Limit vs. Pot Limit vs. No Limit

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Help • The Rules of Texas Holdem • Limit vs. Pot Limit vs. No Limit

Texas Hold'em can be played in three different styles:

Limit: In Limit games, you can only bet or raise by a predetermined amount, which varies depending on the table. Furthermore, the pot can only be raised four times per betting round. This includes the initial blinds in the pre-flop stage, and any initial bet in each round. In other words, one bet and three raises are allowed per betting round. The exception is when the table becomes heads up before the last raise. In a heads up table, there is no limit to the number of raises.; There are usually two standard amounts: the small bet, which is usually the same as the big blind, and the big bet, which is usually twice the small bet. During the pre-flop and flop betting rounds, you bet the small bet. During the turn and river betting rounds, you bet the big bet. (Click here to read about Texas Hold'em betting rounds.)
Pot Limit: In Pot Limit games, the maximum bet is however much is in the pot at the time. The minimum bet or raise is the amount of the last bet or raise, or the amount of the big blind if there have been no raises. There are no restrictions on the number of betting rounds.
No Limit: In No Limit games, any player can bet as much as he has. The exception is that you can't bet so much that nobody would be able to match it (that would be pointless anyway). The minimum bet is the same as for Pot Limit.