07-28-05, LearnTexasHoldem:

Spread Limit Games Compared To Limit

Question: I'm going home in a couple weeks to visit the family and am planning on playing the $1-5 spread limit hold em game they have at the local casino. Should a spread limit game be played like a limit game? Or maybe more towards the No limit where you might want to limp in with some garbage in hopes to flop something big - I have not played in any spread limit and am trying to figure out how much money to bring, and if I should play mechanical or try to mix things up - I was thinking about bringing $150 to the game.

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My friend says the spread limit games he's played in tend to be a lot different than regular $3/6 limit, and people tend to play tighter since it can cost them more - 

Answer: Yes, some of the concepts from no limit holdem apply to spread limit; the main one being implied odds. If you can get in a hand for only a buck, then you can play a wide range of hands since at any time if you really like the hand, you can bet more if you like and potentially win a lot. With good hands, people usually still raise the maximum amount preflop and bet the max each time.

Also, notice what a spread limit game does to the turn and river betting rounds compared to a 3/6 game. Instead of the betting doubling on the turn and river, it still stays the same. Overall the game will be looser than a 3/6 game will be. I haven't played in a holdem spread game in a while but from what I remember, the games were pretty loose. Expect more bad beats, but also big pots. Then you'll have one guy there who is waiting for good hands and betting the max each time.

One tip I can give you is to not give players a chance to beat you cheaply. Let me give you two examples of this. First of all, let's say you have AK and flop an Ace, don't give them a free ride by betting a buck. Bet as much as you think you can without losing them. If they will call 5 bucks, bet 5. And the more people in the hand, the more you bet. Secondly, when you find yourself in a hand against a preflop raiser and he all of a sudden bets a little, say only a buck, and you have something, don't just call, raise him. Don't fear being slow played, most likely he doesn't have much yet and wants to slip by cheaply to see the turn or river.

Lastly, like I said above, you can play just about anything for a buck if everyone else is as well and try to flop something big. Also, postflop you can keep calling with all kinds of trash if it is only a buck. Any two cards that can make a big flush or any straight are worth playing if it is really inexpensive. If someone raises though, you'll need to only play good hands.

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