Texas Holdem No Limit Poker

How To Play - No Limit Texas Holdem Poker

Even if you are already familiar with the rules of Limit or Pot Limit Texas Holdem Poker, there are a few subtle differences to understand the rules for No Limit Texas Holdem Poker.    If you are not familiar with the Limit Texas Holdem poker rules click here to read them and then return to this No Limit Texas Holdem Poker section.    The difference between Limit Texas Holdem Poker and No Limit Texas Holdem Poker is all about the betting, as indicated below.    Read Brad Daugherty's Texas Holdem Poker Tips for some guideance in this regard, or Read Texas Holdem Poker Strategy.

The Betting Rules :

Minimum raise: Like in Limit Texas Holdem, you must CALL for the amount of the Big Blind.    To RAISE, the amount must be at least DOUBLE the amount of the Big Blind.    You may bet ANY amount OVER the that amount, AT ANY TIME!    As an example, if the first player to act bets $100 then the second player must call, fold, or raise a minimum of $100 (total bet of $200).

Maximum eligible raise: The size of your stack (your chips on the table).    This is the ALL IN bet that you probably have become familiar with watching Television.    This bet puts ALL your eligible chips at risk if you are called.    It also puts your opponent to a serious decision, as he has to risk an equal amount to call your bet!

Making bets that are in any amount OVER the Big Blind, and UP TO the amount of chips that you have, is what makes NO LIMIT TEXAS HOLDEM, the game that it is.    This is what makes No limit texas holdem VASTLY different from EITHER limit texas holdem type of game.    There are MANY strategies that can be employed in a No Limit poker game.    The most common RAISE to a no limit texas holdem hand, is 3-4X the Big Blind.

Methods to bet in Online Play:
When playing on AbsolutePoker.com, or most other poker rooms, you will have three methods of betting to use:

The bet button - Just like in a Limit Poker Game, you can click the bet button, which will display the minimum amount you can bet or raise.

The bet box - The bet box is a text box that allows you to type in the exact amount you want to bet or raise.    Once you have entered the amount to bet or raise, the bet button will reflect this amount.    Then click the bet button and your bet will be placed.

The slider - The slider is a device that you can use with your mouse to increase or decrease the amount of your bet or raise.    Simply drag the bar on the slider to the amount of money you want to bet or raise.    As you slide, the bet amount will be reflected on the bet button.    When you find the amount you want to bet or raise, simply click the bet button and your bet will be made.

At each No Limit table there is a Maximum Buy-In amount.    AbsolutePoker.com currently has two different maximum buy-in amounts of $25 and $50 in order to ensure all players have an opportunity to be competitive at No Limit without having to compete against players with thousands of dollars in front of them.    Most poker rooms online today have similar types of controlled buy-in games like this, and for that matter so do most Casinos!