Understanding the bet limits in poker is key to ensuring that you act and play like an expert and this article will help you to understand what bets to place and when.

Tournament Limits

The only difference between Fixed Limit, No Limit and Pot Limit is the amount you can bet or raise when it is a players turn to act. In Fixed Limit, the amount you can bet is determined by the limits and the current betting round.

The rules for the amount a player can bet in No Limit is determined by the size of the blinds, the amount of chips bet by previous players in the current betting round, and the amount of chips the players has left.

In Pot Limit, the rules for determining the amount a player can bet are determined similarly to No Limit, except that there is a limit on the maximum bet determined by the size of the pot and the action in the current betting round.

FIXED LIMIT BET RULES

Maximum bet/raise

In limit games, the maximum bet or raise a player can make in the first and second betting rounds is equal to the amount of the low limit of the table (eg, in a $1/$2 limit game, the bet players can make in rounds 1 and 3 is $1). In the third and fourth betting rounds, players can bet the value of the high limit (eg. In a $1/$2 limit game, players can bet $2 in the third and fourth rounds.

Minimum bet/raise

The minimum bet or raise a player can make is equal to the largest previous raise in the current betting round. If no bets have been made, then the minimum bet or raise is equal to the size of the big blind.

NO LIMIT BETTING RULES

Maximum bet / raise

The maximum bet or raise a player can make is an 'all-in' bet. At any point when it is the player's turn to act, he can bet all the chips he has at the table.

Minimum bet / raise

At the beginning of each betting round, the minimum bet allowed is reset and starts at the size of the big blind.

The Minimum bet or raise a player can make is equal to the largest previous raise in the current betting round. If no bets have been made, then the minimum bet or raise is equal to the size of the big blind.

Under raises (all-in bets)

If a player does not have enough chips to make the minimum raise, but has more than it would cost to call, the player still has the option to make a raise by going 'all-in'.

POT LIMIT BETTING RULES

Maximum bet / raise

The maximum bet or raise allowed in Pot Limit is equal to the amount of chips in the pot so far in the current hand. The calculation of the maximum raise allowed by a player includes the amount that the player must call before he raises.

Minimum bet / raise

The minimum bet or raise a player can make in Pot Limit is equal to the largest previous bet in the current betting round. If no bets have been made, then the minimum bet or raise is equal to the size of the big blind.

If you are new to the game of online poker I hope this helps you to determine what to bet!