Punish the Limpers
The Easiest Way to Print Money at $1/$2
Limpers are everywhere in low-stakes poker. Players who just call the big blind hoping to “see a cheap flop.” The truth? They’re your best customers.
If you want to crush live $1/$2, you need to tax the dead money. Let’s break down how to do it — and walk through a few real examples from the felt.
The Core Tactic
When three or more players limp, it’s open season.
Raise big — 7–10x the big blind — with your top 25% of hands (think: 99+, AJo+, KQ, ATs+, KJs+).
Most players limp junk and call way too wide — your strong range smashes theirs.
Even better, size up based on the number of limpers.
Rule of Thumb: Add +1 big blind for every limper.
Example: $2/$3 game with three limpers → Raise to $25–$30.
Example 1 – AQo on the Button
Game: $1/$2
Action: Four limpers, you’re on the Button with A♠ Q♦.
You: Raise to $25.
Two callers.
Flop: Q♥ 7♣ 4♠
Perfect spot. You’ve isolated wide, dominated ranges like Q9, QJ, and weaker aces.
Bet for value, build the pot, and print. This is what “punishing the limpers” looks like — forcing mistakes before the flop and getting paid after it.
Example 2 – TT in the Cutoff
Game: $1/$2
Action: Three limpers, you raise to $22 with T♦ T♣. One caller (loose-passive).
Flop: 8♠ 6♣ 2♦
You continuation bet $25 into $50, they call.
Turn: 4♠
You shove for value, they call with 8♥ 5♥ — top pair, no kicker.
Easy double. You didn’t “outplay” them — you just built a big pot preflop with a hand that crushes their range.
Example 3 – Don’t Overdo It
Game: $1/$2
Action: Three limpers, you raise to $24 with A♥ T♣.
Four callers.
Flop: 9♦ 8♦ 6♣
Danger zone. Even strong top-pair hands lose value in multiway pots. This is where discipline matters.
When your raise doesn’t thin the field, tighten up postflop. Don’t force it — you’re printing money over time, not every pot.
Raise Sizing Chart – “Punish the Limpers”
Number of Limpers | Raise Size (BB) | Example in $1/$2 | Goal |
1 limper | 6x | $12 | Isolate 1 weak player |
2 limpers | 8x | $16 | Force folds from garbage hands |
3 limpers | 10x | $20 | Build a pot vs dominated ranges |
4+ limpers | 12x+ | $24+ | Tax all the dead money |
Tip: If the table is particularly sticky, size up another $2–$3.
Top 25% Opening Range (For Raising Over Limpers)
Add this graphic or table right after the first hand example.
Keep it simple — we want a clean black-and-gold visual you can reuse across your “Table Tactics” series.
Category | Hands |
Premium Pairs | AA–99 |
Strong Broadways | AK, AQ, AJ, KQ, KJ |
Suited Aces | A2s–A5s, ATs+, AJs+ |
Suited Connectors | KQs, QJs, JTs, T9s |
Occasional Mix-Ins | 88–77 (if deep), A9s–A8s (vs loose limpers) |
Rule: Never isolate with trash just because it’s limped. Stick to hands that can dominate or play well post flop.