Limit Poker
In a game of limit poker, the amount you are allowed to bet is limited to a specific size. This limit is in the name of the poker game ($3/6, $20/40, etc.).
So, for example, if you're playing in a '$1/2 limit' game, the minimum sizes of the bets would be:
- Pre-flop (before the flop): $1
- On the flop (when the three first community cards have been dealt): $1
- On the turn (when the fourth community card has been dealt): $2
- On the river (when the fifth and last community card has been dealt): $2
Note that you can't make a smaller bet than the big blind. Furthermore, all raises must be done in increments of the betting amounts.
For example, in a $1/2 limit game, the raises will be as follows, limited to four times the first bet that was made:
- Pre-flop: $1, $2, $3 up to $4
- On the flop: $1, $2, $3 up to $4
- On the turn: $2, $4, $6 up to $8
- On the river: $2, $4, $6 up to $8
No-Limit Poker
In this type of game, there is no limit to the maximum bet that you can make in any betting round. However, there is a minimum bet that is equivalent to the big blind.
The minimum raise amount must be at least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same round. For example, if the first player to act bets $10 then the second player must raise a minimum of $10 (total bet of $20). There is no maximum raise - you can raise as much as you want. However, if you wish to call a bet but don't have the chips to cover it, you'll be 'all-in'. At this point, you can only win the portion of the pot covered by your chips.
Pot-Limit Poker
Pot-limit is the most popular variety of poker game in Europe. It is quite similar to no-limit poker but there are certain key differences.
In pot-limit poker, players may bet any amount from the size of the blind to the size of the pot. The pot includes the sum of all bets and raises made during the current round.
Here's an example: The pot in the center of the table contains $100. On a subsequent round, one player bets $20, and two following players each call this $20 bet. The fourth player could call the $20 bet and then raise by a maximum of $180. This raise matches the $100 in the pot, the first $20 bet, the two additional $20 calls and the player's own $20 call, which together add up to a $180 raise. Play a few practice games and you'll soon get the hang of the math!
Buy-ins & Table Stakes
Definition of a buy-in
The buy-in is the minimum amount of money required by a player to sit down in a particular poker game. All real money games at PartyPoker.com have a minimum buy-in required before a player may join a table.
Minimum & maximum buy-ins
a) Limit poker
In limit games, the minimum buy-in is equal 10 times the small blind. There is no maximum buy-in.
Example: In a $5/10 limit game, the small blind value is $5, so the minimum buy-in is equivalent to 10x5, or $50.
b) Pot & No-Limit poker
Pot-limit (PL) and No-limit (NL) games as played at PartyPoker.com both have a minimum and a maximum buy-in.
The maximum amount a player may bring to the table in an NL/PL game corresponds to the name of the game. For example, in a $100 NL game, the maximum buy-in would be $100.
The minimum amount a player can bring to the table is 20% of the maximum. For example, in a $100 NL game, the minimum buy-in would be $20.
Table Stakes
At PartyPoker.com, all games and tournaments comply with the following table stakes protocols:
1) No chips may be added to a player's stack during a hand .
In a real money game, players can only add to their stack between hands. While some tournaments offer re-buys and add-ons, these may only be executed after a hand is over and before the next hand starts. Players may, however, add chips or re-buy and add-on during the play of a hand if they are not involved in that hand.
2) Players may not remove chips from the table.
In a real money game, a player cannot remove any chips from the table during play until he or she leaves the game. This rule applies regardless of how many chips a player has brought to the table.
Note: The table stakes protocols are designed to protect the game. Otherwise, if a player is allowed to put a few chips into his pocket every time he or she is ahead, then the number of chips available for play will be reduced and the action at the table will suffer.
