Pot Limit Poker

Concerning how quickly the stakes go up, pot limit is placed somewhere between fixed limit and no limit. It is closer to no limit than fixed limit. The only significant difference between pot limit and no limit, is that in pot limit it is not allowed to "buy the pot" by dumping an astronomical amount into the pot before any other substantial bets has been made.

In pot limit the maximum bet or raise is the size of the pot. Simple, but one thing complicates matters a little bit. When a player wishes to raise, the size of the pot is determined after that players call. So first the raisor matches the bet/raise of the player that has put in the most money so far in the betting round. Then that raisor may raise the size of the pot, the size that the pot has now.

The effect is while a bet "merely" doubles the pot, a raise may triple rather than double the pot. The stakes can thus rise quickly and makes pot limit and no limit poker close relative. Since it is not possible to "outbet" your opponents at any given time though, and as a bet really opens up for more complex plays: pot limit is by many regarded as the betting structure that requires the most skill. In short the betting rules for pot limit poker can be summarized as:

• Minimum bet: All bets must at least match the minimum bring-in, eg big blind.
• Minimum raise: A raise must be at least as big as the previous bet or raise in the same round.
• Maximum raise: The size of the pot. The size of the pot is defined as: the chips at the center of the table (from the betting in earlier betting rounds), all prior bets made on the active betting round, plus the amount that the player must first call before raising.

For a more detailed discussion on the more intricate rules of no limit and pot limit, please visit the rules section 14 - No-Limit and Pot-Limit.

Pot Limit Example

The blinds from player A and B are $0.5 and $1. This makes the pot size $1.5 before the cards are dealt. Player C and D both fold. Player E then calls $1. Player F then wishes to raise the maximum. Player F therefore ventures $4.5 (F's call of $1 makes the pot $3.5, $1 + $3.5 = $4.5). This makes the pot size $8. Player E is the only one who calls (putting up $3.5). The pot after the first betting round is then $11.5.

Let us assume that player E is really strong on the second betting round, but is still afraid of player F's chances. Player E can then plan a really strong checkraise. So player E checks. Player F acts according to E's wishes and bets. The maximum bet is the size of the pot, $11.5. Player F chooses to bet a round figure instead. A bet of $10 makes the pot size $21.5. When it is back to player E again, a raise truly raises the stakes. First it is $10 to call and then there is $31.5 in the pot and that is the raise. So player E pushes $41.5 forward, increasing the pot size to $63. Facing this raise, player F opts to fold instead of calling the $31.5 or reraising.