No‑Limit
No-limit is a betting structure in which a player may bet any amount of chips he has at any time, up to his whole stack. It is the most popular form of Texas Hold'em.
The simple explanation
In no-limit hold'em, you can bet as much as you want, as long as it is at least the minimum bet. You can also go all in at any moment. This makes the game exciting and gives big decisions.
A closer look
Because bets are not restricted, bet sizing is an important skill, and stack sizes matter. The threat of an all-in gives the game its drama: a player can lose his whole stack in one hand. The minimum raise is generally at least the size of the previous bet or raise. No-limit is the format of most major tournaments, including the World Series of Poker Main Event.
A practical example
A player has $500 in front of him and bets all of it. In no-limit, this is allowed at any time.
Full explanation
No-limit is a betting structure in which a player may bet any amount of chips he has at any time, up to his whole stack. It is the most popular form of Texas Hold’em.
No-limit means you can bet any amount, up to your whole stack.
It is the most popular type of hold’em.
Bet sizing is a key skill.
The opposites are limit and pot-limit games.
Alternative spelling: no limit, nolimit, NL
A no-limit raise can be larger than the pot
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
Read the example transcript
Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 32 chips
Player A raises to 30 with 200 chips at the start. This no-limit raise is larger than a pot-limit maximum in the same starting situation. The minimum full opening raise would be to 4; this example chooses 30.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 170 · In this round 30
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.