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Strasse · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 3:43 pm Post subject: Starting out in Limit Holdem

I'm trying my hand at the full tilt blog, and just submitted this entry. Wanted to post it here in case it doesn't make it into the blog. I realize my writing style is rather bland, but I think that the information presented can be helpful. Enjoy.

I play a lot of limit games on Full Tilt, much more so than no limit or pot limit. Among them is limit holdem, which can be both very profitable, and very frustrating. One thing that I see from a lot of beginners is that they bring their no limit strategy over into limit, and then can't understand why they are losing. Reason? Starting hands are much more important in limit than in no limit.

In no limit, many players will play a wide variety of hands and hope to hit hard, getting paid off greatly for their deception. Among these hands are small suited connectors, suited gappers, small pocket pairs, and medium unsuited connectors. You could often flop a set or a straight, and perhaps take your opponent's entire stack, making the few times you flop big more than pay for all the times that you miss. In limit, there are 3 reasons you aren't going to get paid off nearly as much:

1. The nature of limit will keep the bets small compared to that of no limit, meaning your opponent can't lose his whole stack.

2. To get max value out of your hand, you must keep raising and reraising, which will probably lead your opponent to get a little suspicious after the 3rd or 4th raise, and will either fold or check/call down, not paying you off to the max.

3. Your opponent will likely expect you to come in with these sorts of hands, since preflop raises of 2x the big blind are much cheaper than the typical 3 or 4x the big blind of no limit.

Since you can't get paid off in limit like you can in no limit, playing these sorts of hands will slowly bleed away your stack, while the amateur sits there and wonders why.

Another reason players often lose money with these sorts of hands is that when you are marginally ahead, you can't bet enough to push others out. An example could be calling a raise with 8,6 suited, then flopping top pair on an 8 5 2 flop. Even though you were looking for something much stronger, like a straight or a flush, you still think you have the best hand, putting your opponent on two high cards like AK or AQ. You bet into him the whole way, however he still has the odds to call with his overcards, taking the pot back from you with a rivered A. In no limit, you could of course force him out with a large raise on the flop, but in limit, you often times have to have the best hand at showdown, making hands like suited gappers pretty worthless, while making two broadway cards a very profitable hand.

The way I see it, you can either put your money in as a favorite, or you can put your money in as an underdog. I know what I'm going to choose. What will your decision be?

KGBlovesOreos · Moderator Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 5318 Location: VA

Doesn't my recent play with you guys at the limit tables disprove your entire entry? I mean, 8-4 offsuite is among my winningest hands for god's sake! Wink

Hehe, nice post though. I too have been learning the ins and outs of FLHE, and your comments on the suited connectors was something I learned/realized up front in my first session. Hope this gets picked up, but only after my submissions first! Smile

Strasse · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 4:18 pm Post subject:

I believe your 84 was suited, actually.

Honest_Rob · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 4:19 pm Post subject:

Good post Strasse. I thought about writing something for the blog too. $50, not bad. Wink

If I think of a good idea I might give it a try.

Strasse · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 4:28 pm Post subject:

I've got a few more, just have to get around to doing them.

KGBlovesOreos · Moderator Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 5318 Location: VA

Congrats on getting published ALREADY! Just remember that I was the first one to reply to you before you became rich and famous, haha.

Strasse · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 7:26 pm Post subject:

I'd thank you by sending you a transfer, but I just don't know what the minimum I can transfer is.

Honest_Rob · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 9:36 pm Post subject:

Nice Job Strasse. Very Happy

Damn I'm gonna have to write me somethin'.

UFO1947 · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 10:21 pm Post subject:

AllInDrawinDead · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 11:37 pm Post subject:

In a multiway pot you can forget about those kings. In a heads-up pot you're going to have to use your best judgement.

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