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Introduction

Shorthanded (6-max) texas holdem is a distinct animal than ten or nine handed poker. Low limit shorthanded poker has a handful of much more wrinkles than the larger limit range. Considerably of the literature with regards to shorthanded poker is aimed at the greater limits, where many post-flop battles are heads up. We will focus on games comparable to the 1/two 6 max games at Party Poker

Beginning Hands

As at any level of poker, starting hands are the foundation of your holdem game. On the 1/two 6 max tables, you will regularly be facing 2 or 3 opponents with VPIP's (voluntarily put $ in the pot...see Poker Tracker Guide for more detail) of 50 percent or a lot more. Now, just because many of your opponents will be beginning with shaky hands does not mean you should stoop to their level. Texas holdem at any level is about playing beginning hands with positive expected values. The other poker players' looseness combined with the fewer quantity of opponents will permit you to play far more hands, but it is nevertheless optimal to maintain your VPIP below 30.

In general, playing 6 max, raise with any Ace with a kicker of ten or higher, King-Queen and King-Jack, and Queen-Jack suited as properly as pairs down to nines. You really should limp with any two cards ten or higher in any position. In the final two seats, you can play any two cards nine or higher. Suited connectors down to 65 can be played anywhere and any other hand with two suited cards 8 or larger as nicely as suited Aces can be played. Pocket sixes and sevens are playable anywhere. With the smaller pockets, play them if there are two limpers ahead of you. The hands you decide to play in the first two seats can be extended to some of the suited connectors or decrease pairs if you are playing at an exceptionally passive table with little raising.

Steal Raises

Most of the hands we advised you to play really should be opened for a raise in those rare cases when you are on the button in a pot that hasn't been entered. Beware...stealing the blinds is quite hard in low limit shorthanded texas holdem. Most poker players playing this level will call your raise with virtually something in the huge blind. Several will contact from the small blind. Steal raises from the cutoff seat are normally not recommended. You could stretch your raising specifications SLIGHTLY if 1st in right after two have folded, but keep in mind you've nevertheless got 60% of your opponents however to act. Raise when you can expect to narrow the field to one, for then you will be in the driver's seat.

Aggression

Shorthanded (6-max) holdem is generally characterized by aggression. This is true in the low limit shorthanded 6 max games as nicely, even so, the unbridled aggression successful at higher limits might not serve you as well in low limit poker. You must stay aggressive, but beware that the circumstances are diverse and you may possibly not be in a position to bully your way to as numerous pots. Normally, your preflop raises will be met by two or a lot more callers. If you raise with two higher cards and miss the flop, you are almost certainly behind in the hand. With two opponents, we advocate betting the flop. A single luxury of low limit poker is that your bets will not typically be met with raises or check-raises.

The 6-max tables are filled with calling stations...your finest hands will get callers, but if you raise with KQ and there is an ace and two rags on the flop, you will not be capable to bet your opponent's pocket twos off the hand most of the time. Similarly, hands like pocket sevens that are good raising hands shorthanded in greater limit poker are not profitable when raised at low limits. With multiple callers expected, you will almost certainly have to hit a set to win...so raising increases your investment and is a poor play from an expected worth standpoint.

HitTheFlop

If you have hit your flop, then you must be really aggressive. Slow playing is normally a no-no (unless you have a set or are heads up, then there are instances when a slow play is named for). Keep in mind, most of these low-limit hold em players will get in touch with you down with hands like middle or bottom pair, a gutshot or even an overcard or two. Don't permit them to poor beat you cheaply. Make them spend to see their longshot draws. Extract your money from them when you've got the edge. Bear in mind also that in shorthanded poker games leading pair with mediocre kicker is a a lot much better hand than it is on complete tables. If I flop best pair with my K2s in the little blind, i am normally going to verify raise. Examine-raising out of the blinds is really profitable.

Late players will bet their gutshots or bottom pairs, and, much more importantly, will pay you off to the river following your verify-raise. This is an critical play...not only will it earn you income when it functions but it will discourage players from attempting to steal pots. Examine-raises with just best pair are really rare at low limit holdem, and your opponents will make note of it and fear you. Any flop in which you have top rated pair ought to be raised, unless there was a preflop raiser. Then, use your judgement as to regardless of whether he ought to be checkraised, depending on the board and his raising frequency.

Shorthanded Poker

Low limit shorthanded (6 max) texas holdem is a game swimming with fish. If you play tight, aggressive poker you will win at an astonishing rate due to the poor play of your opponents. Stay aggressive, but bear in mind that the quantity of opponents will dictate no matter whether you should go complete throttle or put on the brakes. Hop onto the 1/2 6 max holdem tables at Party Poker today, comply with these guidelines and I guarantee you will be a profitable poker player. powered by