Modified Limit Hold’em — Also known as “fixed limit hold’em” this variation is usually played for very small stakes. The maximum bet is capped by a certain dollar amount, usually mandated by local law. No bet can be larger than the allowable dollar amount needed to reach that figure.
Progressive Limit Hold’em — Progressive limit hold’em uses a betting pattern such as 5-10-15, or 10-20-30, and so forth. In some card rooms, the betting structure uses a four-tiered system, such as 5-10-15-20. The most common progressive structure is 1-4-8-8 hold’em (also 2-4-8-8). The primary difference in this variation from the standard structure is that the turn and river bets increase dramatically over the size of the first bet.
Standard Limit Hold’em — The is the most popular form of hold’em played today. Standard limit holdem uses a two-tiered betting structure. The round of betting goes as follows — $10-10-20-20. Most holdem literature is geared towards this structure.
Spread Limit Hold’em — Spread limit games are much more common in seven card stud than hold’em. However, I have seen spread limit hold’em played in the Chicago area and at Foxwoods in Connecticut. Spread limit means the amount of the bet is not fixed. Players are allowed to bet any amount between the minimum and maximum at any time.
Pot-Limit Hold’em — This structure allows the maximum bet up to the amount that is currently in the pot. One key component of this betting structure is the size of the blinds. Pot-limit games can have blinds ranging from several hundred dollars in the biggest games to just a few dollars. Some games even use three blinds.
Modified Pot Limit Hold’em — Same structure as pot-limit hold’em, but there is a cap on the maximum allowable bet. This is instituted to “protect” players from being hurt too badly in a single hand and is more common in private games than public card rooms. I’ve played many sessions of modified pot-limit poker with a $200 cap. This means that no bet may exceed $200.
No-Limit Hold’em — Means you can bet any amount of chips that are in front of you at any time. This is the game that determines poker’s world championship. As in pot-limit, the size of the blinds is important.
