Betting Variations in Poker: Fixed-Limit vs Pot-Limit vs No-Limit

In addition to the many forms of poker played across the USA and around the world, several betting variations are also popular.

In our rules of poker lesson, we explained how to play Texas hold’em, but we didn’t mention the betting limits in our example hand, as it may have been a case of too much, too soon.

In this poker lesson, we’re going to use hold ’em as the game format – but this time using the different betting variations: fixed-limit, pot-limit, and no-limit.

For simplicity, we’ll assume a hold ’em poker game with a small blind of $1 and a big blind of $2. While the three different betting structures will all be posting the same amount, you’ll see a big difference in how the games will play due to the different betting variations.

Fixed Limit

In fixed-limit poker, bet sizes are predetermined and cannot vary. Each betting round allows only a fixed increment for bets and raises, and the number of raises per street is usually capped (commonly three). This structure rewards discipline and value betting, since bluffing opportunities are limited and pots grow predictably.

If anyone wishes to raise, then they can only do so in increments of $2, as shown here:

For example, in a $2/$4 fixed-limit game, all bets and raises are $2 during the first two rounds, then increase to $4 on the turn and river (“big bets”). You can’t choose between $2 or $4 — only the set amount is allowed.

Since the number of raises is capped, action is often limited to bet–raise–re-raise before all players must call or fold. Be sure to check house rules, as some games allow more raises per round.

Fixed-limit is now rare in online cash games but still appears in mixed formats like HORSE and 8-Game, and as a great learning format for beginners due to its focus on pot control and value betting.

A related variant, spread-limit, allows bets within a small range rather than one fixed size (e.g., $1–$3). It’s most common in low-stakes or home games.

Pot Limit

In pot-limit poker, the maximum bet or raise equals the size of the pot plus your call. As the pot grows, so do the possible bet sizes — making this structure far more volatile than fixed-limit.

Pot-limit rules are now most common in Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO), which has largely replaced Pot-Limit Hold’em in popularity.

Example: $1/$2 Blinds, $200 Stacks

Before the flop, there’s $3 in the pot — the $1 small blind and the $2 big blind. The first player can call the $2, fold, or raise to $7 total. That number comes from adding the $1 small blind, the $2 big blind, and the $2 call, for a total of $5, which means the player calls $2 and raises $5, making a $7 bet.

After the flop, suppose the pot has grown to $31. The first player can now bet between $2 and $31. If the next player wants to raise, they must first call the $31, making the pot $62, and can then raise that full amount again for a maximum total bet of $124.

To demonstrate the dramatic difference between our first variation of betting in fixed, let’s see what can happen after the flop in pot limit.

After the flop, suppose the pot has grown to $31. The first player can now bet between $2 and $31. If the next player wants to raise, they must first call the $31, making the pot $62, and can then raise that full amount again for a maximum total bet of $124.

In short, the key rule in pot-limit poker is simple: your maximum raise equals the current pot plus your call. Since early pots are small but grow quickly, the emphasis in pot-limit play is on strong post-flop decisions, as later betting rounds can become expensive very fast.

No Limit

No-Limit Hold’em has been called by many — including poker legend Doyle Brunson — the “Cadillac of Poker.” Its name says it all: there’s virtually no limit to how much a player can bet, other than the amount of chips they have in front of them.

In a typical $1/$2 No-Limit Hold’em (NLH) game with $200 effective stacks, the first player to act can fold, call the $2 big blind, or raise. The minimum raise must be at least the size of the previous bet or raise (in this case, $2 more), but the maximum is their entire remaining stack — they can move all-in for $200 if they choose.

To use an extreme example to demonstrate the dynamic this format of betting offers, let’s imagine a player in the same $1 small blind and $2 big blind game that happens to have $10,000 in front of him. The action is on him, and if he wishes to play, he must at least call the $2; however, he can elect to raise his entire $10,000!

Or more realistically, say a player bets $20, the next player must raise to at least $40, but they can wager any amount up to their full $200 stack. This flexibility makes No-Limit Hold’em both thrilling and high-risk; one bold move can double your chips or end your session.

It’s important to note that poker is always played under table-stakes rules, meaning players can only bet the chips they had when the hand began. You can’t reach into your wallet mid-hand, buy more chips, or add to your stack to call a big bet. Once the hand starts, what’s on the table is all that’s in play.

So while pot-limit games can escalate quickly, no-limit poker takes the intensity to another level, where every chip and every decision can be the difference between busting out or stacking your opponents.

Conclusion

The betting variations described in this lesson are listed in order of excitement, danger, risk, and reward. The first variation, fixed limit, is safer than either of the other two because of the bet limit.

As you can see, both pot limit and no limit can become daunting as the amounts bet and raised can escalate very quickly. Which you may favor becomes a matter of taste. Some prefer the smooth, relaxing ride of a carousel, while others crave the adrenaline rush offered by a roller coaster.