Fixed Limit Texas Holdem Strategy

Medium stakes fixed limit Texas Hold’Em can be characterized as anything in the $10/$20 range up to probably about $50/$100 although that certainly is on the edge of what would be considered high stakes. Keep in mind that the differentiation between stakes changes depending on if you are talking about live poker games or online poker games. For the purposes of this article, we will be discussing online poker games.

Fixed limit is considered the most difficult of all games, as it gives the least freedom to how much you can bet. As a matter of fact, the amount you bet is always fixed. This is usually set in advance. However, this doesn’t mean that there are no strategies in place here. You can still fold, call, bet or even raise. Texas Holdem Strategy Tips – Crush Your Opponents. We already covered Texas Holdem tips that will help you approach the games as a pro, but we also need to analyze a strategy part of Texas Holdem so that you could make better decisions when playing. Learn to put your opponents on a range. Fixed Limit Texas Hold'em (FL) Strategy Fixed Limit Hold’em was once the most popular variant of Texas Hold’em, until No Limit became the dominant form. Although on the surface they look very similar, the differences between Fixed Limit Hold’em and No Limit are vast.

Once you understand right preflop Texas Holdem strategy, the postflop poker strategy becomes significantly easier. When you play weak hands from poor positions poker is quite difficult; nobody likes to play Q7 from out of position (Out of position means you act first, so your opponent will have more information than you)! In limit hold’em, L is 3.5 big bets, or seven big blinds. In somewhat backwards fashion, I’m waiting until next time to discuss more general limit hold’em tournament concepts.

What Is Different About A Medium Stakes Game?

Medium stakes Texas Hold’Em games are usually filled with average to solid poker players. Many people who frequent these games are doing so for a living, meaning they are winners and they make a good wage. With that said however, there obviously are enough bad or below par players to keep them in business. The trick in medium stakes games is finding the right game and staying away from the good players. Clearly staying away from good players is going to be hard, but there are tactics and strategies you can use to deal with them.

It is critical to note that medium stakes Holdem can be much more volatile and dangerous than the small stakes Holdem tables. The players are better and the action is fiercer. With that said, proceed to middle stakes games only when you are a solid winner at the low stakes and have developed sound discipline.

Semi Bluffing, A Solid Middle Stakes Concept

Medium stakes Texas Hold’Em affords the chance at some added strategic moves over small limit games. One of particular concern is the semi bluff. Semi bluffing is when you have a hand that might win, but may not be the best hand. Since medium stakes players tend to be better, this kind of tactic works more often. Here is an example:

You hold Js9s in late position and the flop is 9d2hKs you decide to raise a bet from a solid middle position player. You have middle pair, a slight shot at a flush and a slight shot at a straight. Now, these draw chances are nothing to count on since they are both way out there, but in conjunction with your middle pair, you might have the best hand. Your raise here will either win you the pot outright or potentially get you a free card on the turn or river to improve your modest holding.

Keep in mind that when playing middle limit games, many of your opponents will be using software to track both their play and their opponents play. It is then essential that you are able to vary your play and throw opponents off. You can do this sensibly however. Throwing opponents off doesn’t mean you have to play 27 off suit from early position (although, you certainly may if you are so inclined).

Rather, play marginal starting hands or drawing hands from strange positions to confuse your opponents. Not raising pre flop with AA or KK is not a good way to confuse your opponents, especially in middle limit games. Once you have mastered the middle stakes games read this article on high stakes fixed limit Holdem and if you can hold your own there you will never have to read one of my poker strategy articles ever again. I do insist on receiving a small percentage of your earnings though!

Limit Texas Holdem Strategy

Fixed limit games are the more basic of the two betting structures, and they always follow the same strict betting procedure. The player can only bet in specific increments, no matter what the situation is. For example, in a $2/$4 Texas Hold’em game, one can only bet and raise in the specified increments. During the first two rounds of betting one must bet or raise $2. During the final two betting rounds the limit doubles, the player must bet $4.

Whether one is playing online, or in a casino, there will be a little white dealer ‘button’ being passed clockwise around the table. Whichever player has this button in front of him, will be the last player to act on every betting round. Acting last is a huge advantage in most poker games. It is especially valuable in Texas Hold’em. When a player gets to see what other players have done before they are required to act, it lets them make more knowledgeable decisions. Since the button is passed around clockwise, each player receives the privilege to act last once each round.

Fixed Limit Holdem

At the beginning of each hand, the two players to the left of the button are required to put forced bets into the pot known as the small and big blind. The player to the left of the button puts in half of a small bet, whereas the player two to the left on the button matches the small bet at whatever particular limit is being played. Limit games almost always follow the exact same blind structure, regardless of what the betting limits are. For example, and a $20/$40 game, the small blind will be $10, and the big blind will be $20. In no limit, the blinds are decided upon ahead of time, and usually are related to the maximum or minimum buy-in allowed at that table. These blinds ensure that there will be action in every pot, since there is always money out there, waiting to be taken.

Fixed Limit Texas Holdem Strategyategy

Once the blinds are placed and the cards are dealt, the player starting to the left of the big blind has the opportunity to call, raise or fold. The action then continues to the next player to the left, and so on. Once it gets all the way around to the small blind, the small blind can complete the bet or fold (remember, they only put in half of a small bet before the cards were dealt). Folding would forfeit his small blind. The big blind then has one last chance to raise before the flop is dealt. Once the flop is dealt, betting continues clockwise as before, but this time the small blind is the first to act. The turn and river are treated in the same way as the flop. Once the hand ends, the dealer button is moved to the left and the small and big blinds are placed before the next round is dealt (this will all be done automatically for you online of course).

Fixed Limit Poker Strategy

All these rules may seem complicated now, but remember, most poker games follow the exact same procedure from hand to hand, so once the basics are down, it all becomes second nature.