Betting structures: how much you can bet
Poker games use one of three betting structures. In limit, bets and raises are fixed sizes. In pot-limit, the most you can bet is the size of the pot. In no-limit, you can bet all your chips at any time.
Reviewed Oct 15, 2026
Answer first
90s- 01Limit games cap bet sizes, so swings are smaller.
- 02Pot-limit is common in Omaha and caps bets at the pot size.
- 03No-limit allows all-in bets at any time and is most common for hold’em.
Key numbers
Structures in four numbers
In short
Key takeaways
- The game name often includes the structure, such as no-limit hold’em.
- Limit games have fixed bet and raise sizes.
- Pot-limit maximum bet is the pot after you call.
- No-limit has the largest swings.
At the door
Max bet on the same pot
Gate pass
21+
Pot
Before your action
Limit $4/$8
Turn bet size
Pot-limit
Bet the pot
No-limit
Your whole stack
Same pot, three very different max bets.
Structures compared
| Feature | Limit | Pot-limit | No-limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bet size | Fixed | Up to the pot | Any size |
| Raises | Capped | Up to the pot | Any size |
| Common game | Limit hold’em | Omaha | Hold’em |
| Swings | Smaller | Medium | Larger |
Rooms post the structure on the game board.
Limit poker
In a $4/$8 limit game, bets and raises are $4 on the first two rounds and $8 on the last two. Most rooms cap raises at a bet and three raises per round.
Because bets are fixed, you are more often getting a good price to call, so many hands go to showdown.
Pot-limit raise example
| Pot | Bet to you | Max raise to |
|---|---|---|
| $20 | $10 | $50 |
| $50 | $20 | $110 |
| $100 | $50 | $250 |
Max raise = call, then add the new pot size.
Pot-limit poker
In pot-limit, the most you can raise is the pot after you call. With $20 in the pot and a $10 bet, you call $10 to make the pot $40, then raise $40, for a total bet of $50.
Dealers help calculate the pot if you say “pot”.
Sequence
Choosing a structure
Step 01
Check the game board
Structure is listed.
Step 02
Know your bankroll
No-limit needs more.
Step 03
Start smaller
Limit is gentler.
Step 04
Learn the max bet
Pot or all.
Step 05
Watch a few hands
See the pace.
No-limit poker
No-limit lets you bet any amount up to your stack. One mistake can cost all your chips, so bankrolls must cover larger swings.
No-limit hold’em is the most popular cash game and tournament format in the US.
Floor rules
Structure terms
Know before you sit
- Limit
- Fixed bet and raise sizes.
- Pot-limit
- Bets up to the pot size.
- No-limit
- Bets up to all your chips.
- Cap
- Max raises per round.
Bankroll by structure
Many players keep a larger bankroll for no-limit than for limit at a similar stake. A common guide is about 20 to 30 buy-ins for no-limit and around 300 big bets for limit.
These are rough guides; your comfort with swings matters most.
Where you see each
| Structure | Cash games | Tournaments |
|---|---|---|
| Limit | Some rooms | Mixed events |
| Pot-limit | Omaha games | Omaha events |
| No-limit | Most games | Most events |
Mixed games rotate structures.
Reading the game board
Game boards show the structure in short form. NLH means no-limit hold’em, PLO means pot-limit Omaha, and a listing such as 4/8 LHE means $4/$8 limit hold’em.
Mixed games like HORSE rotate between limit games every orbit or set number of hands.
If the board shows a game you do not know, ask the brush before you sit down.
Common mistakes
- Betting pot in no-limit by habit
- Size by situation.
- Forgetting the cap in limit
- Raises stop.
- Miscounting pot-limit raises
- Ask the dealer.
- Playing no-limit with a small bankroll
- Swings are big.
Keep reading
Related pages
Go play
Where to play in Las Vegas
Tap a resort — each row opens that casino’s White Gambling page (hours, poker status, floor facts). Print poker rooms, sorted by published table count.
Open a casino page
Real listings · not adsAfter the 90 seconds
Questions before and after you play
A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.
01Basics
What is limit poker?
A game where bets and raises are fixed sizes. Rules vary by cardroom, so check the posted house rules.
What is pot-limit?
A game where the most you can bet is the pot size. Rules vary by cardroom, so check the posted house rules.
What is no-limit?
A game where you can bet all your chips at any time. Rules vary by cardroom, so check the posted house rules.
02Choosing
Which is best for beginners?
Limit games, because losses per hand are capped. Rules vary by cardroom, so check the posted house rules.
Why is Omaha pot-limit?
Hands are close in strength, and pot-limit keeps the game playable. Rules vary by cardroom, so check the posted house rules.
Which has bigger swings?
No-limit, because a single hand can put your whole stack at risk at any time. Rules vary by cardroom, so check the posted house rules.
03Rules
How many raises in limit?
Often a bet and three raises per round. Rules vary by cardroom, so check the posted house rules.
Can I say pot in pot-limit?
Yes. The dealer will calculate the amount. Rules vary by cardroom, so check the posted house rules.
Is there a max in no-limit?
Only your chips on the table. Rules vary by cardroom, so check the posted house rules.
Sources
- Robert’s Rules of Poker Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Betting rules
- Tournament Directors Association — Rules Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Bet rules
- UNLV Center for Gaming Research Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Research library on casino games and gambling
- National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER