A New Format Taking the Poker World by Storm

Over the past several years, a variant called Short Deck Hold'em (also known as Six Plus Hold'em) has evolved from a niche high-roller game in Asian poker rooms into a globally recognized format featured at the World Series of Poker, Triton Poker, and major online platforms. If you haven't encountered it yet, you will soon — and understanding its mechanics gives you a significant head start.

What Is Short Deck Poker?

Short Deck Hold'em is Texas Hold'em played with a 36-card deck instead of the standard 52. All cards with ranks 2 through 5 are removed, leaving only 6s through Aces. The structure and community card format (two hole cards + five community cards) remain identical to Texas Hold'em.

This simple change has far-reaching consequences for hand frequencies, equities, and strategy.

How Hand Rankings Change

Removing 16 cards fundamentally alters hand probabilities. The most notable ranking change:

  • Flushes are now harder to make than full houses. With fewer cards of each suit available, suited hands connect far less often. Most Short Deck formats rank flushes above full houses as a result.
  • Three of a kind beats a straight in some rule sets, though this varies by venue.
  • Aces can still play low to make a "wheel" straight: A-6-7-8-9.

Why the Smaller Deck Creates More Action

With fewer low cards in play, premium hands connect with the board more frequently. Pocket pairs flop sets more often. Straight draws are more common with connected high cards. The overall effect is a game that plays faster, more aggressively, and with more post-flop action than standard No-Limit Hold'em.

This action-heavy nature is a big reason why Short Deck quickly became a favorite among recreational high-stakes players — they get to play more pots and see more dramatic hand confrontations.

Key Strategic Adjustments

Suited Hands Drop in Value

In standard Hold'em, suited hands are often played partly for flush potential. In Short Deck, the flush draw completes less frequently, reducing the implied value of suited holdings.

Pocket Pairs Rise in Value

The probability of flopping a set with a pocket pair increases significantly in Short Deck. This makes low-to-mid pocket pairs worth playing more aggressively, especially in position.

Straight Draws Are More Valuable

With the deck denser in high cards, open-ended straight draws hit more often. Connected hands like 8-9, 9-10, and J-Q have stronger implied odds than in standard Hold'em.

Equity Runs Closer

Because the deck is condensed, hands run closer in equity. The classic "70-30" pre-flop domination spots are less common, meaning even dominated hands have more outs.

Where to Play Short Deck

Short Deck has spread significantly across poker platforms and live venues:

  • Live: Many major casino poker rooms, especially in Asia and Europe, now regularly spread Short Deck games. The WSOP has included Short Deck bracelet events.
  • Online: Several major online poker platforms offer Short Deck cash games and tournaments, making it easy to practice the format at lower stakes.
  • High-Stakes Streams: Triton Poker, one of the most-watched high-roller series in the world, regularly features Short Deck events, giving players excellent learning material to study.

Is Short Deck Right for You?

If you enjoy a faster-paced, action-heavy variant of poker and want to diversify your skill set, Short Deck is absolutely worth exploring. The learning curve is manageable for experienced Hold'em players, and the unique strategic puzzles it presents are genuinely refreshing.

Start by playing micro-stakes Short Deck online to get a feel for the hand frequencies, then study some high-stakes Triton hands for strategic insight. The format rewards adaptability — exactly the skill that separates good poker players from great ones.