[RydenStoompala]

Interesting series of responses so far. I, for one, have not been under a rock for two years. The trend that started two years ago is now exploding; that was my only point.

When I think of No Limit, I recall TJ Cloutier's assessment of the game. Like Doyle Brunson, he likes to "put someone on a hand, put them to the test." The "old school" players were not, and still aren't, as sensitive to blowing an entire bankroll in one night as are the more modern poker specialists, especially the limit experts. For TJ, the comparrison comes down to a simple analysis. If he's down in a limit game, it's too much work to get even or go up. He likes the swings and the ability to change the status of key players at the table with a single card.

It's not the same game. After playing limit for years, I am drawn to the NL table because of the added volatility and the influx of new players attracted by the TV glamour of the game. As several posters have noted, these games can be very profitable. All I thought, while watching the guy next door to me win thousands of dollars this week, was "that could be me...I see what he's doing!"

I think the cycle is in its early stages. I see NL as the explosive growth area for established and new cardrooms. The maximum buy-in does create a hybrid no limit game, but in general terms, it's NL... it's not a limit hold'em experience.