in any given round.
Should you play Limit or No-Limit poker?
No-Limit Texas Hold’em poker is the most popular form of poker in tournament and casual games, both online and in casinos. However, for complete beginners, it might be suitable to start out by playing Limit poker to learn strategies and minimise risk.
Staking decisions in Limit poker are less broad and players are unlikely to get cleaned out early on so playing this format should allow you to compete over a longer duration of the game and minimise risk to your bankroll.
For many people, No-Limit poker is the more exciting format as it allows for greater risk-taking, bigger wins and more jeopardy. If you’re ready for the rollercoaster of wins and losses that comes with No-Limit poker, then it could be the game for you.
Find out more about the Irish Poker Open here.
