Fixed Limit
Texas Hold'em can be played with three different betting structures: Fixed Limit, No Limit or Pot Limit. The betting structure defines the rules for betting and raising and it has a huge impact on how the game is played. We will begin with the simplest of the three betting structures, namely Fixed Limit.
In poker jargon the Fixed Limit betting structure is simply referred to as "Limit", whereas in online poker rooms it can be presented as either "Fixed", "Limit" or "FL". Limit Hold’em is popular in so called cash games and it is very suitable poker variant for beginners.
| Fixed Limit: With Fixed Limit rules you can only bet and raise by fixed amounts. The BB is the fixed amount on pre-flop and flop. On the turn and river the fixed amount is referred to as the Big Bet and it is normally twice the size of the BB. There is also a limit to the number of raises allowed in a single betting round. This limit is set at three raises and they are known as the Raise, the Re-raise and the Cap. Once the cap has been reached the players may only call or fold. |
Fixed Limit Texas Hold'em Example
You are watching a game of Limit Hold'em. The BB is $1 and the Big Bet is $2. The SB is $0.5. There are ten players at the table.
►The following actions are taken on the pre-flop:
SB is paid (adds $0.5 to pot); BB is paid (adds $1 to pot); Player 3 folds; Player 4 folds; Player 5 calls (adds $1 to pot); Player 6 folds; Player 7 raises (adds $2 to pot); Player 8 re-raises (adds $3 to pot); Player 9 folds; Player 10 folds; SB calls (adds $2.5 to pot); BB calls (adds $2 to pot); Player 5 calls (adds $2 to pot); Player 7 calls (adds $1 to the pot)
Total pot at the end of the pre-flop: 0.5+1+1+2+3+2.5+2+2+1=$15.
Remaning players at the end the pre-flop: SB; BB; Player 5; Player 7; Player 8
►The following actions are taken on the flop (6c-Td-9h):
SB checks; BB checks; Player 5 checks; player 7 checks; Player 8 bets (adds $1 to pot); SB folds; BB calls (adds $1 to pot); Player 5 calls (adds $1 to the pot); Player 7 folds.
The total pot at the end of the flop: 15+1+1+1=$18
Remaining players at the end of the flop: BB; Player 5; Player 8
►The following actions are taken on the turn (3s):
BB checks; Player 5 checks; Player 8 bets (adds $2 to pot); BB calls (adds $2 to pot); Player 5 calls (adds $2 to pot)
Total pot at the end of the turn: 18+2+2+2=$24
Remaining players at the end of the turn: BB; Player 5; Player 8
►The following actions are taken on the river (Kh):
BB checks; Player 5 bets (adds $2 to pot); Player 8 raises (adds $4 to pot); BB folds; Player 5 re-raises (adds $4 to pot); Player 8 caps (adds $4 to pot); Player 5 calls (adds $2 to pot).
Total pot at the end of the river: 24+2+4+4+4+2=$40
Remaining players at the end of the river: Player 5; Player 8.
►Finally the showdown:
Player 5 reveals his pocket cards Jd-Qh which form a straight with the community cards 6c-Td-9h-3s-Kh. Player 8 mucks his pocket cards (which happen to be 9d-9c) and player 5 wins the hand. Both players have bet $14 each over the course of the hand. This means that player 8 loses $14 and player 5 wins $40-$14=$26.
|
Although the Fixed Limit betting structure tends to produce long-winded hands, as indicated by the example above, the produced hands still come off as very simple and predictable when compared to the much more complex hands produced by No Limit betting structure with its stack load of options.
Poker Trivia
The Cap Removal
In casinos the cap of the Fixed Limit betting structure is removed when there are only two players remaining in a hand. The cap is always present in the majority of online poker rooms though. |
|
Get Real Money to Play With!