limit vs no limit?

[jsull 0]

Hi, hoping maybe some of you could give me some words of wisdom.I'm a very new player to playing for real money. I'm extremely frugal, and I can't really justify to my wife why I should be able to plunk $100 or so down on a poker site or for poker analysis software. Anyway, I signed up for the instantbankroll offer to play at PP, and that's how I got started. I played the 500 hands to clear the bonus, and was at $95 after that. I reloaded to get 30% and by the time I cleared that I was at $110. I signed up for one SNG and the rest I played .50/1.00 and my bankoll has been shrinking. When it got to $45 I said, "OK, lets try $25 NL", since on other sites I did well in NL freerolls.Since that point, I'm back up to $105, earning a small steady amount daily.I know since there's no limit to what I can bet, when I have a strong hand, I bet fairly aggressively. With limit, obviously, there's only so much you can do. Maybe I truly don't understand the nuances of limit holdem, and it's what's making me lose every time. I tried to never go in with junk hands, and wouldn't even go in with suited connectors unless they were 9 or above, but I was losing so many showdowns it wasn't funny.I seem to do better with NL, and I'm not sure if it's just because of my more aggressive play, the fishier players (I saw a guy the other night go all in with any Ace), or if it's something else. Or maybe the .15/.25 blind means I can withstand more "orbits" of junk hands and wait for the good ones?I've ordered Ed Miller's Getting started in Holdem, and it should be here in a week or so, and I'm sure that will help me immensely, but something just seems odd about me having a much easier time playing NL rather than limit.Why do I feel I'm better at NL? Anything you can advise me? I feel really confused at this point.

[BeanGW 0]

JSull:Welcome to the forum. First off... NL and Limit are two VERY different styles of play, which you seem to already have realized. Regarding your bankroll, it's also important to know that there is a much greater degree of variance in No Limit games. Meaning you jumped up quite nicely, but you could also have a bad run and be broke.Bankroll management is key to playing cash hold 'em. And I think that could be a problem for you at the .50/$1 limit rooms as well as the $25 NL rooms.I think... I could be wrong... that it's suggested to start with a bankroll of about 300BB (Big Bets) in limit. That would mean having about a $600 bankroll before playing .50/$1. For No Limit games you should have a minimum of 20 buyins (so, about $500 for $25NL games).You might want to start out by playing the micro-limits (0.05/0.10). I think they are on PokerStars and I'm pretty sure I've seen them on Bodog as well... but someone else might be able to provide you with more information on the various sites that have the smaller limits. With a $100 bankroll, you should probably stay clear of the $25 NL rooms. Even though you may be running hot... your cold run will wipe you out.I'd also recommend the poker software. You can download a free trial of PokerTracker (which is gods gift to online poker players). It'll handle 1000 hands. www.pokersource.com may also give you a free version of it if you sign up for an online pokersite through them.Finally, and just a suggestion, I must say you will do wonders for your game by waiting until ya read a couple of books before jumping in. I didn't, and it took me quite some time to bounce back.

[bascomeb 0]

Limit and no limit are very different. I suggest however for NL you have at least $250 and 10 times the buy in. This will allow you to go on a cold streak but since you only have about 110 and 25 is the lowest NL game in PP I guess you don't have much of a choice.NL takes much more heart then limit. If you are a grind it out type that plays more ABC Poker then actually reading the players then limit is a better game for you. If you profit more from having one big hand where you trap your opponent then NL is for you. You just have to make sure you're not the one being trapped!Def read some books though. I suggest SS or SS2. I bought SS2 and it has dramtically changed my limit game.

[powerpoker 0]

yea def by SS2...after that my NL game hit the roof...espically in home games..but they are rigth that the swings are much bigger...so if you can handle that it is a good thing...i personally cant stand limit becasue to me it is more of a card catching game and in NL you can just apply so much pressure...good luck in either you choose but if your currently having more success in NL then stick to it just dont be surprised if you do go back down in money quite rapidly just the swings of poker :wink:

[akishore 0]

guys, not to sound like a jerk, but it gets tiring reading wrong information or bad advice on these threads. :? bankroll recommendations:limit - 300 BB, so at 50c/$1, it's $300 (not $600)no limit- 15-20 buy-ins (not 10), so at $25NL, $400-$500to the OP, i was immensely happy when i read that you ordered "getting started in hold 'em". it is THE ONE book i have been recommending to EVERY beginner i have come in contact with. i used to recommend "poker for dummies" as a starting book, but now, it's definitely this new eddie miller book.you will play a much better game after reading it.i would NOT recommend the following to start:1. super/system - meant for more advanced play against better opponents.2. super/system 2 - the NLHE section is the same as super/system, the limit HE section is meant for middle/high limit advanced games (not low limit), and i strongly believe that it's better for beginners to learn well game at least decently well before trying to learn every game out there.3. small stakes hold 'em - the bible of low limit hold' em, but it's a little advanced to start. after you've read "getting started in hold 'em" and have several hours logged under your belt, this is the second book you should buy.as for limit vs. NL, i would recommend getting the hang of limit cash games first. although this is my opinion, many of the world's best players say that the best foundations of poker in general come from limit games rather than NL games. once you get the hang of limit, you become better at NL since you understand pot odds, pot equity, and value betting a lot more. just trust me on that one.and yes, you probably don't understand the nuances of limit since you feel NL is more natural. but, keep working at it, and after reading "getting started in hold 'em" and THEN "small stakes hold 'em", your limit game will probably/hopefully be gold.by the way, when you start to sign up for some other poker sites, feel free to PM me. i can help you out with a lot of the bonuses out there. also, most of the books you buy are available free through affiliates that have good deals for new customers. affiliates are companies that try to get more new customers for poker sites, and poker source online (see my signature below) is one example. they get money from the poker sites for each new customer they refer, and in return to the customer, the affiliate will usually give some form of compensation as thanks for signing up through them. poker source online, for example, gives a free gift for each site you sign up for, and this can be anything from books to poker chips to poker tabletops to poker software to gift cards, etc.feel free to PM me for anything.good luck,aseem