10 tips to improve your Limit Holdem game Part 1 of 2

Although the game cannot compete with No Limit Holdem’s popularity, Limit Holdem is still one of the more popular forms of poker. However, if the game isn’t called No Limit Holdem poker players often have a difficult time finding useful information on the subject, so with that in mind here is my contribution to the Limit Holdem players out there!

With predetermined bet amounts and so much exposed information -5 of the 7 total cards you will use for your hand– Limit Holdem is one of the more mechanical forms of poker you could choose to play. Because of this most of your Limit Holdem decisions will be fairly automatic, so if you are making a mistake it’s often multiple times -hand after hand. This is why I have compiled the following list of 10 tips to help improve your Limit Holdem game.

• 1. Play tight: Remember it’s not No Limit!

In No Limit Holdem there are a number of playing styles that can be effective, but in Limit Holdem there is only one winning style: Tight/Aggressive -in short-handed games semi-tight/aggressive usually carries the day. Your goal is to punish players that fold too much, and players that call too often, while keeping your own play perfectly balanced between the two extremes.

• 2. Small Pairs and suited connectors are only good in loose games

Unlike in No Limit Holdem your implied odds do not come from the size of your opponent’s stack, but rather from the number of opponents you are facing in the hand. This is why small pairs and suited connectors are best played from late position in multi-way pots in Limit games.

• 3. Continuation bets are less effective

Because of the pre-set betting amount your continuation bets in Limit Holdem are unlikely to accomplish the desired result -In fact they often just juice the pot a bit, making it even more likely your opponent will call on the turn as well. If you raise pre-flop and get a single caller plus the big blind your opponent is immediately getting 6.5-to-1 odds to call your C-Bet.

• 4. Draws go way up in value

Since you can never be bet off a strong draw in Limit Holdem these are some of the most powerful holdings in the game. For instance, if you hold the nut flush-draw and the action goes, bet, call, call, call, call, the correct play is to raise! Something you would never do in No Limit because re-opening the action allows someone to bet big and blow you off your hand by eliminating your pot odds.

• 5. Defend and attack the blinds more liberally

Unlike No Limit Holdem where the Big Blind constitutes about 1% of your initial stack, in Limit Holdem the Big Blind is much more valuable since it’s worth nearly 2% of your initial buy-in. Additionally, since your opponent can only double the initial bet you will often receive great odds to call from the Big Blind, and should you happen across a habitual blind-folder you have found a proverbial gold-mine.

In Part 2 of this series I’ll detail 5 more tips that will improve your Limit Holdem Game.