No Limit Holdem Poker Extensive Cash Ring Game Guide, Limit/NL

Part 1 - NL Holdem Poker Extensive Cash Ring Game Guide

These strategies and concepts relate to full-ring games (6-10 players).

No Limit the the form of Texas Hold'em played most in tournaments. If has also become much more popular in cash games during recent years because of the visibility of tournament play. Also, online poker rooms are well suited to hosting these games. The players bust their stacks more frequently and need to be replaced so the total rake becomes lower. For a casino, this is a major problem, but online poker rooms don't mind getting new players to the table; it is a fast, smooth process for them.

This game is not for beginngers because it requires tight/aggressive play to win. It also involves advanced reading skills in order to play the players rather than play the cards. If you want to try your hand at No Limit Texas Hold'em as a novice, you shold begin with very low buy-in No Limit tournaments. You'll risk only a small amount each session and will learn to play the required tight/aggressive style.

Several styles can win the pots in No Limit Hold'em. In a good game, a great player could win over the long haul by playing every hand, but that same player might earn just as much if playing only about 15% of the hands.

Differences between Limit and No-Limit Texas Hold'em

The major differences between No Limit and Limit Texas Hold'em involve position and hand values. Position is much more important in No Limit because decision will have a larger impact on your chip stack. If you trap a player in No Limit through position, you can easily win the whole stack rather than a few bets, as in Limit.

Large connectors such as AK, AQ, KQ go down in value when you play No Limit because you are more likely to win small pots and lose big pots with them. Pairs increase in value because you are able to double through your opposition when you hit the set. The big pairs, AA and KK, increase in value because you are presented with the chance to trap someone and take their entire stack.

In No Limit, you should keep track of the amount of money you and your opposition have at the table. The stack size impacts how the game is player. Here are examples:

1. You have $500 and your opponent has $25, the blinds are $2-$4. You are in the big blind with a JTs and your opponent moves all-in from first position (under the gun). All other players fold. This is clearly a situation where you should fold because you are probably the underdog and risking an additional $21 to win his last $25 is not profitable. If your opponent also has $500, then a call might be acceptable since you have a chance of winning $500 by risking another $21. It also depends on how well your opponent plays after the flop.

2. You have $1000 and your opponent also has $1000, the blinds are $2-$4. You have QQ and bet $20. Your opponent, acting after you, moves all-in with his entire $1000. Fold unless you know your opponent does not have AA or KK. If the other player did the same, but with only $60 in front of him, call his all-in bet, hoping he does not hold AA or KK.

Key skills for No Limit Texas Hold'em Players

• Have patience and discipline and select starting hands carefully
• Selection of the right talbes
• Discipline and the ability to wait for good hands and fold second-best hands
• Ability to read other players
• Courage to bet/raise and play aggressively with draws or perceived best hands
• Ability to avoid going on tilt

No-limit Texas Hold'em Top Advice

1. Be very selective of the starting hands you play: in a standard $2-$4 NL game you should have a 20-30% view of the flop percentage. This means folding AJ in first position, KT in middle position and QT in late position.

2. Table selection: only play in games where you have an edge. You want at least a couple of weak players at the table when you sit down.

3. "Playing the players": make sure to quickly assess the opposition: who plays inferior hands, who folds at aggression, who bets with draws, who calls big bets with weak hands and draws, who can be bluffed, who bluffs, etc.

4. "Pump it or dump it": fold or bet/raise (if the odds are with you). You should avoid calling unless you have a good reason (like trapping an opponent).

5. Respect most big bets and raises: this is particularly true on the turn and river as most players do not bluff.

No-Limit Texas Hold'em Common Mistakes

1. Not releasing a decent hand when beat, thus losing the whole stack on one hand.

2. Calling with weak holdings when facing a bet.

3. Playing too many starting hands.

4. Not raising pre-flop with premium hands (putting pressure on limpers holding drawing hands) and then going too far with them after the flop.

5. Over/under betting the pot (risking a lot to win small/not protecting hand).

Pre-Flop Play

Hand ranking for No-Limit Texas Hold'em

The best starting hands for a No Limit beginner are:

1. Pairs AA-22.

2. Big suited connectors AKs & AQs.

3. Big connectors AK & AQ.