Short Deck Poker

Short Deck Poker Online

Ready to spice up your poker game? Say hello to Short Deck Poker, the exhilarating twist on Texas Hold'em that's taking the poker world by storm! With a deck stripped down to 36 cards—goodbye, twos through fives—this version promises faster action, higher stakes, and a whole lot of fun.

In this guide, we'll teach you the ins and outs of Short Deck Poker, from the unique hand rankings to killer strategies. So, shuffle up and get ready to play poker like never before!

What Is Short Deck Poker?

Short deck poker is one of the variations of the traditional and popular poker game - Texas Hold’em. It is also known as six-plus Hold’em or 6+ Hold’em in some parts of the world. This follows the same rules as Texas Hold’em but has one significant difference.

The short deck uses just 36 cards instead of the whole deck of 52 cards, and this has a huge say in the odds, draws, and strategies. Since the short poker deck was introduced in Macau casinos for cash-rich poker games, it has become a massive hit in the poker world. You do not need to pack your bags to play; you can do the same on the short deck poker online gaming platform GetMega.

Short Deck Poker Rules

• Short deck poker uses only 36 cards which are dealt to all the players.
• The 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s are removed, creating a short deck of 16 fewer cards.
• The new deck consists of cards from 6 to King, plus Aces.
• Aces in short deck poker can be the lowest or highest value, similar to Texas Hold’em.
• The lowest possible straight in short deck poker is Ace, 6, 7, 8, and 9, with Ace acting as a regular 5.
• The gameplay is similar to basic poker game rules, with each player receiving two Hole cards.
• Players use the Community cards to form the best possible hand.
• A regular short deck game includes four streets: pre-flop, flop, turn, and river.
• After the river, the short deck poker starting hands are made as usual.
• The winning hand at the end of the game takes home the riches.

Short Deck In Poker Odds

The short deck in poker odds holds the capacity to change the game. It may challenge the ancient intuitive knowledge about the maths used in poker. You can play more short deck poker starting hands in the short deck. The players more frequently draw ace cards.

You will hit your outs more often as fewer cards are available in the deck. A straight hand occurs more often than a three-of-a-kind hand. You will flop fewer flush draws and hit them even less often. Explore the elegance of French playing cards with their unique designs and suits, adding sophistication to your card games.

Explore the elegance of French playing cards with their unique designs and suits, adding sophistication to your card games.

Are there Any Other Popular Versions of The Short Deck Poker?

Yes, one popular version of the short deck is used more than others. The short deck rules change slightly as the River is dealt with differently. While the regular short deck poker follows the route of 3 cards in Flop, 1 in Turn, and 1 in River, this version skips the part of River.

Instead, the players get one more Hole card, making it a total of 3. Now, the players need to make a hand of 5 by combining 4 Community cards and 3 Hole cards. If you have played Omaha poker, then this version of short-deck poker must have rung a bell in your head. In Omaha, the players have 4 Hole cards and 3 Community cards to make a hand of 5. Note that you can only use 2 Hole cards to make your hand of 5 in both these poker games.

Difference Between The Short Deck Poker Hand Rankings From Texas Hold’em?

In a short-deck poker game, players can choose the hand rankings they want to follow. You can play it the traditional way or use the alternative method, where the hand rankings rules change. Also, you can play the game in the no-limit or fixed-limit format, even though the preferred style for short-deck/short-deck rankings is the former.

Here are the regular hand rankings that need to be followed while playing the regular version of short deck poker, which is similar to Texas Hold’em.

Hand Ranking	Hand Name	Poker Hand
	High Card	Kx, 6x, 9x, 8x, Qx
	One Pair	K◊, K◊, 5x, 8x, Qx
	Two Pair	K◊, K◊, 6◊, 6◊, Qx
	Three-of-a-kind	K◊, K◊, K◊, 6x, Qx
Lowest	Straight	Ax, 6x, 7x, 8x, 9x
	Flush	K◊, J◊, 10◊, 6x, 9x
	Full House	K◊, K◊, K◊, 6◊, 6◊
	Four-of-a-kind	K◊, K◊, K◊, K◊, 6x
	Straight Flush	A◊, 6◊, 7◊, 8◊, 9◊
Highest	Royal Flush	10◊, J◊, Q◊, K◊, A◊

Here are the hand rankings that must be followed while playing the alternate version of short-deck poker:

Hand Ranking	Hand Name	Poker Hand
	High Card	Kx, 6x, 9x, 8x, Qx
	One Pair	K◊, K◊, 5x, 8x, Qx
	Two Pair	K◊, K◊, 6◊, 6◊, Qx
	Straight	Ax, 6x, 7x, 8x, 9x
Lowest	Three-of-a-kind	K◊, K◊, K◊, 6x, Qx
	Full House	K◊, K◊, K◊, 6◊, 6◊
	Flush	K◊, J◊, 10◊, 6x, 9x
	Four-of-a-kind	K◊, K◊, K◊, K◊, 6x
	Straight Flush	A◊, 6◊, 7◊, 8◊, 9◊
Highest	Royal Flush	10◊, J◊, Q◊, K◊, A◊

The differences in the ranking system are obvious. A three-of-a-kind overpowers a straight, and a flush has more power than a full house.

