Bet limits explained in poker
No matter which poker game you play, you will need to be familiar with bet limits. Limits define the maximum bet you can make in any betting round and in poker there are three types of limits – Limit, Pot Limit and No Limit. It is important that you know the differences between these before sitting down at a table.
Often when playing poker online you will have a bet “slider” which allows you to bet any amount between the minimum and maximum allowable bet size. If you understand poker bet limits just fine, but want to learn more about poker rules, or a general overview of the different types of poker, read our guides.
No Limit
No Limit poker is thought to be the purest form of poker and is the most common form at televised tournaments such as the World Series of Poker. You will find No Limit games in any of the poker variants offered online and all tournaments are No Limit Hold’em.
Maximum eligible raise: All of the chips you have at the table.
Minimum eligible raise: The raise amount must be at least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same round. As an example, if the first player to act bets 10 then the second player must raise a minimum of 10 (total bet of 20). If no bets have been made then the minimum bet is the big blind.
There is no cap to the number of raises in No Limit games.
Limit Poker
In Limit Poker, the limits are indicated in the form 2/4, 5/10 etc which will be clearly displayed in the online lobby or on the table you want to play at. Limit Poker is a great way for those without a big bankroll to play poker, particularly online games.
Maximum eligible raise: The rules for Limit Poker vary depending on which game you are playing. In Texas Hold’em, Omaha and 5 card stud games, the maximum bet on the first two rounds of betting is equal to the low limit of the table and in the second two rounds it is equal to the high limit of the table. For example in Hold’em, if the table limits are 2/4, then the maximum bets are as follows :
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| Betting Round | Maximum Raise | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pre-flop | 2x |
| 2 | Flop | 2x |
| 3 | Turn | 4x |
| 4 | River | 4x |
7 card stud is similar but with a total of 5 betting rounds in this game, the upper limit becomes the maximum bet in the 3rd, 4th and 5th round. In 5 card Draw, with only two rounds, the maximum bet on the first round is the lower limit and on the final round it is the upper limit.
Minimum eligible raise: The raise amount must be at least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same round. As an example, if the first player to act bets 10 then the second player must raise a minimum of 10 (total bet of 20). If no bets have been made then the minimum bet is the big blind.
There is a limit of 3 raises per round in Limit Poker.
Pot Limit Poker
Pot Limit is the least commonly played form of poker but is now beginning to increase in popularity. You will find most online poker variations in Pot Limit format these days.
Minimum eligible raise: The raise amount must be at least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same round. As an example, if the first player to act bets 10 then the second player must raise a minimum of 10 (total bet of 20). If no bets have been made then the minimum bet is the big blind.
Maximum eligible raise: The size of the pot. The size of the pot is defined as the total of the Pot in the middle plus all bets on the table plus the amount the active player must first call before raising. As an example, the pot in the middle is “20 and the first player to act raises “15, the next player to act must bet “15 to call and then the maximum raise is what is now in the pot – “60. There is no cap to the number of raises in Pot Limit games.
There is no cap to the number of raises in No Limit games.