Fixed Limit Texas Holdem
H.O.R.S.E Poker is a mixed poker game, meaning several games of poker are played at the same table. The games alternate after either a set number of hands or a fixed time interval. Fixed Limit Texas Holdem is the first game in rotation at all H.O.R.S.E. tables be it ring games or tournaments. If you’re going to win at H.O.R.S.E. having decent limit holdem skills is a must. On this page we’ll cover briefly how limit Holdem is played, and then direct you to some good sources for limit Holdem strategy.
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How to Play Limit Holdem
Limit Holdem games use two forced bets called blinds. A dealer button is present on the table and rotates clockwise after each hand to represent the player in the dealer position. The two blinds we mentioned are the small blind, posted by the player to the left of the dealer, and the big blind, posted by the player to the left of the small blind. The big blind is always the size of the games small bet (example in $2/$4 the big-blind is $2) and the small-blind is usually half (but in some cases 1/3 or 2/3) the size of the big blind. Once the blinds are posted, each player is dealt two cards face down which only they can see. These two cards are dealt one card at a time clockwise around the table, starting with the small blind.
A betting round now takes place starting with the player left of the big blind. This betting round uses the smaller of the two amounts in the game stakes. For example, if we’re playing $4/$8 limit holdem, during this betting round use bet increments of $4. Going around the table clockwise, each player has the option to fold, call the bet or raise the bet. If no raise has been made (only calls) at the end, the big blind (who has already put in $4 before the cards were dealt) can “check”, as the big blind and small blind are live forced bets rather than dead antes. To clarify a few things: “To check” simply means decline the option to raise or bet, as no bet is being faced. In limit holdem games there is a maximum number of raises that can be made each round. In most games the maximum is four total bets (a bet and 3 raises), though in some cases this is five bets (a bet plus four raises).
Once the first betting round is complete, a flop is dealt. The flop is three cards placed on the center of the table which all players can use along with their two hole cards towards making the best five card poker hand. After the flop, another betting round takes place using the same stakes as the last round. The only difference in this round is action starts with the player left to the dealer (the small blind if he is still in the hand). Once this betting round is complete, a fourth community card, called the turn, is dealt which once again all players can use. A betting round then takes place with the same rotation as the last, but this time using the big bet stakes; for example, in a $4/$8 game, the betting will now be $8 for the remainder of the game. After this betting round, a fifth and final community card called the river is dealt, a final betting round takes place, and at the end any players left in the hand showdown. At showdown the player with the best five card poker hand, using any combination of the five cards on the board and the two in their hand, is declared the winner and takes the pot.
Limit Holdem Strategy
Texas Holdem is said to be a game that takes minutes to learn and a life time to master. Our website, focused primarily on HORSE Poker, would lose a lot of its focus if we shared everything we had on limit holdem strategy, as entire volumes of material have been dedicated to this matter. We decided it would be better to simply point you to the best limit holdem strategy resources. You can find these below.
Top Limit Holdem Books
The following books are not only recommended reading, but are books we strongly feel are required readings for any player serious about limit holdem strategy and theory. Each of these books can be found in most major bookstores, public libraries or online at Amazon.com.
Winning Low-Limit Hold’em, by Lee Jones – don’t let the low limit part of this title fool you. This book contains all the fundamentals of limit holdem and is recommended reading for anyone new or a couple years into a successful limit holdem career.
Super System 2 (Limit Holdem Chapter by Jennifer Harman) – This book will appear at Amazon as authored by Doyle Brunson, but the book has several contributors including one of the most feared ulta-high-stakes limit hold’em cash game players in the world Jennifer Harman. Her section of Super Systems 2 is in our opinion a must read for anyone serious about limit Hold’em strategy.
Holdem for Advanced Players, by David Sklansky – For years this book has been considered the bible of fixed limit Texas Holdem games. While we put it third on our list, it does not mean it is less important than the books above. Once again, this is also a must read, as many players truly do speak of this book as a true poker bible.
Theory of Poker, by David Sklansky – this book is relevant not only to limit holdem but to all forms of poker games. This book is highly praised in the industry and will go a great way in helping any player improve their overall poker game.
Limit Holdem Websites
A Google search of “limit Holdem strategy” will produce results to thousands of articles written on the topic, so this is a decent place to start. To help you shave the leaning curve a little, a few of the websites we enjoy for limit Holdem Stategy are PokerListings, LowLimitHoldem, and PartTimePoker. You can find their specific limit holdem articles and sections using an internet search.
To get started playing limit holdem online, visit the Full Tilt Poker website.
