How to Play Short Deck Poker (Six Plus Hold'em)- Rules, Strategies & Tips

Short Deck may look like Texas Hold’em, but small changes in rules lead to major shifts in strategy.

Since players get stronger hands more often, bluffing and aggression are key to winning in Short Deck.

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Short Deck flips the script of traditional poker. You'll play with a 36-card deck, where all cards from 2 to 5 are removed. However, just like traditional poker, the aim of the game is to:

The biggest difference between Short Deck and Hold’em is the removal of low cards (2-5). This changes the way hands are made and hand values shift.

For example: In Hold’em, a Full House is much stronger than a Flush. In Short Deck, Flushes happen less often, making them more valuable.

Short Deck hand rankings differ from Hold’em, mainly because the probability of making certain hands changes.

It's important to note that in Short Deck, suits aren't ranked. If two or more players have the same hand type (e.g. they have a flush), the hand with the highest cards wins. So, a flush with a King high beats a flush with a Queen high, no matter what suits are involved.

Short Deck Poker may look similar to Texas Hold’em, but its rule variations create a game that’s faster, looser, and full of action.

The objective remains the same—make the best five-card hand using a combination of your two hole cards and five community cards.

However, key rule changes dramatically impact strategy:

In Short Deck, every player pays an ante instead of traditional blinds. This removes slow, fold-heavy gameplay and ensures that every hand starts with money in the pot.

Here’s how it works:

Because every player is invested from the start, Short Deck forces more aggressive play. You can’t just fold and wait for a premium hand—you have to battle for every pot.

This ante-driven format keeps the game fast, dynamic, and filled with high-pressure decisions—making Short Deck one of the most thrilling poker variants available.

Short Deck follows the same betting structure as Texas Hold’em, but with bigger pots due to antes.

Here's how it works:

The game starts with each player getting two cards face down—your secret hole cards.

Based on the strength of your cards, you need to decide whether to:

Now, three cards are dealt face up in the center of the table—the community cards. Everyone can use them to make their strongest hand. Betting resumes.

On The Turn, a fourth community card is dealt face up. Then, dictate your betting move:

The fifth and final community card is revealed. Now, make your biggest decision: bet, call, check, or fold. This is where fortunes can be won or lost.

If there's more than one player left after The River, it's time for an epic showdown. This means that all the remaining players reveal their hole cards. Have the best five-card hand, win the pot.

Since there are fewer cards in Short Deck, some starting hands become more powerful while others become weaker.

Big pairs, like A♥A♦ and K♣K♥, are still strong starting hands. But don't forget, strong hands are common in Short Deck. Don't expect the same dominance as in traditional Hold'em.

Hands like J♦10♦ of the same suit (suited connectors) gain immense value in Short Deck. Straights and flushes are frequent, making these hands powerful.

Starting hands like A♣K♦ and A♠Q♥ hold value, but understand the risk. Expect strong opposition post-flop and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Middle pairs, like 9♠9♦, lose a lot of their power. In Short Deck, it's more likely someone has a bigger pair or makes a straight or flush that beats you.

If you're ready to master strong starting hands in other poker games, check out our full poker hands guide.

Short Deck poker is all about fast action, big hands, and aggressive play.

With a smaller deck and more frequent premium hands, standard Hold’em strategies won’t cut it—you need a new approach to stay ahead.

In Short Deck, strong hands are common, so tight-passive play won’t work. You need to play more hands, but don’t get reckless—focus on hands that connect well with the board, such as suited connectors and pocket pairs.

Hands like pocket 6s or 7s might seem strong, but they lose value fast in Short Deck because straights and flushes hit more often. Instead of relying on small pairs, look for big Broadway hands (A-K, Q-J, etc.).

Since there are fewer low cards, you’ll hit straights and flushes far more often than in Texas Hold’em. If you have a straight or flush draw on the flop, you should bet aggressively rather than passively waiting to hit it.

With more players making strong hands, it’s easy to assume that big bets always mean big hands. This is where strategic bluffing comes in. If you sense hesitation, a well-timed overbet or shove can steal pots even when you don’t have the nuts.

Since every player antes into the pot, there’s always something to fight for—meaning you can’t just sit back and wait for premium hands. Take advantage of loose players who play too many weak hands and punish them with well-timed raises and reraises.

With fewer cards in the deck, the odds or probability of making strong hands in Short Deck Poker change drastically from Texas Hold’em.

Flushes occur less frequently, which is why they outrank full houses, while straights are more common due to the absence of low cards.

These probability shifts impact both hand values and betting strategies, making it essential to adjust your approach when playing Short Deck.

Key Takeaway: Flushes happen less often—that’s why they rank above a Full House!

Once you’re comfortable with the basics, it’s time to refine your strategy and play Short Deck like a pro.

In Short Deck, hand equities run much closer together compared to Texas Hold’em. Even hands that seem weak in Hold’em—like J-10 suited—can be powerhouses in Short Deck because they make flushes and straights more often.

Since flushes beat full houses, you should always chase flush draws harder than you would in Texas Hold’em. If you’re on a flush draw, your implied odds are much stronger than in traditional poker games.

Because players frequently hold strong hands, a standard bet size isn’t enough to push people off their draws. Instead, advanced players often use overbets (betting 1.5x-2x the pot) to pressure opponents into making tough decisions.

Position is even more critical in Short Deck than in Hold’em. Since equities run closer, playing hands in position allows you to see what your opponents do first, giving you a huge strategic advantage when making post-flop decisions.

Because the deck is smaller, players tend to bluff more often on the river. If an opponent is making a big shove and you have a decent hand (like two pair or a weak straight), you should consider calling more often than you would in Hold’em—since their range is likely wider.