What is Fixed-Limit Hold’em?

Sick of being bluffed out of a hand because of too many loose players tossing out all-ins like they’re going out of style? Then you might want to sit down at a fixed-limit poker table. When you play Limit Hold’em, every player is limited to how much they can bet, and often the number of raises they can make.

HOW TO PLAY

If you’re familiar with No-Limit Hold’em, you’ve already got the basics down for how to play fixed-limit poker games like Limit Hold’em. The game consists of five community cards, two hole cards, multiple rounds of betting, and the opportunity to bluff your way to a big win.

But how you bet is a little bit different. In this fixed-limit poker game, you’re limited to how much you can bet in each round, determined by the blinds.

LIMITED BETS, LIMITED ROUNDS

Like its name suggests, Limit Hold’em is all about limits. You’re limited to how much you can bet in each round. And the number of raises during each round is often limited too.

A $2/4 table will have betting increments of $2 and $4. The first figure is used for the first two betting rounds and the second amount for the final two rounds.

A Quick Example:

Take a seat at a $2/4 table and you’ll only be able to bet $2 during the first round. The next person to act can fold, call, or raise. If the next player chooses to raise, they can add a maximum of $2 on top making their total bet $4. If a third player wanted to re-raise, their total bet would be $6, and so on.

On the turn and river, the bet limit moves up to the higher bet limit, which in our particular example would be $4.

In Limit, the number of raises per round is limited as well, usually at four. However, players should make sure to find out what the limit is on the table when they sit down. With its two specified betting limits, this is a very subtle version of poker and you likely won’t find any maverick bets of "all in" here.

HOW TO WIN

You can win a Limit Hold’em game the same way you’d win a No-Limit Hold’em game — either by having the best hand at the end of the final betting round, or by bluffing players out of the game beforehand.