Hold'em Tips: Identifying No-Limit Hand Types

In limit poker, if we finish second, we lose some. In no-limit, we lose all. So why even play no-limit at all? Because the play is faster, livelier, and more lucrative. It's either we in big or lose big.

In no-limit we have to understand Hold'em tips on various poker hand types. This is crucial because lots of limit players get all mixed up when trying no-limit. For instance, having an ace and a king and a top pair on the flop in limit poker doesn't necessarily mean a fold. This hand is winnable in certain conditions, and in case it falls second placer, we lose a little. But in no-limit, this hand may cost us our stack if we're not too careful.

A hand that is so weak it's not even in the position to call a poor bluff is one type. An example is suited connectors 2 and 3, while the board has hearts of king, 10 and 6 plus spades of 8 and 9. Another type is a hand that can defeat a bluff—like a middle pair. For example: our hand is diamonds of ace and 10, while the board has hearts of king, 10, and 3 plus spades of 9 and 8. Another type is a top pair. For instance, we have clovers of A-K, and the board has hearts of king and 10, spades of 9 and 8, and another heart of 6.

An over-pair is another type. An example is a hand of AA and the board has hearts of K and 10, spades of 9 and 8, plus a heart of 6. A strong poker no-limit hand type (sometimes termed non-nuts) is one that has, for instance, QJ and the board has hearts of K and 10, spades of 9 and 8, and a hear of 6. Another type is the nuts (sometimes also "near-nuts") which has this example: a hand of A4 all hearts, while the board has K and 10 hearts, 9 and 8 spades, and a 6 heart.

These hand types win different pot capacities. Lesser hand types win meager pots due to their lesser capacity to win against other hands. Lesser hands will not dare call or challenge large bets. Or, a player trying to gauge us may think that we have a weak hand as we feign a weak hand, and that would put him out of commission.

No-limit hand types determine what play we should be in and how much we're going to win.