Limit Versus No-Limit Hold'em - Part III

This is the third in a series of columns comparing limit hold'em to no-limit hold'em. It is aimed at experienced limit players who have decided to make the switch to no-limit. In the first two columns (available at CardPlayer.com), we covered some of the general differences between the two games as well as some of the differences in preflop play. In this column, we will focus on some of the specifics of flop play. This is not meant to be an instruction guide on how to play no-limit hold'em. Its purpose is to point out some of the profound differences between the two poker forms. My assumption is that we are dealing with big-stack hold'em, in which you and your opponents have at least 50 times the big blind in your stacks.



1. Flop Betting
In limit, the bet on the flop is simply the size of the big blind, and it is usually a small fraction of what is already in the pot. Because of this, players are usually getting good pot odds to call. In addition, many players who call flop bets are not overly concerned about the presence of other players behind them. When it gets raised, it is only one more bet and the pot odds are that much better to continue calling. In no-limit, the situation is radically different. Flop bets are frequently between one-half the size of the pot and the full size of the pot. The pot odds being offered are typically between 2-to-1 and 3-to-1. In a few cases, the bet may be even larger, further reducing the current pot odds. This makes drawing much less attractive. Furthermore, the presence of players yet to act is a major concern to the no-limit player. Being "bet through" is a very undesirable situation, and often mandates folding what would normally be a playable hand. It can be quite expensive to call a pot-size flop bet, only to have to fold because another player puts in an even larger reraise. For these reasons, the no-limit player has to play tighter on the flop than a limit player.



2. Raises on the Flop
Since raises in no-limit must be at least as large as the bet, a flop raise often wins the pot outright, or at least gets the pot heads up. In a $2-$5 no-limit game with $30 in the pot and six players, a typical flop bet might be $20. A raise is usually not to $40, but to something more like $60. The raiser wants to protect his hand by eliminating the rest of the field and getting the bettor to fold, as well. A simple raise to $40 will often result in the bettor calling because of the pot odds he is getting.



3. Middle Pair/Bottom Pair
In limit, it is frequently correct to call a flop bet with middle pair or bottom pair. In no-limit, it is almost always correct to fold. Here is an example: You are in a $5-$10 limit hold'em game and have the 9 8 in the cutoff seat. You limp in behind three other players. The button and small blind also limp in. The big blind now raises and everyone calls. There is $70 in the pot and seven players. The flop arrives with the A 9 4, giving you middle pair. The small blind checks, the big blind bets, and everyone folds to you. You have an easy call for $5 with $75 in the pot, despite the presence of players behind you. You have five outs to two pair or trips, which is an 8-to-1 shot on the next card. You even have a nice overlay to cover the times you hit and lose.



But now suppose that it's a $2-$5 no-limit game. Preflop, assume the big blind raised $30, making the total bet $35. Everyone in front of you calls, you call, and so do the button and the small blind. There is $245 in the pot and seven players. As before, when the flop arrives, the small blind checks and the big blind bets $200. Everyone folds to you. You are getting slightly better than 2-to-1, and even if calling put you all in so that you could go to the river, your drawing odds still would not be good enough to merit calling.



4. Flush Draws/Straight Draws

In limit, you are almost always going to the river with these hands. In no-limit, you often get "priced out" and never get a chance to complete your draw on the river. Furthermore, no-limit hold'em has a feature called "selling your hand." Oftentimes, a player makes his flush on the river and is now concerned about getting paid off. If he bets too much, his opponent simply folds and he collects nothing more after making his hand. So, if there is $300 in the pot, he might bet only $50 or $100 in order to try to "sell his hand." Thus, he does not get to capture someone's entire stack or even a large portion of it after he makes his hand. The aspects of no-limit involving "pricing out" and "selling your hand" weaken the implied odds of suited connectors.



5. Top Pair/Overpair
In limit poker when you are heads up, it is tough to get away from these hands when your opponent is being aggressive. You normally force your opponent to show you a better hand on the river. Because of pot odds, a limit player is not making much of a mistake playing this way, in many cases. But a no-limit player cannot afford to think this way. It is quite common in $1-$2 and $2-$5 no-limit games to see players calling big raises and even all-in bets with top pair or an overpair and losing their entire stack in the process. A no-limit player has to be much more selective. Things like board texture, position, playing style of your opponent, and stack size, to name a few, will often mandate a fold when a limit player might routinely call. Here is an example: You have the K K under the gun and raise to $25. Three players call, including the button. The button is a loose, aggressive player with a $1,000 stack, while you have an $800 stack. The blinds fold. There is about $100 in the pot and four players.



The flop is 10 10 9, giving you a big overpair. You bet $75. Everyone folds folded to the button, who makes it $575 straight. You now have a big problem, and it is beyond the scope of this column to try to delve into its solution. But in many cases, the right play is to fold.



If this were a limit game, there would be 12 bets in the pot and it would cost you only one bet to call. Folding would be unthinkable. In fact, a limit player will almost always go to the river and pay off his opponent.



6. Overcards
These are rarely worth playing in no-limit. The only major exception is when you have raised preflop with something like A-K or A-Q and are making a continuation bet on the flop in an attempt to take it down right there. But calling flop bets with just overcards and no other draw is seldom correct.



Jim Brier can be reached at [email protected], and would welcome any questions or comments. He has co-authored a book with Bob Ciaffone titled Middle Limit Holdem Poker. It is available through www.CardPlayer.