Shorthanded Poker
I prefer to play shorthanded poker. I like it when there are six or less players at the table because I am dealt more hands per hour than at a full ten person table. I can exploit my opponent’s mistakes a lot more, therefore, I make a lot more money playing shorthanded.
While playing shorthanded is my preference, there are times that you might find yourself at a shorthanded table. You might have a few players sitting out; a couple of players might have left the table; or a table with your preferred limit might open up and you join that table hoping for more players to sit down.
When you are playing at a shorthanded table, try to imagine that you are playing at a full ring game and the first four players have folded. This strategy will help you adapt your game without becoming too loose, which is a common error.
To understand this concept, in a full ring game you should probably fold KJ off-suit from under-the-gun, but you should raise with that hand from middle position if you were first to enter the pot. If you are playing in a shorthanded game, you could raise KJ off-suit from under-the-gun (because it would be the equivalent of middle position in a full ring game.
When you are playing shorthanded poker and you are the first to enter the pot, you should raise. Aggressiveness is absolutely key to you having success in a shorthanded game. Since there are fewer players, high cards (even unsuited) go up in value, while smaller suited connector cards go down in value.
The reason is because there are fewer players involved in every hand, therefore you often do not have the pot odds to play draws. Hands like top pair are worth much more in a shorthanded game than in a full ring game.
Many players become too loose and aggressive when they are playing shorthanded. They will bluff a lot more and quite often raise the turn when they are on a draw. Since there are fewer players at the table, it is much easier for you to see the patterns in your opponents’ play.
You really want to adapt your game to the tendencies of your opponents. As with any form of poker, position is important.
Just remember, even though shorthanded and weaker hands usually win the pot, if an extremely tight passive player is raising you on the turn, you should fold all but your very strong hands.
That part of poker never changes.