Texas holdem can be played with different types of betting structures.  Even if the basic game rules are the same the strategy you need to adopt differs depending on the structure.  Talking about fixed limit and no limit you could easily argue that it is two totally different types of games.

We want to show you a few things that make us believe that it actually is two different games and not just different variations. The difference in the rules is simply how much you can bet on each betting round.  In NL you put can put your entire chip stack at stake at any time in each hand. You can move all-in whenever and there are no limitations. Instead most online pokerrooms have a maximum amount you can bring to a table. In fixed limit have set standards for how much you can bet each betting round.  The first rounds you have a lower bet and the last betting rounds the amount goes up. No limit is that way more intense. A mistake could cost you a lot of money.  Making mistakes in fixed limit does not cost you that much in the short run, but in the long run it will be devastating for your results.

The differences between no limit and fixed limit strategy are many In no limit you need to understand poker psychology better, be able to read the opponents and the tables better and also make sure to use your different poker tools, such as bluffs, more accurately. In fixed limit you need to understand the game of poker well.

From the above we would like to point out two things that are important to adjust in your poker strategy when moving from no limit to fixed limit or the other way around. The first thing to understand is how the odds can and should affect your play. The second part is your selection of starting hands.

The odds 

The odds given at any specific situation are very important in poker. There are some major differences between No Limit and Fixed Limit regarding the odds. In No limit you can control the pot odds you give your opponent by choose the amount to bet. You can decide if you want him to have the right pot odds to draw to a specific hand or not. This also makes it harder to get the proper pot odds to chase a flush or a straight draw in NL. The knowledge about odds could also be used to bluff more easily in NL than in FL.

Implied odds are also more important when playing no limit. You can get paid a lot more on later rounds if you make your hand. In fixed limit the bets are set and thereby also the odds. You should adapt to a more mathematical approach to fixed limit. In NL there could be reason to sometimes ignore the pot odds because you know your opponent will pay you of big time if you hit. You have large implied odds.  An example could be when you have a flush draw in NL and you decide to chase at the river with the knowledge that you might get paid a decent amount at the end, while in fixed limit you will probably only will get one more bet at the last round. So in fixed limit you can, and should, more precisely calculate your pot odds and play accordingly. Also remember it is a lot harder to try to bluff someone in fixed limit. In fixed limit it is just one or a few more bets to call, while in NL it can be your whole stack.

Starting hands

With the knowledge about the odds above you should be able to understand that in No limit it is a good strategy to play more hands than in fixed, if you are know your post flop strategy.  In FL you should stick with good starting hands that you know have a positive expected value.  If you go in with a hand it should have a big chance of winning the pot. Playing NL you could, because of the great implied odds, you could play more speculative hands. You could afford to let more hands go after the flop in NL because the few times you hit and want to play give you the chance to win a really big pot.

We suggest that you go deeper into the starting hand knowledge. A lot of how well you do in poker is due to the decision you make whether to play a hand or not.

Advices

When deciding to play No limit or fixed limit you should see to your own weaknesses and strengths. If you are a good analytical, mathematical player with patience you could do great with fixed limit. Of course those key factors are also important in No limit. But in no limit you could compensate with other skills and get even better results. If you are good in reading people, understand the human brain and also got guts you might want to go ahead with no limit. No matter what game you choose to play make sure you know your poker odds.