Managing the Pot in No Limit

One of the most essential aspects of controlling a No Limit game rests in a player's capability to handle the money going into the pot. Only with a firm grasp of the nuances involved in managing the pot will you become a competitive Poker player.

Your No Limit strategy for the pot of course, will be based entirely on what kind of hands that you are holding at the moment. If you have the nuts, it is vital that you extract the maximum amount that you can. If you are holding a marginal hand, then you will want to keep the pot small until you can augment your hand.

If you have the best hand and are on the button, then your No Limit strategy should be to raise if no one else does. If you get a raise, then check the board for any kind of possible clues as to what hand that player holds. Of course if you are confident that you have the nuts, then you should still raise.

If you are out of position with a good hand, you can make a small bet. The actions of the other No Limit players will determine your next course of action. The best scenario would be if there are maniacs and they raise. The odds are they do not hold anything and will just put money in the pot.

If you are holding a weak hand in position, you need to make sure the No Limit pot does not grow too big so that you will be committed to it. If you are out of position you should check and call as often as you can, and give yourself a chance to see the other card as inexpensively as possible.

However, if you are in early position and a tight player makes a raise, then your No Limit strategy should be to fold. If the table is quite loose, and there are no big cards on the table that suggests anyone has a strong hand either, then you can make a bet for the turn. However, make sure that it is not too much, and that your objective is still to keep the pot size down.

Controlling the pot in No Limit is not easy, but it is something that you must learn how to handle, for in the high stakes game, it will play a crucial role in how long you last. With the information that you gain about handling the pot in No Limit, you will add a valuable tool to your arsenal.