Structure
What Does Structure Mean in Poker?
In poker, “structure” refers to the rules governing the betting limits and blinds throughout the game. It defines how the stakes increase and dictates the progression of betting rounds. Common structures include No-Limit, Pot-Limit, Fixed-Limit, and Spread-Limit, each impacting the strategic approach players must take.
When You Might Hear Or Use The Term Structure
Players often discuss structure when choosing a game or tournament, as it affects the pace and strategy. For example, a player might say, “I prefer a faster structure where the blinds increase quickly,” or “This tournament has a deep-stack structure, allowing for more strategic play.”
In-Game Example
Imagine you’re in a No-Limit Hold’em tournament. The structure dictates that blinds increase every 15 minutes. This means you need to adjust your strategy to account for the rising blinds, potentially playing more aggressively as the levels progress to maintain a healthy chip stack.
Strategy / Tips
- Best Practice: Choose a structure that suits your playing style; slower structures favor patience, while faster ones require aggression.
- Common Mistake: Ignoring the impact of the structure on your strategy, leading to poor decision-making.
- Pro Tips: In a deep-stack structure, exploit the ability to see more flops and play post-flop poker. In contrast, in a turbo structure, focus on pre-flop aggression and chip accumulation.
- Differences playing over the table vs online: Online structures often feature faster levels due to the absence of physical shuffling, which can affect the pace and strategy compared to live play.
Alternative Names
Betting structure, blind structure.
FAQs
- Q: What is the difference between No-Limit and Fixed-Limit structures?
A: No-Limit allows players to bet any amount of their chips at any time, while Fixed-Limit sets a specific maximum bet for each round. - Q: How does structure affect tournament strategy?
A: Structure influences how aggressively you need to play to keep up with the blinds, affecting your overall approach to hand selection and betting.
