Here are a couple quick tips for those making the transition from NL Texas Hold'em to Limit Hold'em
- DEFENDING YOUR BLIND IS A LOSING PROPOSITION. Most players new to limit hold'em will defend their blind with virtually anything, as it's only 1 more bet. If they hit a hand, great - and if not, it's only one bet. The problem is, that one bet adds up over time. Whereas in No Limit, you could potentially double up with a big blind special, the most you could possibly gain in a limit hand (heads up, anyway) is 12 big bets - and that is if betting is capped every single round. Most likely, betting will not be capped, and you will be unable to make nearly enough from the implied odds to make defending your blind with a weak hand a winning combination.
- BLUFFS WILL RARELY WORK. Because of the fact that you can only bet one big bet at a time, you will rarely be able to bet someone off a hand, particularly on the river, if they have anything respectable. The pot odds are simply too great for players to lay the hand down. Which brings me to my next point...
- DON'T CALL A RIVER BET IF YOU ARE SURE YOU ARE BEAT. It sounds silly, but a lot of players will call off a final bet on the river because of the pot odds, even if their hand is as weak ace A-high with a missed flush draw. If your opponent is telling you you're beat, save yourself a bet and don't call him down.
- BET FOR VALUE, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ISOLATE. The exception, of course, is if you can two-bet or three-bet. While most players will not fold for just one more bet, if they see they need to call a 2-bet (possibly more, if there's a raising war), they will be more likely to fold.
