Pot Limit Poker Betting Instructions
The world series of poker is an exciting thing to watch. This entices a lot of people to play Texas Hold ‘em poker. What most people do not realize is that there are several different types of Texas Hold’em poker betting. There is no limit poker, which is the type of poker seen most of the time on TV. In this type any player may put all of their chips into the pot at any time they could place a bet. As long as they pay the blinds according to the set rate, they can continue to play. But there is also Limit poker. The size of the limits is predetermined when the game or table is set up. Limit poker places strict rules on how much you can bet at one time including how much you can bet in response to other players’ raises. What this means is that there are only so many times the players may say “I’ll raise you” in limit poker. But there are different types of limits.
One way to place limits is to limit the amount a player can bet at any one time in the game. The limits in this type generally go something like this: pre-flop betting is limited to $ 4.00. After the flop betting is limited to $ 4.00. After the Turn card betting is limited to $ 8.00, and after the river betting is limited to $ 8.00.
Another type of limit is known as the pot limit. In this type of limit poker, a player can only bet as much as is already in the pot, after they have called all the current bets. It works like this: The big blind is … say… $ 10.00. This means that as long as there are more than two players the pot will be at least $ 15.00. The first person in the line of betting, we’ll call them player # 1, is allowed to bet UP TO the amount already in the pot. Therefore, Player # 1 can bet a MAXIMUM of $ 15.00. Let’s say he does. This means that the pot is now $ 30.00. Then the next person, player # 2, can call the current bet, and then they can raise the pot up to $ 45.00 since that is the size of the pot once this player has called the previous bet. If they do, it means that the pot is now $ 90.00. The next person can call that, and raise again up to $ 180.00
Pot limits are the least played form of poker. Part of the reason is that many people do not understand how it works. Indeed, it is far more complex than any other type of betting.
So, why is it so complex? Well, with this type of poker the players stand a chance to play longer and smarter, and they have far more of an opportunity to learn. In a lot of instances a player will think they have the best hand and will go all in only to find out that they have the worst and now they are out of the game. With limit poker players stick around longer. In a way it ensures fair play in betting. This means that it is impossible for the chip leader to bully the others. While this is bad for the chip leader, anyone who has ever been the short stack at a no limit game can tell you it is good for everyone else.
Poker is just like most games in this world: it is a game comprised of both skill and chance. While it may not be the way most professionals play, setting limits on betting gives players a chance to learn what their chances are as well as improving their skill.
Keep in mind this example: when you come to a game there are buy in limits. Pot limits are the same thing. We have buy-ins so that not just anyone can play. In other words only the ones whom really want to play will come up with the money. When you play at a home game the buy-in is limited to (for example) $ 2.00. This means that no one can loose more than $ 2. 00, and depending on how many people play they can only win at max $2.00 for each player.
For home games many people will set up a game saying that it is a $ 5.00 limit to buy in no more, no less. This ensures that everyone starts with the same amount and no one is putting in more than another. Keeping it fair is the game tactic here. Keeps the old west in mind betting the farm or car when you run out of cash so to speak.
