Betting Formats of Texas Hold’Em

There are a number of different formats of Texas Hold’Em available, which involve slight alterations to the betting structure. The three most common variations are Fixed Limit, Pot Limit, and No Limit. Whilst the difference may seem miniscule, the differences in strategy between each game vary greatly. Some consider Fixed Limit poker to be a very mathematical, science based game, as opposed to the more ‘artistic’ No Limit variation.

No Limit Texas Hold’Em

No Limit Texas Hold’Em is currently the most popular and widely played variation of poker in the world. The poker legend Doyle Brunson once described it as ‘the Cadillac of poker’. This is also the variation of poker that is played in the World Series of Poker Main Event.

The difference between No Limit Hold’Em and the more traditional Fixed Limit Hold’Em is the fact that a player can bet any amount during any betting round, providing it is more than the minimum raise.

The minimum raise is equal to the amount of the previous bet or raise. For example, if you are playing in a game where the big blind is $2, then the minimum raise would be $2 more, to a total of $4. If there was a previous raise of, for example, $6, to a total of $8, then the minimum raise would be $6 more, to a total of $14.

The reason No Limit Hold’Em is so popular is because of the excitement involved. It is a game where, at any one point, every single chip you have on the table is at risk, and so is everyone else’s’.

Pot Limit Hold’Em

Pot Limit Hold’Em is the middle ground between Fixed Limit Hold’Em and No Limit Hold’Em. It allows much more flexibility than Fixed Limit Hold’Em, but doesn’t allow you to go directly all in and bet your entire chip stack.

In a game of Pot Limit Hold’Em, a player can raise or bet any amount up to the total size of the pot. For example, if, at the beginning of a betting round the pot is $20, and a player bets $5 (creating a total pot of $25), the maximum amount a following player may bet is $35. The reason it is higher than $25 is because the call of the previous raisers’ bet is taken into account.

Fixed Limit

Fixed Limit Hold’Em is the most traditional variation of Texas Hold’Em, and is the one found in old movies and casinos in the United States. As you may have guessed by the name, in Fixed Limit Hold’Em players may only bet a fixed amount of chips at a time. Fixed Limit Hold’Em allows players to manage their losses much better than the volatile No Limit games, and a winning strategy is based heavily on mathematics.

In the first two rounds of player, preflop and on the flop, all bets and raises must be equal to the big blind, this is referred to as a small bet. Once players reach the later rounds of betting, the turn and the river, the maximum size of bet is increased to twice the size of the big blind. This is called a big bet.

Summary

* Three common betting variations in Texas Hold’Em

* No Limit Hold’Em is the most popular, and allows players to bet any amount of chips at any point.

* Pot Limit Hold’Em has a maximum bet size of the current total of the pot.

* Fixed Limit Hold’Em only allows players to bet a fixed amount at any point.