Transitioning from no Limit to Limit Poker Games
Many of the new generation of poker players learned betting structure out of order, becoming fluent in no limit games during the poker boom. The steep learning curve for no limit resulted in a player pool of very strong, aggressive players with great analytical skills for the game. When these players transition to no limit to play in mixed games or Omaha games, they have many of the innate poker abilities to do well, but just need to learn more controlled aggression techniques that fit limit poker much better.
No limit players first need to learn that it is usually difficult to impossible to protect a strong hand in limit. That said, its best not to overvalue strong pre flop holdings in limit poker. In a loose limit game, a hand like 9 8 suited plays just as well as a large pocket pair, often times, as it can be assumed that most pots will go to showdown. Limit is a much tougher game to beat when you are playing bad players at small stakes, as many of the bad players will see showdowns two or three players at a time. When you can isolate someone heads up in limit, it is a lot easier to know where you are at, but the lack of information makes it much more difficult to ascertain a good read.
Limit games progress quicker, as there are no bet-sizing decisions. Considering how much value to extract with a good hand, or how large to bet to induce a call, fold or raise is not a factor in limit play, as it is in no limit. Consequently, limit is much more a game of feel, with fewer decisions based on pot odds. Good limit players typically do not take pot odds into account when making a decision, as most of the time you will have odds to call any bet based on pot odds. Decisions must therefore be based more often on other information available to the player, such as action in prior hands and overall feel for the game.
The limit betting structure is much more simple than the no limit game structure, but is just as nuanced and inherently complex overall. Immersing ones self in current literature and observation of the game will greatly increase overall understanding, and will increase your competency and win rate in your transition from one game to another.
