Texas Hold'em Poker - The Differences Between Fixed Limit, Pot Limit and No Limit Texas Hold'em Poker

There are three different types of limit games one can play in Texas Hold'em Poker. They are fixed limit, pot limit and no limit poker.

Fixed Limit Texas Hold'em Poker Game

In a fixed-limit game, there are limits placed on the amount bet during any given round. So a $5/$10 fixed limit table means that during the first two rounds of betting a player can make a bet of at the most $5 and this limit is $10 for the last two rounds.

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Only three raises are permitted in each round of betting. A raise cannot be more than the betting limit that has been determined for that round. So on the first round, the first player placing a bet may choose to fold, call or bet $5. The second player placing the bet, may fold, call the $5 bet or raise it by another $5 betting a total of $10. This would make the total bet $15. If another player chooses to make a raise, this would be the third raise and no more raises in that round would be allowed. After this third raise the total bets would be $20. After this final raise, the remaining players would have the choice to fold or call.

A similar structure works for the last two rounds with a maximum bet of $10. The total bets for this round cannot be more than $40. If you're just starting out with Poker it would be better to stick to tables with fixed limits. This way even if you lose money, you can limit your losses. You can improve your skills with practice before you decide to play with real money.

Pot Limit Texas Hold'em Poker Game

A pot limit game commences with a minimum bet that is designated by the table which is posted by the big blind. However as the game progresses players who make the raise have to do so by an amount at least double the amount of the previous bet. They cannot raise by an amount that is larger than the total money amount in the pot at any point during the game. If the pot has $125 and the previous bet was $25, the minimum raise that can be made by you is $50 and the maximum would be $125.

There is an exception to this called the 'all-in'. This is when the player decides to wager all his chips as a raise. Even if his chips are less than the minimum, they will be accepted as a bet because he has no more chips that he can bet. Pot limits are better suited for more experienced players because there's greater flexibility, more bluffing and inexperienced players can end up losing a lot. Try this only after you have gained considerable skill in poker.

No Limit Texas Hold'em Poker Game

The no-limit poker game begins with a minimum bet designated by the
table which is posted by the big blind. After this initial bet has been placed, the minimum raises are equal to double the previous bet amounts. The maximum raise is equal to the total amount of chips you have. This means that in a no-limit game, players can bet all the chips they have at any point of time. Players can wager any number of chips that are between double the previous bet and the maximum number of chips they have.

If a player chooses to opt for 'all-in' wagering all the chips he has or has no more chips to bet he cannot be 'bet-out'. However if a player exhausts his chips before the game is over, a 'side-pot' is created if there's more than one player who has chips. Players who don't have any more chips or who have opted for 'all-in' can not win any more than the amount they are 'in' for. This is the reason why the 'side pot' is established. No limit poker is a very exciting game and has limitless possibilities. It is only for very experienced poker players as the stakes are very high and a lot of skill is required to win at it.