In recent years, Short Deck Poker has gained significant traction, with cash games and tournaments featuring this variation being held globally. The game is characterized by its distinct deck composition and unique rules that differ from the conventional Texas Hold’em, allowing for fast-paced action and the potential for substantial hands.
Renowned professional players, such as Tom Dwan, have embraced this format. Moreover, the World Series of Poker introduced its inaugural Short Deck bracelet event back in 2019. It's an exhilarating alternative to traditional poker, Texas Holdem and this comprehensive guide will delve deeply into the intricacies of this captivating poker variant.
Contents
What is short deck poker?
Short Deck Poker, commonly referred to as Six Plus Poker, shares similarities with the classic Texas Hold’em but utilizes a 36-card deck, as referenced by its name 'short deck.' This format involves the removal of all lower cards—twos through fives—from play.
The reduced number of cards brings significant changes in both strategy and gameplay. Following the initial deal, players receive two cards each, and the usual betting occurs on the flop, turn, and river, similar to traditional Hold’em. hand rankings While the game is relatively new, it harkens back to the early era of poker when fewer cards were traditionally employed. The decrease in available cards modifies various rules and hand strengths, but adapting to these changes can be quite straightforward.
Short Deck Poker Rules
In Short Deck, hands that might typically be seen as premium in a regular Hold’em game take on a different significance. The challenge for players lies in assessing the strength of their hand in contrast to that of their opponents. As such, those drawn to Short Deck relish the thrilling and dynamic gameplay this format offers.
As previously mentioned, aside from the altered deck and the hand rankings that come with it (more details on that further down), the overall gameplay and betting mechanics in Short Deck should feel familiar to players who are experienced with Texas Hold’em and Omaha.
Betting Rounds
Each player is dealt two cards, and the dealer button circulates around the table. The participant seated to the left of the big blind has the options to either match the bet, escalate the stakes, or fold. This betting action continues around all players.
After everyone has placed their bets, the dealer reveals the flop, consisting of three community cards. This triggers another round of betting, starting with the player left of the button, who may either bet or check, continuing around the table. Players can raise or fold, just as they would in a standard poker game. small blind and a big blind Once bets on the flop have concluded, the dealer reveals the turn card. The betting resumes in the same manner, giving players the option to check, bet, raise, or fold again. Finally, players will see the river card and engage in one last round of betting. After all betting concludes, a showdown occurs where the best hand wins the pot.
Key Differences Between Texas Hold’em and Short Deck Poker reraise As noted earlier, there are several crucial distinctions between traditional Hold’em and Short Deck. Although the dealing process remains consistent, the alteration in deck composition significantly influences player expectations concerning hand strengths. Here’s a detailed overview of some notable differences between these two games.
In this game, a top pair might not hold much weight due to numerous possible draws.
High-value cards, particularly Aces, Kings, Queens, and Jacks, gain significant importance.
Cards like tens and nines, while less valued, can still play a crucial role, especially when forming three of a kind.
Texas Hold’em versus Short Deck
| Topic | Texas Hold’em | Short Deck (Six Plus) |
|---|---|---|
| Cards in Deck | 52 | 36 |
| Missing Cards | None | 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s |
| Top pair hand values | Top pair can be strong | Due to the removal of smaller cards, players tend to make stronger hands in a Short Deck game. This also shifts the odds, changing the ranking of certain hands. |
| Pocket pairs | With fewer cards of each suit available, forming three of a kind holds more power than achieving a straight. Interestingly, similar to Hold’em, an Ace can still function as a low card for a straight but will now complete an A-6-7-8-9 sequence instead of A-2-3-4-5. | Following is a detailed comparison of hand rankings in Short Deck versus Hold’em. Be sure to familiarize yourself with these rankings before you join a game of Short Deck for an enjoyable experience. |
| Ace for a straight | Used to make a straight of A-2-3-4-5 | Used to make a straight of A-6-7-8-9 |
Short Deck Poker Hands
Now that you’ve grasped the fundamental rules, hand rankings, and game structure, here are some strategic pointers to consider as you sit down at the table. It’s crucial to be aware of the adjusted hand rankings to achieve success.
A flush is now more powerful than a full house 1. Be Prepared for Draws – The reduced deck size and an abundance of high-ranking cards mean draws will occur much more frequently in Short Deck compared to Hold’em. In a standard Hold’em game, a player can multiply the number of outs they have on the flop by four and then by two on the river to estimate their chances of improving their hand. Although it’s not universally accurate, it’s quite close.
In Short Deck, that estimation changes to about six outs on the flop and three on the river. If you have ten outs going into the flop, your chances of improving on the turn and river rise to about 54.8%. However, if you miss on the turn, that probability drops to around 32.3%.
Short Deck Hand Rankings
| Short Deck (Six Plus) | Texas Hold’em |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | Royal Flush |
| Straight Flush | Straight Flush |
| Four of a kind | Four of a kind |
| Flush | Full House |
| Full House | Flush |
| Three of a kind | Straight |
| Straight | Three of a kind |
| Two Pair | Two Pair |
| Pair | Pair |
| High Card | High Card |
5 Short Deck Poker Strategy Tips
2. Avoid Getting Flushed – Achieving a flush in Short Deck proves to be a significant challenge compared to Hold’em since there are substantially fewer cards available in each suit. With a mere nine cards in each suit, attaining that flush draw can be quite difficult. In Hold’em, if aiming for a flush, there are nine cards left in the deck to help complete that hand.
In Short Deck, only five cards remain, meaning the chances of making that flush stand at around 30% by the river and 15% post-turn. Comparatively, in Hold’em, a flush draw offers a 36% chance on the flop and approximately an 18% chance on the turn. While it may seem like a minor difference, chasing that flush could be detrimental to your chip stack over time.
