Short handed cash games of six poker players or less
The skills to tighten up your normal full table game
SHORT HANDED GAMES One of the most exciting features of online poker are the higher-limit cash games. These tend to be short handed games of six players or less and this in itself requires you to tighten up your normal full table game. If you are getting involved in these sorts of contests your skill level is almost certainly on the rise (either that or you’re nuts). The change which takes place in your game is mainly to do with how you look at hand values. The more skilful you are the more you are able to see that certain hands can be fine and playable under particular circumstances but rubbish under other conditions. Let’s say you find yourself at a table where there are a lot of strong bets flying in. For example players are raising and re-raising frantically until the cap is reached. Under these conditions you might want to play very conservative hole cards: Ace-Ace, King-King, Ace-King, Queen-Queen and Jack-Jack. Almost all other cards you would want to fold. If the game is flowing more normally you might want to stick to the following suggested game plan: Raise if you’ve paired on a non-raised flop when holding the following hole cards: Ace-Ten, King-Queen, King-Jack, Queen-Jack and even Jack-Ten. Call a raise if you’ve paired with the following pocket cards: Ace-King, Ace-Queen, Ace-Jack, King-Queen, Ace-Ten and Queen-Jack. Only play suited connectors and baby pairs in very specific situations. For example if you are up against players who are not overly aggressive. This situation might allow you to play multi-way pots but of course if there are four or less of you at the table this won’t be possible. In general short handed higher-limit games don’t offer any real respect or value to suited connectors or small pairs.
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UNLOAD IF YOU HAVE THE GOODS On the occasions during a short handed game when you have a premium hand (high pair) you should almost always bet on it. Don’t let an opponent’s reaction in the form of a raise make you defensive. Re-raise right back at them. At this level a lot of players will try to challenge your will even if they don’t have the goods themselves. If you have a top pair in a short handed game the odds are with you and you need to play them come hell or high water. If you have a strong pair but not a top pair rely on the community cards to influence your betting decisions. If there’s an Ace on the board and you’re holding Queens clearly you are very vulnerable. On the other hand if the board is showing Three-Eight-Nine it’s highly unlikely anyone is going to be holding onto a Nine in the hope of pairing it and you’ll know you probably have a good chance of making a powerful run for the pot. Do so with all guns blazing.
