Trying to gear down/"learn" limit

I've primarily been a no limit hold 'em player. I've dabbled in limit, but have never been able to properly "gear down" and play successfully. Recently, I picked up SSHE in an attempt to finally learn to play limit games more successfully. This has led me to playing .10/.20 and .25/.50 games. My bankroll is about $360. Are these OK stakes to learn at or should I play .50/1? I feel pretty comfortable with the game, but I'm not too sure what the BR requirements are for limit.

Any information is helpful, thanks.

The standard bankroll for limit is typically about 300 BB. So you have enough for $.5/1 and should probably play that. Limits any lower than that turn into showdown fests pretty quickly.

That's what I thought and what I've seen at those limits. I was hesitant to mention it in fear of "you're a bad player" flames.

Thanks.

[Xhad]

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I was hesitant to mention it in fear of "you're a bad player" flames.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, the thing is, the "showdown fest" poker makes it kind of difficult for learning purposes because you can beat those games by basically nut peddling since your opponents are so bad.

On the other hand, in terms of BB/hr or BB/100 they are the most profitable. So if you were to say "I don't think I can win at these limits because of all the bad players." THEN the flaming starts.

[MrBrightside]

ok.. I'll chime in and promote the flames [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I am, like you, a no-limit tourney player. Period. I'm a decently sucessful one (This year will close out two winning year. Although this one not by a lot, mainly because I've been playing more multis instead of single and two tables and the variance is higher/I'm still learning in MTT).

Anyway, I have read about the better bankroll building/lower variance of limit and have tried to learn the game several times. Read some limit books, and tried .25/50 and .50/1.

I just lose. What's the trick? Is it strictly just multi-tabling and only playing really good hands. Something on the order of you fold 44 UTG type of tight? I just don't get it. I try. and Maybe I haven't tried hard enough. It just seems about as exciting as watching paint dry, as once I get into a hand, there are almost always pot odds to call any bet prior to the river and you've totally missed the draw. Can someone enlighten me?

Limit poker is more about limiting your losses, No-Limit is about maximizing your profits. Can't tell you how many people I hear talk about pot odds in Limit Hold'em, and how much they lost with pot odds in their favor. Well no duh it's limit hold'em you will almost always have pot odds, but is your hand worth calling to the river. Try raising from late position with a draw hand, and watch everyone check the turn card to you...

Limit is much more of a passive game. In No-Limit agression wins hands, where as low-Limit cards win more often.

IMO, for internet play, the style of play advocated in SSHE works best at .50/$1.00 or higher at full-table, and $1/$2 or more short-handed. To tell you the truth, I have never came close to making money at the micro-micro's. When I started, I played too tight and had too many "bad beats." I made the "classic" mistake of moving up the limits to escape the bad beats, but as I appeared to get just as many in higher limits while starting to make a profit, I never went back. It's hard enough to put a player on a hand at $0.50/$1.00, it's near impossible in the lower limits.

I also think fuller tables are better for beginning limit because you can play tighter as you are paying less blinds. $360 seems fine for $1/$2 full-table Lim Hold'em, with the proviso of being careful. At $1/$2, you are beginning to play opponents who take the game seriously, which is both good and bad.

[I am fish]

300 Big Bets is the generally recommended bankroll for full 10 max limit games. With a $360 bankroll, I would start at .5/1$ as a beginner.

Books ... Small Stakes Hold'em is the Bible for low limit games. I would also recommend King Yao's "Weighing the Odds in Hold'em Poker"

.5/1 games present hardly any risk, as most of them are so loose and easy to beat. My guess is you'll be itching to move up to 1/2 not long after. But I think .50/1 would be a good place for you, assuming you have a solid grasp on the basics.