Short Deck Hold’em is also known as 6+ (Six Plus) Hold’em. This No-Limit Poker game is
played with a stripped-down deck.
Increasing in popularity
The game is a fast, fun
variation of the world-recognised Texas Hold’em format. Short Deck Hold’em originated
in Asia a few years back and is gaining increased recognition in Europe.
Due to some
recent star-studded High Roller events, the game is attracting growing interest in the
USA and is now being played in Las Vegas.
Difference in pack size
All of the 2’s, 3’s,
4’s and 5’s are removed from the standard 52-card pack leaving a game where only 36
cards are used. This means the 6 is the lowest card…. Unless you use an Ace as low.
An
Ace has added value
As in traditional Hold’em the Ace can be used as either a High or
Low, but in the Short Deck version of the game it can also make up the low and high
ends of a straight. As in:
• A 6 7 8 9 is classed as a straight (In this example the
Ace is classed as a ‘5’)
Hand ranking differences – Let the significance sink in!
While
there are only a few differences in the value of a hand between the 2 formats of
Hold’em these are very significant and will prove expensive if forgotten.
In Short Deck
Hold’em
• A Flush beats a Full House – This is because mathematically it is harder to
make a flush than a full house from the reduced deck.
Note: This is the general rule.
However, some houses may still have it the other way around – As ever; check the house
rules before taking your seat.
Flush possibilities
In regular Hold’em, players with
suited hole cards and two community cards of the same suit have nine cards in the deck
from which to make a Flush. Playing the Short Deck game reduces this to five cards.
This means a Flush is far harder to hit.
Easier to hit a set
Playing short deck Hold’em
makes it easier to hit a set than when playing the regular game. Short deck players
holding a pocket pair have 2 cards remaining from the 34 to give them a set as opposed
to 2 cards out of 50 in the regular game.
Short Deck Hold’em strategy
Players who are
used to the regular version of Hold’em should be aware of strategy considerations
during a traditional game.
Playing the Short Deck game brings a number of changes. Here
are just 5 you need to bear in mind:
• The rule of 4 and 2 turns into the rule of 3 and
6
• Stronger Post-Flop hands are needed
• The chance of being dealt pocket Aces are
twice as high
• Hands such as top pair and top kicker have a much lower value
• Single
pair hands rarely win a pot
Fast, fun & exciting
There is no doubting that Short Deck
Hold’em (6+ Hold’em) is making waves in Poker communities across the globe so why not
taste the action by giving it a go?
A final word of caution though: While you are sure
to hit far bigger hands than in the regular game this means your opponents will too!
