Two tables dealing the same variant can play nothing alike, because the betting structure decides how much pressure a player may apply. It is the single most important line on a table sign, ahead of the game itself.
This page sets out the five structures in use, the arithmetic behind each, and the conventions that apply to all of them.
The Five Structures
| Structure | Maximum bet | Usually dealt with |
|---|---|---|
| No-limit | Any bet from the minimum up to a player's entire stack is legal. | Texas hold'em, short-deck hold'em |
| Pot-limit | The largest legal bet is the current pot plus the amount needed to call. | Omaha, Omaha hi-lo |
| Fixed-limit | Bets and raises come in set increments, usually with four raises per street. | Seven-card stud, razz, badugi |
| Spread-limit | Bets may fall anywhere inside a stated range, such as $2 to $10. | Small live cash games |
| Cap | No-limit betting until total wagering in the hand reaches a stated ceiling. | Some online cash formats |
No-Limit
Any amount from the minimum up to a player's entire stack may be wagered. The minimum opening bet is normally the big blind, and a raise must be at least the size of the previous bet or raise.
- A raise to 30 over a bet of 10 is a raise of 20; the next raise must be at least 20 more.
- An all-in that does not meet the minimum raise does not reopen the betting for players who have already acted.
- Stack depth becomes a strategic variable in its own right, which is why sizing is planned across streets — see bet sizing.
Pot-Limit
The maximum wager is the size of the pot after the player calls. Dealers calculate it on request, and online tables provide a pot button.
- Take the potSuppose it holds 100.
- Add all outstanding betsAn opponent has bet 50, so the figure is 150.
- Add the amount you would callCalling costs 50, giving 200.
- That is the maximum raiseTotal wager 250: a 50 call plus a 200 raise.
The structure keeps several streets of play alive in games where equities run close, which is why it is standard for Omaha.
Fixed-Limit
Bets come in fixed increments. A game described as 10/20 uses bets of 10 on the early streets and 20 on the later ones, with raises in the same increments.
| Game | Small bet used on | Big bet used on |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed-limit hold'em | Pre-flop and flop | Turn and river |
| Seven-card stud | Third and fourth street | Fifth street onwards |
| Razz | Third and fourth street | Fifth street onwards |
| 2-7 triple draw | Before the first two draws | After the second draw |
Conventions That Apply Everywhere
- A verbal declaration in turn is binding, and takes precedence over chips pushed afterwards.
- A single oversized chip put in without a declared raise counts as a call.
- A player may only wager chips on the table at the start of the hand; money cannot be added mid-hand.
- When a player cannot match a wager in full, a side pot is created for the remainder, and only those who matched it may win it.
- String betting — reaching back for more chips after an initial motion — is not permitted, which is why raises are declared before chips move.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum raise in no-limit?
At least the size of the previous bet or raise in that round. A bet of 20 raised to 60 is a raise of 40, so the next raise must be to at least 100.
Why is Omaha not played no-limit?
Because four-card hands run so close in equity that no-limit betting would compress most hands into a single pre-flop decision. Pot-limit preserves the later streets.
What is a cap game?
No-limit betting until the total wagered by each player in a hand reaches a stated ceiling, after which the remaining streets are played out without further betting.