Playing Pot Limit Holdem

Pot Limit Holdem is one of the three variants of Texas Holdem, the other two being No Limit and Limit and while not yet as popular, Pot Limit is slowly gaining ground online. In order to play the game you should be aware of some basic facts and strategies.

The first is that the game plays basically the same as the two, except that in Pot Limit Holdem, you are only allowed to wager an amount not exceeding what is currently in the pot. This is the biggest difference, and it means changing some basic strategies.

In particular, this means you have to use a different tactic when trying to build a pot with a drawing hand. In No Limit, you can do this by seeing the flop cheaply, and if you hit the flop or turn, you can induce your opponents to call all the way to the river.

In Pot Limit Holdem it is quite different. If you are holding a straight or flush draw, the best option would be to make a pot sized bet. This will immediately signal to your opponents that you are holding something, and if they fold, that is not necessarily a bad thing. After all, you have not yet made your hand.

If your opponents call, that is good too. It will increase the money in the Pot Limit Holdem pot, and at the same time allow you to draw to your straight or flush. This is the ideal situation to be in when you hold the big hand. If you have managed to get the other players in, you can call the rest of the way until the showdown.

If you are holding a high pocket pair, you can make a pot sized bet pre flop. If that drives out some players, it will increase your chances of winning when you flop the set. If you prefer, you can instead just limp in, and when you hit the set, that is when you will make the big bet.

However, for all the differences, some basic strategies, like reading and picking up tells, are of course applicable in Pot Limit Holdem. Also, the quality of the payable hands are the same as that of Limit and No Limit.

Pot Limit Holdem is gaining popularity because a lot of players are now looking for fresh alternatives. If you are among those, this is the game to play, and with some knowledge of the basic strategies, you will be able to win money more quickly.