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Consider the Odds When Becoming a Poker Pro

Posted on February 6, 2008

Consider the Odds When Becoming a Poker Pro

By Daniel Negreanu

Until the start of the current poker boom that dates back to 2003, you couldn't find a No Limit Texas Hold 'em cash game if you tried. Limit Hold 'em ruled. But that all changed once No Limit tournaments started to air on television.

Back before the boom started, poker professionals played Limit games to pay the bills. And Hold 'em wasn't the only game they played. Stud, Omaha, Stud Hi-Lo, and Omaha Hi-Lo were also played -- all of them Limit games.

Like these pro players, you can become a better overall player by investing the time and effort to learn both disciplines of the game. Playing Limit Hold 'em will certainly improve your No Limit game. There are subtleties to the Limit game that will enhance your technique at the No Limit tables. Mastering these uniquely aggressive Limit tactics will enable you to steal more pots when you sit down to play No Limit Hold 'em.

So, if you're trying to make a living playing Hold 'em, which is the better game to play, Limit or No Limit? Here are some factors to consider.

Go fishing
Inexperienced players generally flock toward the No Limit tables because it's clearly the most popular form of the game. Having said that, where the fish go, so go the sharks! As a result, you'll often find that Limit games are even softer because the pros are concentrating on the No Limit games, baiting their hooks and reeling in their catch.

Playing the percentages
Your winning percentage by session will likely be higher in No Limit games than in Limit games. Winning 65 percent of your sessions in Limit Hold 'em is excellent. In No Limit, however, it's not uncommon to log winning sessions 80 percent of the time.

That's due to the natural differences between the two games. Less control can be exerted in Limit games because it's more difficult to force players out of pots with structured betting. In No Limit, though, hands can be protected from being outdrawn by making large bets that force opponents to fold weak draws.

Bankroll protection
Despite the fact that you'll likely win a higher percentage of sessions in No Limit Hold 'em, choosing to play Limit Hold 'em is a safer decision to protect your bankroll. You won't win as often, but you also won't risk losing everything you have on any single hand.

Source: - The Detroit News - www.detnews.com

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