3. Focus on Straight Draws – In contrast, hitting a straight is considerably easier. Straight draws become much stronger than flush draws and are worth playing aggressively. Additionally, it’s important to be aware of the relative strength of your hand after the flop.
In this instance, a player holding a top pair and a strong kicker would have only around a 50/50 chance against someone with an open-end straight draw. Strong draws can weaken the value of top pair hands in Short Deck, akin to scenarios often seen in Omaha.
4. Rethink Pocket Pairs – Given the prevalence of draws and high cards in the deck, big pocket pairs such as AA, KK, QQ, and JJ have diminished strength compared to their value in traditional Texas Hold’em. Suited connectors and related hands become far more formidable, suggesting that knowing when to release those big pocket pairs should develop into a critical skill while playing Short Deck. Observing the board texture becomes exceedingly important during gameplay.
5. Keep Fundamentals in Mind – While Short Deck introduces novel elements, it remains rooted in poker principles. Leverage solid fundamentals that you may have picked up from playing Texas Hold’em. Monitor the board closely, and play aggressively depending on your position at the table, particularly when in the button seat and while defending your big blind. Employ logical deduction when assessing your opponents and the community cards. Astute players will often outmaneuver those who lack skill.
In Short Deck, the chances of being dealt premium hands before the flop increase due to the limited number of cards. For instance, while a player typically receives pocket Aces once every 221 hands on average in Hold’em, that figure improves considerably to about once every 100 hands in Short Deck.
Overall, players possess an 8.6% probability of obtaining a premium hand in Short Deck compared to a mere 5.9% in Texas Hold’em. The likelihood of hitting three of a kind is much higher in Short Deck, standing at a 12.7% chance to make trips by the river.
In addition to pocket pairs, players in Short Deck are more frequently dealt strong hands like A-K approximately 33% of the time. However, caution is advised after the flop, as it’s essential to gauge the potential strength of your opponents’ hands in a game where drawing hands hold significant power. Although players may secure strong hands on the turn and river, so too might their opponents. Careful consideration is required before entering pots or calling bets. Be prepared to fold stronger hands in Short Deck as opposed to traditional Hold’em.
Short Deck Hold’em Odds
Those considering partaking in Short Deck gameplay should arm themselves with knowledge of the game’s odds. Here’s a summary of some key odds relevant to this variant.
Despite their reduced power in Short Deck, significant pocket pairs like AA, KK, QQ, and JJ should still be played strategically. While hitting trips adds to their strength, players should remain vigilant enough to release big pocket pairs if faced with considerable raises on the flop, especially if the board suggests that an opposing hand could be more potent. pocket pair Successful starting hands in Short Deck often revolve around those that can create straights or flushes. For example, J
♦ offers about 50% equity against any offsuit A-K and 47% against A♣K♣. By contrast, in a standard Hold’em game, the equity for J♦T♦ against A♠K♠ is merely about 40%. Such drawing hands can yield significant rewards in the Short Deck environment.
When discussing equity in Short Deck, it’s crucial to understand that few hands can be deemed overwhelmingly superior to others due to the abundance of high cards and drawing opportunities, making it essential to see flops with hands like those mentioned above. For instance, examine this table that outlines suited connecting hands and their winning potential when matched against big pocket pairs.
| Topic | Texas Hold’em | Short Deck (Six Plus) |
|---|---|---|
|
Chances of being dealt any pocket pair |
5.9% | 8.6% |
|
Chance of being dealt pocket Aces |
1 out of every 221 hands (0.45%) | 1 out of every 100 hands (1%) |
| Lowest straight | A-2-3-4-5 | A-6-7-8-9 |
|
Odds to hit flush draw after flop by the river |
36% | 30% |
|
Odds to hit open-end straight draw after flop by the river |
31.45% | 45.6% |
Short Deck Starting Hands
Players ought to feel comfortable limping into a variety of pots with connecting hands, particularly suited connectors. The value of these types of hands fluctuates significantly depending on the community cards that are dealt.
Suited connectors Engaging in Short Deck poker is an enjoyable experience characterized by intriguing rules and modifications. The most noticeable alteration is the usage of a 36-card deck, stripping away any 2s, 3s, 4s, or 5s. This also leads to adjustments in hand rankings, placing a flush above a full house (refer to the hand rankings discussed earlier). An Ace remains a versatile card, still functioning as a ♦T In Short Deck poker, all cards valued at two, three, four, and five are excluded from play, resulting in a 36-card deck. This alteration can lead to thrilling gameplay with more excitement and intensity.
Short Deck Equity
Reasons to Try Your Hand at Short Deck Poker
| Your hand | Opponent hand | NLHE win % | Short Deck win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| A♣K♣ | Q♦Q♥ | 46% | 53% |
| A♠K♠ | K♣K♦ | 33.7% | 46% |
| 9♥10♥ | K♣K♦ | 21.5% | 37% |
| A♦K♦ | 8♣8♦ | 47.5% | 57% |
Exploring Short Deck Poker: Guidelines, Hand Hierarchies & Tactics
Summary
Short Deck Poker has gained considerable traction in recent years, with cash games and tournaments hosted globally. This variant has a distinct deck configuration and diverges from the conventional rules seen in Texas Hold’em, providing players with opportunities for dynamic action and significant winnings. low hand in a straight for A-6-7-8-9.
Renowned professionals, such as Tom Dwan, have embraced this variation, and the World Series of Poker even introduced the inaugural Short Deck bracelet event in 2019. This form of the game serves as an exhilarating alternative to the traditional types of poker.
This guide will navigate you through the essential aspects of this captivating version of poker.
First published on November 20 2018