Now, why is there a difference in rankings in this version of the short deck? The answer is quite simple – because it has fewer cards, and the change in the ranking system makes the game fairer. Since there are only 36 cards in short deck poker, the possibility of making a flush with just 9 suited cards is much less than making a full house. Therefore, it has more precedence over a full house. A lot of online games follow this set of short-deck poker rules.

Short Deck Poker Strategy

Now that you know all the short-deck poker rules and poker strategy for beginners, it is time to apply them and win big money. So, what kind of strategies can you follow to win this game?

First, you need to change the mindset you use for regular Texas Hold’em games, as a good hand in that is an average hand here. It is mainly because of the ease with which good hands can be made in short-deck poker, thanks to removing low-value cards. For example, it is quite easy to make straights and full houses in this, thus making it a low-value hand while playing the alternate version of a short poker deck, which is not true in Texas Hold’em.

The odds of getting certain draws change because of the number of cards in the total deck. Similarly, it affects the possibility of getting certain hands. The chances of getting pocket aces (a pair of Aces) are double that of a regular Texas Hold’em game. Therefore, you must consider such odds while playing out your hands.

Furthermore, you need to think of a different game plan if you are playing the version of Poker 6 that does not involve the use of River and instead has a third Hole card. In such times, the need for having an excellent hand becomes much more apparent. This is why you need to be well-versed in short deck poker rules and hand rankings so that you can win more often than not.

How to Play Short Deck Poker Online?

Short Deck Poker, also known as Six-Plus Hold’em, is a thrilling variant of Texas Hold’em that uses a 36-card deck. The game follows the basics of poker to traditional Texas Hold’em but with notable differences.

Rules:

1. Deck: The deck includes cards from 6 to Ace, removing all 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s.
2. Dealing: Each player receives two hole cards.
3. Betting Rounds: There are four betting rounds - pre-flop, flop, turn, and river.
4. Community Cards: Five community cards are dealt face up in three stages: three on the flop, one on the turn, and one on the river.
5. Hand Rankings:
   • Aces can be high or low.
   • The lowest straight is A-6-7-8-9.
   • Flushes beat full houses.
   • Three-of-a-kind beats straight.

Gameplay:

• Objective: Make the best five-card hand using any combination of hole cards and community cards.
• Starting Hands: Play more starting hands as the reduced deck increases the likelihood of strong hands.
• Odds and Strategies: Adjust strategies considering the altered probabilities due to fewer cards. Straights and full houses are more common, so value hands accordingly.

Conclusion

Short Deck Poker offers a dynamic and fast-paced alternative to traditional Hold'em, making it an exciting choice for poker enthusiasts. Played with a 36-card deck, where cards 2 through 5 are removed, it creates a game with more action and higher hand values. This format increases the odds of hitting strong hands, intensifying the gameplay. 

The altered hand rankings, with flushes beating full houses, add another layer of strategy. Short Deck Poker's swift and thrilling nature, combined with its strategic depth, makes it a popular choice for seasoned players and newcomers seeking a fresh poker experience. Now you know how to play how to play poker game, download Mega Rummy and play with pro players.

Also Read - Five card poker, Super Texas Hold'em Poker Online.

Frequently Asked Questions About Short Deck Poker

How do you play poker?

• Poker is a card game typically played with a standard 52-card deck. Players make bets based on the strength of their hand, with the objective of either having the best hand at showdown or convincing others to fold.

Is short-deck poker better?

• Whether short-deck poker is better depends on personal preference and playstyle. Short-deck poker has its unique dynamics, with fewer cards in the deck and different hand rankings, which some players may find more exciting or challenging.

What is the short deck theory in poker?

• Short-deck theory in poker refers to strategies and concepts specific to playing short-deck poker. This includes adjustments to starting hand requirements, understanding the impact of card removal, and adapting to the different probabilities and dynamics of the game.

What beats what in short deck poker?

• In short deck poker, hand rankings differ slightly from traditional poker. A flush beats a full house, and three-of-a-kind beats a straight. This is because the reduced deck changes the probability of making certain hands.

What is the 4 2 rule in poker?

• The 4 2 rule in poker is a simplified way to estimate the likelihood of completing a drawing hand on the next card. With one card to come, you multiply the number of outs (cards that improve your hand) by 4 to get an approximate percentage chance of making your hand by the River and by 2 to approximate your chances by the turn.