Are you intrigued by Short Deck Poker? It’s no surprise—this exciting spin on Texas Hold’em is rapidly gaining popularity online and in live games. Also called Six Plus Hold’em, Short Deck has been captivating poker communities since it first appeared around 2017. Now a staple on most trusted poker platforms, BET88 brings you the complete guide to this fast-paced, strategic variant—where experience in Hold’em helps, but mastering this shorter deck brings true results.
What Is Short Deck Poker?
Short Deck Poker, or Six Plus Hold’em, is a variant that uses a slimmer deck of only 36 cards, removing all rankings from 2 through 5. This seemingly small change dramatically transforms the game’s dynamics:
- Higher hand probabilities: With fewer weak hands possible, players see stronger holdings more often.
- Faster pace: Action picks up because players engage more frequently with playable hands.
- New hand values: The odds of some hands shift, adjusting straight and flush possibilities.
Short Deck originated in Asia, particularly Macau, around 2017. It blends the fundamentals of Hold’em with a twist of excitement, making every hand count more.
Short Deck vs. No-Limit Texas Hold’em
While the structure of Short Deck mirrors Texas Hold’em in many ways—two hole cards, four betting rounds, community cards—there are some important changes:
Deck Composition
Reducing the deck from 52 to 36 cards significantly alters hand frequency. Premium hands surface more regularly, yet certain combinations become harder to complete.
Ace-High and Ace-Low Flexibility
Even after dropping low cards, the Ace retains its dual role. An Ace can still act as the lowest card for straights like A-6-7-8-9, which means the lowest straight possible is 9-high, e.g. A‑6‑7‑8‑9. Many players need time to adjust to these “shorter” straights.
Playing Short Deck Poker: Step-by-Step
Here’s how a typical Short Deck game unfolds, just like Hold’em but with its defining tweaks:
- Deck Setup: Discard all cards ranked 2–5. The remaining deck includes Aces through Kings.
- Initial Bets: Players contribute an ante, and often a blind button replaces the traditional blinds system.
- Hole Cards: Each player receives two private cards.
- Betting Rounds:
- Pre-flop: After dealing hole cards.
- Flop: Three community cards are revealed.
- Turn: A fourth card appears.
- River: The final card is dealt.
- Showdown: Players form the best possible hand using five cards—either two hole cards plus three community cards or one hole card plus four.
- Winning the Pot: Best hand at showdown takes the pot.
On BET88, you’ll use familiar controls and table layouts, but hand value and positioning strategies need adjustment.
Hand Rankings in Short Deck
Hand values mostly align with Hold’em, but there’s a key difference—Flush beats Straight. Because straights are harder to make with fewer cards, the rarity of a flush increases its value. The full hierarchy is:
- Royal flush (rare even here)
- Straight flush
- Four of a kind
- Full house
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a kind
- Two pair
- One pair
- High card
Strategic Differences in Short Deck
If you’re familiar with Hold’em, your instincts will serve you, but successful Short Deck players tweak their thinking.
Increased Value of Premium Hands
With more chances of seeing big hands, you can play more aggressively with strong cards like AQ, KQ, or small pocket pairs.
Bluffing and Semi-Bluffs
Semi-bluffs become more powerful: flush or straight draws are more credible and carry weight in fewer streets of action.
Positional Play Matters Even More
Because many hands land in or near pots, your position becomes critical. Late position gives stronger insight into your opponents’ holdings and intentions.
Adjust Your Pre-flop Range
Larger suited connectors (like 7-8 suited, 8-9 suited) and high-potential hands increase in value. Decreasing unsuited connectors and small pairs helps protect your range.
Post-Flop Adjustments
With draws more common, you can bet patterns that pressure opponents while giving yourself credit when drawing to the nuts. Attacking with aggressive bets on vital streets can win large pots.
Effective Short Deck Poker Strategy on BET88
Here’s a strategic framework to enhance your Short Deck performance:
Opening Hands
- Favor high cards and suited holdings.
- Suited connectors become premium; suited A-x and King-x hands increase in value.
- Avoid weak offsuit hands (J-x, T-x) without suited support.
Position Play
- Play more hands from later positions.
- Raise wider from cut-off and button, fold more in early position.
Pre-Flop Raises
- Raise to thin the field rich in equity.
- Implement larger pre-flop sizing with connected or suited cards to drive opponents to reveal themselves.
Flop Play
- Open to semi-bluffing with flush/straight draws.
- Slow-play strong made hands when vulnerable to draws.
Turn and River Strategy
- Use large bets on turn to pressure flimsy hands or force folds.
- Trap or value-bet thin when you hold top-pair-plus or made flush/straight.
Bluffing Frequency
- Short Deck makes balanced bluffing more effective. Your range will seem tighter when you bet, making bluffs credible.
Bankroll and Table Selection Tips
Success at BET88 isn’t just about cards—it’s also about how you manage your play.
Bankroll Advice
- Volatility in Short Deck is higher. Allocate at least 20 buy-ins for your targeted stakes.
- Consider deeper-stacked games cautiously; many play with deep stacks to exploit implied odds.
Table and Opponent Reads
- Bed more aggressive TAG (tight-aggressive) or calling stations—they often misplay suited connectors.
- Steer clear of overly aggressive loose players unless you can call with quality hands.
Game Flow
- If a table is tight, widen your range.
- In loose games, tighten up and wait for premium hands.
Reading Opponents in Short Deck
Short Deck raises the importance of reading opponents closely:
Observe Bet Sizing
- Large bets on wet boards often signal strong draws or made hands.
- Small bets can indicate marginal draws or bluffing attempts.
Track Hand Frequency
Players claiming strong hands regularly might be bluffing more than in Hold’em, especially in bluffed-down pot situations.
Position Awareness
Opponent’s position relative to the button significantly shifts their aggression and range.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When playing Short Deck on BET88, here’s what to dodge:
- Playing weak openings with offsuit or poorly-connected hands.
- Overvaluing top pair without suited or strong kicker backup.
- Under-adjusting to bluffing ratios; static strategies fail fast here.
- Not considering flush equity—don’t bluff on flush-friendly boards without blockers.
- Chasing small draws—low value draws don’t justify the cost.
Getting Started on BET88
BET88 provides a flawless online environment for Short Deck poker. Here’s how to get started:
- Create Your Account: Sign up easily with full verification and security standards.
- Find the Short Deck Tables: Navigate to Poker → Six Plus Hold’em.
- Use Play Money Tables: Practice in demo games before staking real credits.
- Explore Table Stakes and Limits: Choose buy-ins that match your bankroll strategy.
- Track Your Hands: Use hand histories or integrated tools to evaluate and improve.
BET88 also offers text chat, hand replays, and statistical tracking—everything you need to refine your game.
Final Takeaways
Short Deck Poker on BET88 takes the beloved Hold’em formula and injects more action, bigger draws, and faster rewards. By adapting your hand selections, positional awareness, and tactical aggression, you can master the nuances of this dynamic game. Always prioritize strong bankroll management, table selection intelligence, and a sharp observational approach.
Ready to sharpen your Short Deck play? Sign up at BET88 today, and dive into Six Plus Hold’em with confidence and finesse. Good luck at the tables—and may your flops be favorable!