Short Deck Poker: 6+ Holdem

Short deck poker (short deck poker) is a variation of Texas Holdem with a short deck. The rules are almost the same, but, of course, there are some differences. In this article, we will show you how to play 6+ Holdem.

Short Deck Poker Rules

The main difference between Short-Deck Poker and traditional Texas Holdem is that to play this poker requires a deck of 36 cards, not 52. Hence the name, if translated from English – “Short Deck Poker “. For the first time, this format has been featured in high-stakes real money poker tournaments in Macau, a city in China known for its Asian version of Las Vegas.

The very same deck of 36 cards is formed by removing 16 cards from the main 52-card deck, less than sixes. That is, it lacks twos, threes, fours and fives.

As for the aces, as they are the same as in regular Holdem, they are considered senior or low when creating straights. The smallest possible straight in Short Deck Poker is A-9-8-7-6.

Short Deck Poker: how the game goes

The game in Short Deck Poker is played in the same way as in regular Texas Holdem. Each player is dealt two hole cards. The combination is collected from five cards, which are used by the community cards from the table (5 open cards).

The short deck poker game includes a 4-bet period:

• Preflop.
  Flop.
  Tern.
  River

Short Deck Poker bets can be fixed or no-limit.

Short Deck poker hands rankings

Short Deck Poker distinguishes between two hand ratings: main and alternate. Why is that? The point is that these changes were made because removing cards (deuces, threes, fours, fives) changes the likelihood of making certain hands.

Basic short deck poker hand rankings:

• Royal flush – 10 ♦ J ♦ Q ♦ K ♦ A ♦.
• Straight flush – A ♦ 6 ♦ 7 ♦ 8 ♦ 9 ♦.
• Four of a Kind – K ♦ K ♠ K ♥ K ♦ 6x.
• Full House – K ♦ K ♠ K ♥ 6 ♦ 6 ♠.
• Flush – K ♦ J ♦ 10 ♦ 6 ♦ 9x.
• Straight – A ♠ 6 ♣ 7 ♥ 8 ♥ 9 ♦.
• Three of a Kind K ♦ K ♠ K ♥ 6 ♦ Qx.
• Two pair – K ♦ K ♠ 6 ♥ 6 ♦ Qx.
• One pair – K ♦ K ♠ 5x8xQx.
• High Card – Kx6x9x8xQx.

Alternative Short Deck Poker Hand Rankings:

• Royal flush – 10 ♦ J ♦ Q ♦ K ♦ A ♦.
• Straight flush – A ♦ 6 ♦ 7 ♦ 8 ♦ 9 ♦.
• Four of a Kind – K ♦ K ♠ K ♥ K ♦ 6x.
• Flush – K ♦ J ♦ 10 ♦ 6 ♦ 9x.
• Full House – K ♦ K ♠ K ♥ 6 ♦ 6 ♠.
• Three of a Kind K ♦ K ♠ K ♥ 6 ♦ Qx.
• Straight – A ♠ 6 ♣ 7 ♥ 8 ♥ 9 ♦.
• Two pair – K ♦ K ♠ 6 ♥ 6 ♦ Qx.
• One pair – K ♦ K ♠ 5x8xQx.
• High Card – Kx6x9x8xQx.

A Three of a Kind wins a straight in the alternate ranking as a substitute, and a flush wins a full house.

Short Deck Poker: 6+ Holdem

There is another variant of Holdem 6+ that is popular among poker players. The name has to do with how the river is dealt. As you know, three cards are laid out on the flop on the table, one card is added on the turn, and one card is added on the river.

However, most often, the river card to complete a five-card table is laid out in 6+ Holdem not on the table, but is dealt to the players as the third face-down card.

Then the poker players combine five cards, using only two of the three cards and three of the common cards on the table.