For as long as there has been poker, there has been a constant struggle between Limit and No Limit games. For every limit poker table added to a casino, one must be taken away. Online, casinos must decide whether to devote a finite number of slots to Limit or No Limit games. Ten years ago, Limit poker was king. Believe it or not, people made a living by playing Limit Hold’em, managing to beat the rake and game swings in the process. When you decide to play poker, you’ll need to make the same age old decision that so many other players have made throughout history. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of Limit and No Limit poker to help you make a more informed decision.

Limit Poker

Overview

Limit Poker is a math game. It’s a game of numbers. If you have the odds, you should call bets. If you don’t, you should fold. In Limit, it’s very hard to bluff opponents out of draws. The reason is that it’s hard to justify an opponent folding a flush draw that is 5:1 to hit when he is getting pot odds that are well over that. It’s a game where I’ve seen some wild beats happen because of players hitting draws on the river.

The Pros

It’s very difficult to go broke in Limit poker. After all, you’re unable to wager your entire bankroll at once, unless you have less than the limit levels. Once you learn the math behind Limit poker, it’s easy to make every decision. Since bluffing, especially at lower stakes, is all but taken out of the game, the process of playing is very straight-forward: Bet when you have cards and fold when you don’t. Mastering Limit poker requires an innate mathematical understanding of the game. That’s how many players became so successful at it. It’s also a very fun, social game. It’s a slow burn in comparison to other casino games and can be a great way to chat poker with others in the game in a slightly less competitive environment than No Limit.

The Cons

It’s a grind. At lower stakes, it can be often all but impossible to beat financially based on the rake taken out by the casino. Frankly, Limit poker can sometimes be rather mundane and repetitive. However, the math involved mixes up the time spent between deciding to bet, raise, fold, or call.

No Limit Poker

Overview

The Cadillac of Poker, No Limit Hold’em is the most popular game on the planet. Played in high-stakes tournaments and $20 buy-in home games around the world, No Limit Hold’em is the game that many players know and love. For many, it’s the only game that they’ve ever played. It’s trumped Limit poker in live casinos and has a dominating presence online.

The Pros

It’s an excellent way to make money. Because you can double up on any hand, No Limit games can be particularly profitable. Poker pros today complete in No Limit tournaments with some of the richest prize pools ever. Moreover, it’s an easy game to learn and understand. Once you’re out of chips, you’re either broke or eliminated from a tournament. If you say “all in,” that means you’re risking your entire bankroll on one hand. It’s a high-adrenaline game, especially when pots can become extraordinarily large.  For instance, on Full Tilt Poker, the highest stakes pots have reached in excess of $600,000 in a single hand. It’s also a very competitive game, whereas limit poker is more of just a way to kill time.

The Cons

Just like making money in No Limit is common, so is losing it. In fact, for every person that wins a big pot, another person loses it. No Limit isn’t a game for the faint of heart. It requires guts and a desire to win. There are very few truly stellar No Limit players. Becoming a pro takes a very precise skill set.