Short deck Holdem Poker with 52- card

For gameplay of Short Deck Hold’em Poker the 52 Cards Deck is Stripped-down to a deck of 36.

Table of Contents

All cards deuce to fives is discarded to make a deck of a total of 36 cards. With this deck, there is an alteration in the hand rankings from that of No-Limit Hold’em. Not just that the game dynamics also drastically move.

Where and when did they strip the deck?

The game of short deck poker has been on tables for quite some time. Several years maybe. It has also been a part of online poker gaming. However, only a few international sites have it on their platforms. But looking at its popularity other platforms have it in their plan to launch it soon.

The concept of Short Deck Hold’em poker originated in Asia, and probably, more specifically in China. Lately, the game is quite popular in Europe. This is because of the few High-Roller Short Deck Hold’em events that happened with Tom Dwan and Phil Ivey.

The game in 6+ Hold’em is faster than the basic Hold’em. The speed adds much fun and excitement.

Stripping the Deck

To begin Short Deck Hold’em, a regular 52-card deck is deprived of the twos, threes, fours, and fives. Left behind is a 36-card deck. In this the six is the lowest card – that is if the aces are not low. Which they are mostly.

2) 6+ Holdem Hand Rankings

There are not many differences between the short deck Holdem and the regular 52 cards Texas hold’em. Still, the very few differences which are there, are major and pretty much shift the dynamics of the game.

The Hand rankings in Short Deck Hold’em

A flush holds over the full house
A set of three is higher than a straight.
Unusual eh? But it is sensible in this case.

Let’s say, in a game of regular hold ’em, you are dealt a couple of suited cards. Now clearly, Nine cards in the deck can make a flush. Whereas in short deck Hold’em this quantity comes down to five. So the low probability of hitting a flush gives it a higher ranking.

In other words, it is mathematically more difficult to hit a flush over a full house.

About the other cards

Four cards are fewer in every suit. Which translates into a higher probability of a straight draw. So it’s clear that there are fewer gaps between the rest of the cards and it is more probable to hit a straight over a set of three.

Therefore it is simpler to hit a set of trips in Basic Texas Hold’em. Once a player is dealt pocket pairs there are only 2 out of 34 cards to deal out a set as compared to the 52-card deck.

In basic gameplay of Texas Hold’em, the ace can be a high or a low card. An ace can link with the 6, the lowest in a deck of 6+ Hold’em.

So the highest straight remains the same. The Broadway straight is T-J-Q-K-A but the lowest straight is now A-6-7-8-9. The ace replaces the 5 here.

In the following post, we will discuss the hand rankings of Short Deck Holdem and the game strategy. Keep reading!

Gaurav Mohta

A seasoned poker enthusiast with a keen eye for revenue, has successfully established his niche in the real money gaming industry. As a skilled business professional, he brings his expertise to the table, combining his love for poker with his acumen for business. He is a force to be reckoned within this industry.

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