Making the Jump from Limit to No Limit

[Strongbad13]

Hi All,

I've been playing for about 6 months. I've been fairly successful in limit poker and probably have finished in the money in probably 60%-70% of the tournaments i've played. (mainly single table trournamets) I'd say around 30 or 40 of them. My only multi table experience was about 425 players and ended up getting knocked out at 25.

I think i'm a ok poker player, (or extrememly lucky). My problem is i get mopped up in in NL games all the time. I dabble in small buy in NL games and tournaments and consider it a fee i pay for entertainment cause i usually have no chance in winning anything. I figure if i was just really lucky, wouldn't matter which game i played. But while i've done pretty well for myself in limit, NL has been a game i just haven't gotten yet.

Any advice on how to make the jump from limit to NL? Maybe its a different mind set, or maybe i'm just not creative enough. I'd be curious to hear what people think about this.

[BrianGre]

I'm seeing the same results lately... my limit games are being much more profitable to me than the NL games.. not sure what the issue is, but I'm patiently waiting to see the responses from those that know...

[Poker_Vendetta]

Umm, first you must realize how you play limit poker. You should do just about the same thing with the cards, just be much more aggressive. You should play, and I've said it about a billion times to sound smart when in reality I still suck really bad, tight-aggressive. You stay patient enough to play good cards, cards that give you an advantage against that guy who raises the pot half his stack with 72o UTG. Ok, now once you do that you should probably just observe a few games. NL is of course a WHOLE different ball game, like I said aggression is really important. I think it's kidna important in limit as well but the scale of how aggressive you are stretches waaaay farther in NL. In limit if some guy is chasing a draw you can just check-raise or raise, in NL you can go all-in and boldy say: "Is that flush really worth all of your chips...?" In NL you can manipulate your opponent far far far more. I can really give no more advice, because I suck like I said. And I play with play money so I am used to get beaten by shit hands and chasing down draws too like a dumbass when some guy is betting the minimum. But that's f*cking stupid poker.

[Strongbad13]

My other thought was that reading a persons expressions or body language is a big part of NL. When you are online... its kind of tough to read anything about a person.

I figure in the real world, if i got dealt pocket AA's and i got another A on the flop, i'd never get a caller cause i'd have a smile pasted on my face from ear to ear. But given the lack of betting rules and limitless betting situations, it seems like one major componet of NL is taken away when playing online. (the part of reading a persons body language)

Any good NL players out there, can you tell me if I'm missing something? Watching Rounders too much? or just plain don't get it?

[Poker_Vendetta]

Um...I'm not really sure Strongbad. I believe tells, the ability to pick off tells and sense weakness is important but there are other things that are of equal importance or even more important. Like getting a read on your opponent's HOLE CARDS, knowing pot odds/outs, knowing position and what cards to play, how much to bet in each situation, when to fold, when to slowplay and bluff...All of those are pretty important no doubt. The pros combine all of that knowledge WITH an innate ability to read people...it's amazing really.

[Dave B]

I have been having some decent success in NL (1st 1st 1st 2nd 3rd and one out of the money in $30-$50 sit and goes and usually finish in the top 10-20% in multis).

I play tight tight tight. However, when in a hand, I want to win it. This might sound a little off, but I will often bet more than I will call. If I have top pair and a weak kicker, I will bet 10% of my chips-but I would never call that bet if someone acts before me. Late in a tourney, get aggressive and steal blinds. Playing position on NL is HUGE. Never let people limp in late, always raise w/ good cards or stealing blinds.

[saper88aa]

I started out playing nl with a friend. But once i got online i got into limit. I couldnt get a good amount of checks. I swiched over to nl online and with friends and did better. i think that if you start out playng limit you grow acustom with it and its harder to play nl. Try playingnl online and you ma do better i no i did.

[Coconut]

I know my say is barely worth anything. I've been playing cheap games online for 8-9 months now. I always started with NL and don't play limit that much. It gives a lot more freedom. In limit, your choices are "Raise","Call", or "Fold". In NL it's "Call", "fold", "raise 10" "raise 20" "raise 30" etc.