I've been thinking for some time now if studying Limit Holdem can actually help with my NL skills. I'm a tournament player who wants to learn a new game or/and add NL cash to his repertoire. I have some issues with quick thinking in terms of combos/odds in some spots and feel like thinking in terms of fixed bets for a while could be my solution.

As far as i know limit games in general are less profitable (particularly online). Is it a universal truth?

Also i know there are way more bots at limit tables, as it's easy to program one for LHE.

Any thoughts, guys?

I think starting to play limit is a bad idea as a tool to improve your NL, as it will give you more stationish tendencies, that are usually not good in NL.

One can make a case that LHE might improve your hand reading and thin value betting skills, but I agree with AALegend about developing bad habits about calling.

I agree completely about the stationy tendencies. I had about 500 hours at limit (1-2bb/hr) and this has been the most difficult part of my transition as well as the fact that in limit it doesn't hurt you to overvalue pocket pairs.

For me limit was all about being a bull in a China shop b/c you could almost always value bet. In NL I've actually been forced to analyze what someone may be holding and putting them on ranges. In short I think limit is more enjoyable because you get to play more and chase but these skills aren't going to help you at no limit. Better to just get right on that learning curve and figure it out. (Perhaps this doesn't apply to higher levels-my peak was 6/12- but if you are looking at higher levels then you're going to be better off there than in low limit NLHE.

I play both LHE and NL and LHE has helped me learn some tough thin value bet situations. I love it.

^+1 on the thin value betting.

LHE is also good for learning about equity, if you're having problems with weak hands at showdown. Since almost every hand goes to the river in the smaller games, if you don't have the goods, you wont win.

Short handed and aggressive LHE games are otherwise a waste of time in terms of skills that translate to NL. prob will damage your game more than help it.

As a US player, I've given up mid stakes online limit for the bot issue you mention. anon tables and no recourse against being cheated make this a waste of $

I think it's a good way to get turn/river experience with combo counting, range construction, floating/creating bluffs in non standard spots. PLaying a new game often refreshes your perspective on your old game.

I played FL for 5 yrs and only recently switched. I don't think the games are as different as ppl say. The main difference is pre flop, where there is essentially no bluffing in FL--it's all equity based. Also, stack size usually doesn't matter in FL. There's obviously more aggression and show downs in FL, but the deductive reasoning process is the same.

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you need to learn both games. they help each other in some areas. but the best part is that you can then go sit at any table that looks good. once you specialize you are stuck watching the good games.