More Profitable: No-Limit or Limit Hold 'Em?

SkinsRaj28 · Jul 3, 2006

I'd love feedback from anyone who plays regularly or semi-regularly.

I'm typically a 1/2 NL player online, never really delved into the limit scene, but I've been told by numerous people that limit is more profitable long term.

What are the advantages/disadvantages to each game? How do playing styles differ in limit as opposed to NL? I'm assuming that one needs to be more patient and let the numbers/averages play out over the course of a limit game, let the chasers chase, etc.

Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks.

BC-Eagles · Jul 3, 2006

limit takes a lot of patience, a lot of odds calculating, that sort of thing, from my experience, NL is more of a gambler's game

levistep · Jul 3, 2006

Pretty sure NL has a higher profit potential. So many more plays in Limit are +EV because you can't bet a significant portion of the pot, so many more draws are good enough to play.

SkinsRaj28 · Jul 3, 2006

levistep said:
Pretty sure NL has a higher profit potential. So many more plays in Limit are +EV because you can't bet a significant portion of the pot, so many more draws are good enough to play.

That's what I figured and meant when I said one had to be patient and let the averages play themselves out...if you have the best hand, let those who are on draws continue to draw and have faith that the averages will hold up.

QuickLearner · Jul 3, 2006

This may seem like I'm ducking the question, but I'm really not. The game that you play the best will be the mnost profitable for you.

I think that if there is a person who plays both games equally well (and I'm not convinced that there is such a person) then I'd say that limit may be slightly more profitable...but only because the average pot size in a fixed-limit game is actually greater than the average pot size in a NL game at comparable stakes. If there are more chips in the pot, more money can be made.

I'd also be willing to say that pot-limit Omaha probably has a greater profit potential than any Texas Hold'em game.

As far as differing styles go, I think no limit is a game of psychology and intimidation; fixed limit is a game of mathematics. You need to be patient and disciplined in both games.

Dante · Jul 3, 2006

I have found that a good 2-10 Spread for me has been the most profitable..I have won the most playing LIVE at that limit.its not to small where everyone sucks out on you and you can still protect your hand also

2-10 spread

JakeT. · Jul 3, 2006

I've been killing .25/.50 NL tables. For some reason I make way better profit at the lower tables (people care less about the money maybe?) and can usually put out $100 in profit in 1-3 hours.

MrJ · Jul 3, 2006

Limit is easier to multitable.

levistep · Jul 3, 2006

jakethompson said:
I've been killing .25/.50 NL tables. For some reason I make way better profit at the lower tables (people care less about the money maybe?) and can usually put out $100 in profit in 1-3 hours.

Is that for 4+ tables?

MrJ · Jul 3, 2006

He's running hot levi. You won't average $50 an hr at 50NL unless you are playing at least 8+ tables.

WildBill · Jul 5, 2006

Online the limit games are getting rather tight these days. Seems the fish really prefer NL so you have to follow them. In Vegas the limit games are still juicy and probably better options than the NL games. NL games are profitable if you are playing the right players. If you are playing skilled and really unskilled players it can be tough. Unskilled players can kill off most edge you have against them by going all-in too often. If they do that the skill is basically brought down to one decision you often can't call with.

The way to make money on NL is to trap players. Calling stations are your dream opponents, but most figure out quickly they have to play limit or else.

levistep · Jul 5, 2006

Mr J said:
He's running hot levi. You won't average $50 an hr at 50NL unless you are playing at least 8+ tables.

That's what i figured. I'm averaging like $25/hour playing 8 nl 50 tables.

Illini · Jul 5, 2006

Less swings at limit. And less skill involved in being a good player. Really, all you have to do is learn what hands to start with, and then calculate odds to determine your actions. I like limit, but I'm in the minority.

Illini · Jul 5, 2006

SkinsRaj28 said:
That's what I figured and meant when I said one had to be patient and let the averages play themselves out...if you have the best hand, let those who are on draws continue to draw and have faith that the averages will hold up.

In limit, there are plenty of situations where calling with a draw is the right play. It's not sucking out, if you have pot odds. The bad nights come when you have the best hand, and it never holds up, and when you have a drawing hand, you don't make any of your draws. There is no way to really protect your hand in limit, and sometimes you get sucked out on by someone that had 2 or 4 outs. But it is still profitable if you are a good player and play a lot of hours. It's a grind.

MrJ · Jul 5, 2006

Illini said:
Less swings at limit.

Limit has greater variance than NL.

Illini · Jul 5, 2006

Mr J said:
Limit has greater variance than NL.

When you lose at limit, your losses are limited. A hand is a hand is a hand, and each one is the same. NL can be brutal if you lose just one huge hand.

Fishhead · Jul 5, 2006

WildBill said:
Online the limit games are getting rather tight these days. Seems the fish really prefer NL so you have to follow them. In Vegas the limit games are still juicy and probably better options than the NL games. NL games are profitable if you are playing the right players. If you are playing skilled and really unskilled players it can be tough. Unskilled players can kill off most edge you have against them by going all-in too often. If they do that the skill is basically brought down to one decision you often can't call with.

The way to make money on NL is to trap players. Calling stations are your dream opponents, but most figure out quickly they have to play limit or else.

Good answer

Also agree what was said by JakeThompson that the low buy-in NO LIMIT games are fairly easy beatable games for the NO LIMIT player with half a brain.

HarryCaray · Jul 5, 2006

I prefer limit when playing online. More mechanical... there is less creativity involved IMO, which fits well for me, considering how fast the action moves. You can just zone out and go on "auto-pilot." And agreed with what's posted above, I like the fact that losing one hand cannot wipe you out. It is more of a grind, and if you play properly, luck will be less of a factor and you can succeed long-term.

WVU · Jul 5, 2006

heads up no limit. I rule

SkinsRaj28 · Jul 5, 2006

Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it.

More Profitable: No-Limit or Limit Hold 'Em?

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