On the Button
No-limit Texas Hold'em cash games: Structure and buy-in strategy
By Davin Anderson

Now that almost every poker room in America has at least one no-limit game, novice and avid no-limit players have plenty of choices in blinds and buy-ins. The most common no-limit games have relatively small buy-ins and small blinds. These games are usually dominated by relatively new no-limit players and have such great action that even the most diehard limit players have at least tried no-limit.

With so many no-limit choices now available, you should do a little investigation and try to place yourself in the games that best suit your style and bankroll. The most important factor when choosing a no-limit game is structure.

Structure is the size of the blinds and the range of the allowed buy-in. The type of structure is important because it helps determine the type of action at the table. If the blinds are big, then the preflop raises will be big, and if the buy-in is small compared to the blinds, then there will be more all-in action. Players that like to play flops should avoid this structure, and players that like to play a push/fold strategy should seek this structure.

The ideal structure is one that allows you to buy in for at least 100 big blinds. Since most small no-limit games don’t have an ideal structure, seek one that has the most liberal buy-in structure with the smallest blinds. The larger the relative buy-in, the greater range of styles and strategies that can be employed.

The typical small no-limit game has blinds that range from a $2 big blind to a $5 big blind and have maximum buy-ins of usually $100 to $300. Poker rooms use the maximum buy-in to create a level playing field and to protect players from going completely broke in one hand.

The single biggest decision you have after you have chosen the right game is how much money to start with. Buy-in strategy is crucial because it is the blueprint for everything that follows. If you want to play a lot of hands and see lots of flops, you will need lots of bullets, and you should buy-in for the max or close to it (at least 30 big blinds). Aggressive push/fold players should keep to small buy-ins (no more than 30 big blinds). Make sure your buy-in fits your plan of attack.

The most common mistake I see players make in small no-limit games is letting their stack become insignificant (less than 10 big blinds). Re-buy often enough to maintain a significant stack (at least 20 big blinds). If you are unwilling to re-buy when you have a short stack, then you shouldn’t continue playing. Quit today and play tomorrow.