02-23-05, LearnTexasHoldem:

Limit Side Games

Question: Hi, I have been playing Texas Hold＊em for about 4 months now. I usually win sit n go satellites and usually take 2nd-5th place in larger tourneys from 20-50 people. However I am keep getting crushed in limit side games. Can you tell me some tips and differences of to do and not to do in limit tourneys and side games?

Generally, I play all pairs and all A 每 x and cards like KQ in 10 handed side games. Is it too much? Often times, when I see my opponents win pots with 9 5o for awhile I started to play and even raise pre-flop with hands like K 9o. Am I been too impatient? Should I have sit back and still stick to the old hands?

Thank You for your time!

Xavier

Top 3 Beginner Rooms

Answer: It's very easy to lose your cool when playing limit holdem if you normally play no limit. What happens is you see people winning with 95o -- like you mentioned -- and then you think you can win with hands slightly better. It is true that if someone has 95 and you hold K9 you are a huge favorite but the problem is that you don't know when they will have that 95 or KT. Because of this you need to still play solid hands (solid for that game at least) if you expect to win in the long run. Let's go over a few points:

1. Aggressiveness - playing aggressively in no limit holdem can sometimes win a few sessions even if you aren't playing well otherwise. You can push people around more, especially with position. In low limit holdem games you can't do that at all. To win you will have to show the best hand down. So the first tip is to down play position. Don't think that you'll be able to use betting as much of a tool for forcing bad players out of pots. Also don't be surprised if people routinely call you down with hands like bottom pair or worse.

2. Don't Get Tricky - again, in no limit holdem fancy plays can pay off -- like aggressive betting -- but when you are up against limit holdem players who call too much, if you bet in the back always, check raise bluff, semi-bluff everyhand, you'll end up giving too much back. Just play a straight forward game of getting a hand and betting it. Tricky play is risky and you only want to use it if you are required to to win; in loose games though, you'll get more action than you could want.

3. Starting Hands - adjust your starting hands for volume pots. Try not to get too excited when you look down and see AA and KK; rather get excited when you look down and see a suited connector in the back after a number of players have come in preflop. One pair will still win in the games but not nearly as much as you are used to in a holdem tournament and a no limit games.

The main difference is that in the no limit games after the flop you'll usually only have one or two opponents. In those limit games you'll often times have 4 or more players seeing the turn. Position won't be used as much for leverage as it will be to see how the hand will develop preflop so you can gage how loose you can get. For example, you won't want to play 87off in the front but if 5 people limp in before you, go ahead. You'll want to suited Aces, Kings, as well as suited connectors and one and two gap connectors (97s, 64s, etc). I can't give you an exact figure for how many hands you should be playing but it will be significantly more than your typical no limit game or tourney.

The way you beat really loose low limit holdem players in the long run is to make better post flop decisions than they do; preflop doesn't matter much, all though you want to try and avoid situations where you give back a bunch of bets to a better hand; for example, calling an early position raise with a crappy hand when it isn't a volume pot.

4. Key Moment In Limit Holdem - the turn card is the moment of truth in limit holdem. No limit holdem usually is more geared toward the flop (if a person calls the flop they are usually going to commit the rest of the way). It took me a long time to realize that I needed to see more turn cards in limit holdem. It was uncomfortable for me because my thoughts were always, "call two bets with just over cards? I don't have anything".

You shouldn't get too loose but in those limit games, often times there are already 10 or more small bets in the pot when you see the flop. To call two more small bets to see the turn card is nothing in relation to how much you could win overall. Often times you'll pick up a draw on the turn and it will be mathematically profitable to draw to the river. You can't do this in every game, but in most low limit holdem games you would do fine with this strategy. Learn some odds so can keep your draws in the green -- the 2/4 rule on this site is easy.

5. Don't Get Frustrated - if you are used to no limit holdem, playing limit holdem can feel odd because in no limit you aren't involved in as many pots and you don't lose as much. Losing a pot in no limit hurts but in limit holdem you better get comfortable with it because you'll lose the vast majority of pots. Also, expect more fluctuation in your bankroll. It is easy to get in for 3 racks into a loose game and then still end up 2 racks up for the day.

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