Fixed Limit
word type: adjective
- A game of poker in which the amount a player can bet and raise is pre-determined.
The Basics
In a fixed limit poker game, the first few betting rounds have one required bet amount and the last few require a bet that is double in size. For example, in a hold'em game, which has four betting rounds, the first two (pre-flop and flop) would have the smaller fixed bet while the last two (turn and river) would have the larger fixed bet. The stakes for fixed limit games are denoted as $x/$y ("x and y limit"), meaning that the bet size in the cheaper rounds is $x and the bet size in the later rounds is $y.
There is typically a limit on the number of raises in a betting round, usually three or four. At some casinos, if there are only two players remaining in the hand, the betting cap is removed and the two players can re-raise to their hearts delight.
Example
Full Tilt Poker Game #XXXXXXX: Table Pioche (6 max) - $30/$60 - Limit Hold'em - 11:19:13 ET - 2008/12/29 <---- [Here you see how the stakes are listed - $30 betting limit for the first two rounds, $60 for the final two rounds]
Seat 2: Slevin Kelevra ($1,153)
Seat 3: DORON26 ($1,887)
Seat 4: hardtofathom ($195)
Seat 5: Dg016 ($1,181)
Seat 6: ODYSSES ($511.50), is sitting out
Dg016 posts the small blind of $15
Slevin Kelevra posts the big blind of $30 <---- [This is the betting limit for the pre-flop round]
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
DORON26 raises to $60 <---- [This raise had to be $30, no more, no less]
POKRPLYR7 sits down
hardtofathom calls $60
Dg016 folds
Slevin Kelevra folds
*** FLOP *** [7h 6c 6s]
DORON26 bets $30 <---- [Still in the smaller betting round]
hardtofathom calls $30
*** TURN *** [7h 6c 6s] [9h]
POKRPLYR7 stands up
DORON26 bets $60 <---- [Betting limits have increased]
hardtofathom calls $60
*** RIVER *** [7h 6c 6s 9h] [Ks]
DORON26 bets $60
hardtofathom folds
Uncalled bet of $60 returned to DORON26
DORON26 mucks
DORON26 wins the pot ($343)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $345 | Rake $2
Board: [7h 6c 6s 9h Ks]
Seat 2: Slevin Kelevra (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: DORON26 collected ($343), mucked
Seat 4: hardtofathom (button) folded on the River
Seat 5: Dg016 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: ODYSSES is sitting out
Scat-a-da-bee-bop!
Some no-limit hold'em players look down on fixed limit hold'em, referring to it as "poo flinging." This derisive term stems from the idea by some that fixed limit games require no strategy and could, basically, be played by monkeys. Additionally, some compare raising and re-raising in fixed limit hold'em is to primates hurling their feces at each other.
