No Limit Hands: Maximizing the Profits

Even though the rules of the game may be similar, the winning hands in Limit Holdem and No Limit are fundamentally different. This is the downfall of a lot of new players, and before you play for high stakes game, you must understand some basic facts.

For instance, in Limit Holdem, holding a King/Queen or Queen/Jack can be used throughout, and is strong enough to take to the end. However, this same hand, when played in No Limit, must be utilized quickly, usually before the flop. If you take this kind of hand to the flop, chances are it will be beaten by another hand, particularly one with a higher kicker.

In addition, K9, AT, AJ, when taken to a No Limit flop, can be difficult to make a hand with, and even if you hit a pair, it could be easily be beaten by a higher pair or a set. For this reason, when you get these hands, you should try to be aggressive before the flop and take the pot at that point.

The best No Limit hands that you can use to get the most money are suited connectors, pocket pairs and over pairs. These hands are powerful because they are easy to fold if you miss the flop, and if they hit, they can make for straights and flushes.

An example would be if you are holding 10-9 and the No Limit flop turns up a 10,9,A. You have got two pair, but anyone with an Ace will think that he has top pair, so expect him to bet and raise. Not only do you have the winning combo, but since your opponent thinks he has the best hand, he will put more money in the pot. With a two pair, that is exactly what you want.

Another strategy that you can use to get the most value from your No Limit hands is that of the semi bluff. Again assuming that you are holding 10,9 and the flop comes out K,4,7. if you make a bet, people will think that you are wagering because you made KK, and thus fold.

No Limit hands can be quite complex to play, and the way that you will utilize them will depend on a number of factors. However, the abovementioned scenarios are among the most common you will come across, and knowing how to handle them will go a long way towards helping you deal with other game situations that will emerge.