Short Deck Poker Rules: How to Play Short Deck Poker

Introduction

Have you ever played a poker game without 2s, 3s, 4s, or even 5s? Sounds weird? Well, it’s true. There is a variation called Short Deck Poker, where you remove all the above numbers and play only with 36 cards.

Read further to learn about this exciting variation of Texas Hold’em. Learn its rules, hand rankings, and gameplay.

What is a Short Deck Poker?

Short deck poker (also known as six-plus hold’em) is another variation of classic Texas Holdem. All the cards ranked 2 to 5 are removed, reducing the deck to 36.

The fewer cards make several differences in the gameplay and strategies compared to Texas Holdem.

Short Deck Poker Objective

The objective of Short Deck Poker is the same as that of a traditional poker game. The goal here is the same: to earn maximum chips and emerge as the winner in the table. In a Short Deck Poker game, the player has to either make all the other players fold or emerge the one with the best hands on the table.

Short Deck Poker Rules

The rules of short-deck poker are as follows:

Smaller Deck

In Short Deck Poker, a smaller deck of 36 cards is used where all the cards from 2s to 5s are removed from the deck. This change alters the dynamics of the game and the poker hand rankings.

Flush Beats Full House

A Flush ranks higher than a Full House hand in the Short Deck Poker. Hence, players must be careful of this change in hand rankings and make decisions accordingly in different streets and during the showdown.

Versatility of Aces

Aces play a vital role in short-deck poker games. Here, aces are used as the highest and lowest card in the deck. For example, to make a straight, aces can work as the highest card, as in A-K-Q-J-10 or as the lowest card in a low-value straight, like A-6-7-8-9.

Short Deck Poker Hand Rankings

The hand ranking differs from the traditional Texas Holdem because the number of cards is less. Here is a comparison between both the hand rankings:

Alternative Short-Deck Hand Rankings

Short Deck Poker game has a different hand ranking system than the Texas Hold’em poker game. Below are the alternate hand rankings with the differences highlighted in bold:

On looking closely, one can see that there are two major changes in the rankings:

1. Three of a Kind is stronger than a Straight and beats it, unlike Texas Hold’em.
2. Four-of-a-Kind is stronger than a Flush and beats it, unlike Texas Hold’em.

How to play short-deck poker?

• The game begins with the player sitting to the left of the dealer putting a small blind and the player sitting next to the small blind putting a big blind.
• Each player gets two hole cards.
• In a pre-flop round, after getting two hole cards, you can either fold, call, or raise based on the big blind.
• Another betting round starts after the three community cards are dealt in a flop.
• In a Turn-betting round, another community card appears, and in a final round called a River, the final community is dealt.
• Finally, in a showdown, the player with the best hand wins.

Six-Plus Hold’em Variation: The Deal (Fifth Street)

One variation of Texas Hold’em is when instead of dealing the fifth community card, the fifth card is given to the players as their third card.

The gameplay remains the same as in Texas Hold’em, where the first two cards are dealt to players as hole cards, followed by three flop cards and the turn card, the fourth card.

Instead of dealing the river card, i.e., the fifth community card on the table, the third card is given to the players as the third hole card.

The gameplay here resembles Omaha Poker, in which players must use two out of the four-hole cards and the five community cards to form a five-card hand.

In this variant, players must form a five-card hand using two out of their three hole cards and the four community cards on the table.

Short Deck Poker Strategy

Here are some strategies to help you win short-deck poker:

• Since hand ranking differs from the traditional Texas Holdem, learn the hand ranking first. A flush can beat a Full house in Short-deck poker.
• Hands like A-K, A-Q, and A-J can help you win the round. 
• If you have high cards, don’t keep yourself from playing aggressively. The position also plays a crucial role. Play aggressively only if you are in a late position.
• Straights and Flushes are standard in the game; hence, pay close attention to the board and your opponent’s moves.

Texas Hold’em and Short Deck Poker: Key Differences

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Flush beat a Full House in Short Deck?

Yes, a Flush beat a Full House in Short Deck Poker.

What beats what in short deck poker?

A flush beats a full house, and a straight beats a three-of-a-kind.

What cards are removed in a short deck?

All the 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s cards are removed.

How do you play Short-Deck Poker?

Short Deck Poker uses a 36-card deck with all cards below six removed. Players receive two hole cards and use five community cards to make the best possible five-card hand.

Where is short-deck poker played?

Short Deck Poker is primarily played in high-stakes events and several live poker rooms.

What's the best short-deck poker strategy?

The best strategy in Short Deck Poker is to play strong hands aggressively, as hand values run closer together.

Conclusion

Short-deck poker is a variant of poker that is relatively quicker not because of variations in betting or the number of players playing it but because this game derives its nature from its altered deck size and reduced number of cards involved in the gameplay. If you are playing for the first time, remember that the deck is smaller; only practice can help you master the game. You can refer to this article while trying to learn more and practice this game.