08-15-05, LearnTexasHoldem:

Limit Or No Limit Holdem Tournament?

Question: We're hosting a very low stakes ($5 entry) hold 'em tournamnet this weekend for couples with no real poker experience. I was wondering what you thought of playing limit (with increasing blinds and limits) as opposed to no limit since this will be a group of novices.

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It seems to me it will make it easier on beginners if bets and raises are in fixed increments.  Plus we don't want any super-quick eliminations.  I've seen a few limit tournaments on the WPT so I know some tournaments use a limit format. 

Answer: I think either limit or no limit is fine. The advantages to limit are that people won't be busted out as quickly and you won't have to worry about calculating minimum raises and all that. The disadvantage to limit is that people won't be playing what they see on TV and they can't say, "all-in." Another option would be to play no limit holdem but have one buy-in and one rebuy. That way if someone busts out they can rebuy in for $5 and then be more careful. It has been my experience that people who don't play poker like no limit more so maybe that should be worked into the equation.

Also, I don't want anyone here to assume that no limit holdem is what serious players play and limit holdem is for beginners. Both structures have their complexities. It is like comparing Stud with Holdem. I often hear newbies on the rails talking about how bad beats don't happen in no limit. Not so. Just play for a bit and you'll see. Another one you'll hear as you move up in class is supposed "good" players at small limits complaining, talking about how that particular bad beat wouldn't have happened if the limit was larger. Again, you'll see every bad beat you can think of at any limit. It makes no difference.

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