Limit Holdem Variant

g2

Hey guys,

I have a bit of a brainchild that I would like to get some feedback on.  I don't play very much limit holdem because I find it to be boring (please don't hijack this into a Limit vs NL thread).  So here's my idea for a variant of limit holdem.  This would be run at cash games I host (mixed in with other games).  I have no interest trying to make this a mainstream poker format.

Limit Holdem $0.50/$1:
- blinds $0.25/$0.50... preflop betting capped at $2
- flop $0.50 bet... flop betting capped at $2
- turn $1 bet... betting capped at $4
- river $1 bet... betting capped at $4

Limit Holdem Variant:
- blinds $0.25/$0.50... preflop betting capped at $2
- flop $1 bet... flop betting capped at $4
- turn $2 bet... betting capped at $8
- river $4 bet... betting capped at $16
- any round... no cap immediately once headsup (round does NOT have to start headsup for there to be no cap)

Make sense?  In my opinion this makes betting on the latter rounds more meaningful... and makes it cost more to chase draw.

/g2

GTA Poker

They play this game in certain areas in the US, with betting doubled on the river. Good players will adjust to playing hands with fewer outs on the flop and the turn due to implied river odds and will call down less with mediocre hands.

CrazyJoe113

g2 wrote:

Make sense? In my opinion this makes betting on the latter rounds more meaningful... and makes it cost more to chase draw.

/g2

cost more to draw? it's the exact opposite, the payoff on hitting draws is bigger, therefore making it MORE profitable to draw, especially on the flop, but even on the turn.

beanie42

CrazyJoe113 wrote:

cost more to draw? it's the exact opposite, the payoff on hitting draws is bigger, therefore making it MORE profitable to draw, especially on the flop, but even on the turn.

Exactly - the increase in bet size adds better implied odds than limit normally does.

While an interesting concept, I'm not sure I see the need for a variant. If you want cheaper early rounds and more expensive later rounds, why not just play pot-limit?

moose

or spread limit.

GTA Poker

how does spread limit alter the betting on latter rounds? it is a fixed spread for each and every round, the opposite of what he is trying to do

moose

Because you can change the spreads like 2-4-8-8 for example.

GTA Poker

u right

g2

CrazyJoe113 wrote:

g2 wrote:

Make sense?  In my opinion this makes betting on the latter rounds more meaningful... and makes it cost more to chase draw.

/g2

cost more to draw? it's the exact opposite, the payoff on hitting draws is bigger, therefore making it MORE profitable to draw, especially on the flop, but even on the turn.

I didn't say anything about the payoff when your draw hits.  I just want it to cost more to draw (i.e. the amount you have to call in comparison with the pot)... so calling with drawing hands is not so automatic, which I have found it to be in my limited experience.  This applies mainly to situations when a pot is contested by 3 or more players... i.e. the drawing players may only get odds to call 1 bet on a given street, but is not getting odds if it is 3 bet or capped behind them.  <-- OK, I already know what the rebuttal is going to be against that crappy argument I just put forth, so let's see who posts it first.

moose wrote:

or spread limit.

Thanks moose, now I know what to call it.

/g2

GTA Poker

What you are proposing is not spread limit. Spread would allow betting would be as such -- 1-5 spread limit, you can bet $1-5 on every round.

What you are proposing makes it more profitable to play draws, not less profitable.

compuease

What about a modified spread limit like say.... 2 $1. blinds, betting of 1-3 pre or post flop, then 2-6 on turn and river? perhap even 5-10 on river. Would something like that accomplish the purpose. Keep in mind that you can bet any whole dollar amount between the two limits on that given street, hence it's called spread limit. ah to h*** with it. Maybe something like NL would do it... lol