High vs. Low Limits
I refer to high-limit games on the Internet as $10-$20 and up, while low limits are
$5-$10 and down. The following discussion is a generalization of the type of game
you should expect to find at high limits versus low limits and some high-level
implications on strategy. Again, as all generalizations are never correct 100% of the
time, be sure to evaluate your game to. know what type it is.
High-limit games are generally tight and aggressive, Many of the players have
decent starting hand requirements and a raise preflop is common. They still will
play more hands than they should, but they are usually good enough to not play
hands like A7 or Q8s from early position.
In a tough $20-$40 game, you may only have about 20% of the players seeing the
flop. A normal $20-$40 game is around 25% or 30%. At Paradise Poker, full ring
games with more than 30% of the players seeing the flop are not too common. In
these tight aggressive games, a lot of your profit comes from bluffs and semi-bluffs,
as many hands do not go down to a showdown. In general, your overall strategy of
play will include:
- Raising preflop from good position to gain control over the hand
Raising preflop with high cards and medium pairs to drive out opponents
- Folding middle suited connectors and small pairs most of the time
- Using semi-bluffs as a main arsenal of your play on the flop and turn
Low-limit games are generally loose and passive without a lot of preflop raising.
Many players play a lot of starting hands with the attitude that any two cards can
win. Once they win one time with a weak hand like 75s, they will keep playing the
hand waiting for that next big win. Generally, more than 30% of the players see the
flop and sometimes more than 40%. At limits such as $.50-$1 and $1-$2, 40% to
50% is not uncommon. These players will also tend to see the turn and river more,
as they will draw to weak hands hoping for the miracle card. Many of these players
don't realize that even when they improve their hand, they still might lose.
How does this change your overall strategy? Since many players will see the flop
and make weak draws, you generally need to have the best hand to win in a
showdown. It is rare to get all of your opponents to fold; therefore, your strategy of
play is quite different than in a high-limit game. Strategies include:
- Raising preflop with premium hands that stand up well against multiple opponents
- Raising less often with borderline hands when you are first in preflop since it
is more difficult to drive out opponents behind you and steal the blinds. For
example, middle pairs such as 88 and 77 should only be called in early or
middle position, whereas in a high-limit game you might raise to drive out
your opponents
- Playing suited connectors and pairs more often, especially from late position
since you are generally getting better pot odds with more callers
- Playing a straightforward game with little bluffing since you are generally
against several opponents, and many players will call too often to the river
with weak hands
Of course, these are generalizations. Some high-limit games are very loose while
some low-limit games are very tight. Be sure to evaluate the type of game you are
in and adjust your strategies accordingly.
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