Poker Betting Structures

I am sure most players are familiar with a lot of the structures out there. Well here’s how structure can affect your game.

I had been playing Limit poker for many years and decided to take my first trip to Las Vegas in 1994. I was a quite confident player who had been crushing the local game. I sat down at a Spread Limit table. I asked what the limits were and the dealer said “One Four Double Eight”. I was lost. I thought, I will just muck my first few hands and see what limit this was. The first hand I got dealt was AK. No way was I going to muck this. When it came to me, I said “Raise”. My heart started to race, what do I do? I had no idea on what I was betting. I thought about this 1 4 double 8 thing and decided, I must be at a 1 -2 Limit table and bet $2. The dealer carried on and I was happy to know that I was correct. Several players called and the flop came 6 8 9. I didn’t want to give any free cards and bet $1 into a pot of about $12. Everyone called. The turn came a Jack. I thought, I would bet the $2 and see what happens. I bet and the dealer said “Its eight dollars sir.” Once again, I was lost. Now I had to bet $8.00. Everyone folded to the last player who raised it to $16.00. I couldn’t call; I had no idea on what this betting was or really where I was in this hand, so I folded. He showed his hand and had KQ and said he thought I had nothing on the way I bet. So what is 1 4 Double 8. Its Spread limit which means you can bet $1 - $4 preflop and on the flop and then you must bet $8 on the turn and river. Ah makes sense. I was so used to Limit that this structure cost me.

Sure I only lost $11.00 but had I raised it a larger amount, I would have been in the positive. There are many variants to this beast we call Hold’em, know what your playing before you sit down. As everyone says “There are no free lessons in poker.”