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Limit (Table Limit)
Limit poker is by far the most popular variety of poker played at poker rooms, this despite the popularity of no-limit poker tournaments. In limit poker the amount that can be bet is limited as is the number of times a bet can be raised. The result is more predictable play and much less bluffing than is normal in no limit games. For example a $5/$10 table tells players that for the first rounds (pre-flop and flop) the limit is $5 while in the later rounds (the turn and river) the limit goes to $10. A further limit on the pot size is usually imposed by limiting, usually to three or four times, the number of times the bet can be raised. Thus on a $5/$10 table with a three raise limit the maximum bet you would have to call would be $20 in the early rounds and $40 in the later rounds (the original bet and three raises). Because a player cannot make a large bet at the end of the hand they have to bet early in the round if they want to get a large pot. This controlled betting makes limit poker a more predictable game than any of the other forms of limit poker.

No-Limit Betting
This is the type of betting normally seen on big televised poker tournaments such as the World Series of Poker Tournament. Poker games with no-limit betting have basically no restrictions on the amount of money a player can bet when it's his/her turn. Many poker players are of the opinion that no-limit poker is the truest form of poker as a player can take a chance and bet all of his/her chips on a single hand. To protect players from themselves, poker tables usually have a maximum amount of chips that players can bring to the table to start playing with. Table maximums limit the amount a player can lose in a game and allows a modest player to play at a table with a player who has a huge bankroll.

In the event that a player doesn't have enough chips to call a large bet they can still call the hand by going 'all in', the pot is simply split so the players betting fewer chips cannot win more than they bet. It's not at all like the old movie cliché, where you have to put your watch or car keys in the pot to call.

Pot Limit
A pot limit game is one in which the players can only raise as much as is in the pot at the time the bet is being made. The amount in the pot is a little tricky to understand as it includes the pot on the tables plus the amounts bet so far plus the call a player must make before raising. Using the description below I will try to explain the pot limit betting.

• The pot initially contains $10
• Player 1 doesn't have to call and decides to raise. The pot contains $10 at this time so the maximum raise can only be $10. Player 1 at this time has contributed $10 to the pot.
• Player 2 wants to raise but first he must call the amount bet by player 1 $10. The pot now contains $30 (the original $10 + a $10 raise + the $10 call) this is the maximum that the raise can be. Player 2 raises the maximum $30. The pot now contains $60 (the original $10 + a $10 raise + a $10 call + the $30 raise). Player 2 at this time has contributed $40 to the pot (a $10 call + the $30 raise).
• Player 3 also wants to raise, but first he must call the amount bet by player 2 $40. The pot now contains $100 (the original $10 + a $10 raise + a $10 call + a $30 bet + the $40 call) this is the maximum that the raise can be. Player 3 raises the maximum $100. The pot now contains $200 (the original $10 + a $10 raise + a $10 call + a $30 raise + a $40 call + the $100 raise). Player 3 at this time has contributed $140 to the pot (a $40 call + the $100 raise).
• Player 1 doesn't want to raise so he just calls. Player 3 has contributed $140 to the pot so to match this player 1 has to put $130 into the pot ($140 less the $10 he has already put into the pot). The pot now contains $330 (the original $10 + a $10 raise + a $10 call + a $30 raise + a $40 call + a $100 raise + the $130 call).
• Player 2 doesn't want to raise either so he calls. Player 1 and player 2 have each contributed $140 to the pot so to match this player 2 has to put $100 into the pot ($140 less the $30 he has already put into the pot). The pot now contains $430 (the original $10 + a $10 raise + a $10 call + a $30 raise + a $40 call + a $100 raise + a $130 call + the $100 call).
• Assuming that no one else raises the betting stops here and the hand is played out.

Unlike table limit betting there is no limit to the number of times betting can take place. Also note that the pot grows very quickly; our example shows only one bet and two pot-sized raises and it grew from $10 to $330. To play well in a pot limit game players must be comfortable with the pot getting larger with each betting round.

Which limit game is best for you?
Your personal preferences, your bankroll, and to a lesser degree your skill level will determine the type of limit poker you will choose to play. A new player should probably not start out on no-limit tables, but may get away with participating in pot-limit games that have a lower ante. While table limit games are good for beginners at the lower limits there are a lot of 'loose' players who call most bets while holding little to nothing. This makes it hard for players to bluff, and isn't good for practicing betting strategies if you're planning on eventually moving up to bigger games. Table limit games are more predictable and the least risky, and probably the best option for new poker players. Pot limit and no-limit games can be a positive experience for good players, but can cost you a bundle if you are unlucky or if you find yourself playing with much better players.