Just in 2018, Nick Schulman, a poker player, played Short Deck Poker for the first time and walked home with a whopping $272,084. I’m sure we’ve piqued your interest, and if you want to know more about this variant of poker, read on and we shall guide you. 🔱 The likes of Tom Dwan, Rui Cao, Timofey 'Trueteller' Kuznetsov Tan Xuan, and Mikita Badziakouski sat down for a Short Deck Cash Game session during #Trito. Speaking of Aces, they play the same role in short deck poker rules, just like in Texas Hold’em. You can either use it as the lowest value or the highest value. To give a simple example, the lowest possible straight you can have according to short deck poker rules is that of Ace, 6, 7, 8 and 9, where Ace pretty much works as a regular 5. Short Deck Poker; Play Omaha Poker Online; Short Deck Poker. To a layman, all of poker seems the same. In fact, most of us wouldn’t even know about the plethora of variants of the game. But poker isn’t just people holding fans of cards and eyeing each other suspiciously. There are several kinds of poker, such as Texas Hold’em, 5 Card. In a full-deck NLHE game, your chances of flopping a flush draw with your suited hand is 11%, a chance that drops to 9.5% in the short deck game. Even when you do flop a flush draw, the chances of completing that flush draw by the river are 34.5% in NLHE, but only 30% in Short Deck.
The world’s leading online poker site, PokerStars has finally launched its own version of the exciting new variant 6+ Hold’em (also known as Short Deck Poker)—a game that has taken the poker industry by storm.
6+ is the operator’s fifth new cash game variant since 2018 and the first this year. It follows PokerStars Fusion, an innovative variant that blended the elements of Texas Hold’em and Omaha into a single variant. Fusion was recently withdrawn from the client after running for more than two months.
PokerStars’ 6+ Hold’em rolled out in Denmark, Estonia and in the play-money client (on the dot-net site) on January 15. It launched in the UK, Sweden, and on the global dot-com and dot-EU player pools on January 16.
How is PokerStars 6+ Holdem Played?
6+ is quite easy to learn as the game is played quite similarly to traditional Texas Hold’em except with a stripped down deck. All the cards lower than Six are removed from the deck to make it a 36-card deck instead of the usual 52. Because the low cards are removed, players are more likely to get dealt premium hands and hence this makes the game more of an action-oriented game.
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Rules of 6+ Hold’em
In PokerStars’ version of Six Plus Hold’em, instead of the traditional “small blind” and “big blind”, the game uses a “button blind” structure meaning every player on the table pays an ante while the player on the Button not only pays the ante but also pays a blind equivalent to the size of the ante. The same structure is also followed in the high stakes Triton Poker Series.
As in Hold’em, the action starts with the player seated to the left of the button. Each round then plays out according to standard Texas Hold’em rules, with pre-flop, flop, turn and river betting rounds.
Aces are played both low and high just like in traditional Hold’em, but in 6+ Aces can also play as Fives when making a straight. The lowest straight is A6789 and the highest straight is TJQKA.
Hand Rankings
What makes the game more interesting is the differences in the hand rankings compared with the Traditional Hold’em. Since the game is played with a deck of 36 cards, Flushes are harder to hit because there are only 9 cards of each suit instead of 13. As a result, Flushes are ranked higher than Full Houses—which in this game is easier to hit than a Flush.
Mathematically speaking, it is also easier to hit Straights than Sets or Trips in Six Plus Hold’em. However, in the PokerStars version, Straights are still ranked higher than Three-of-a-Kind.
To conclude:
- Flushes rank higher than Full Houses.
- Straights are ranked higher than Trips or Three-of-a-Kind
- A6789 is a low Straight while TJQKA is a high Straight.
- The game is played with an ante. All the players post an ante while the Button posts an additional ante that acts as the only blind.
- The player to the left of the Button is the first to act.
Is the Game Available in Tournaments or Other Format?
At launch, 6+ Hold’em is available only as cash game format. There has been no official announcement by the operator whether the game would be available in Sit & Go or tournament formats.
What are the Minimum and Maximum Buy-ins or Table Stakes Available?
The game is currently offered with buy-ins starting from $3-$4 with Button and Ante at $0.02 to a table with buy-ins as high as $30,000-$40,000 with Button and Ante at $200.
What is the Rake Structure of 6+ Hold’em?
Rake is charged at 3.50% at the lowest buy-in ($3-$4), 5% on Mid-stakes, and 4.50% on Higher-Stakes.
Caps on the rake depend on the table stakes and buy-ins which is shown below.
PokerStars 6+ Hold’em Rake Info
| Buy-in | Ante | % Rake | 2 Player Cap | 3-4 Player Cap | 5+ Player Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2 -$3 | $0.02 | 3.50% | $0.30 | $0.30 | $0.30 |
| $5-$7.50 | $0.05 | 4.15% | $0.50 | $0.50 | $1.00 |
| $10-$15 | $0.10 | 4.50% | $0.50 | $1.00 | $1.50 |
| $25-$37.50 | $0.25 | 5.00% | $0.50 | $1.00 | $2.00 |
| $50-$75 | $0.50 | 5.00% | $1.00 | $1.00 | $2.50 |
| $100-$150 | $1.00 | 5.00% | $1.25 | $1.25 | $2.75 |
| $200-$300 | $2.00 | 5.00% | $1.50 | $1.50 | $3.5 |
| $500-$750 | $5.00 | 5.00% | $2.00 | $2.00 | $4.50 |
| $1,000-$1,500 | $10.00 | 4.50% | $2.50 | $2.50 | $4.50 |
| $2,000-$3,000 | $20.00 | 4.50% | $3.00 | $3.00 | $5.00 |
| $5,000-$7,500 | $50.00 | 4.50% | $3.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 |
| $10,000-$15,000 | $100.00 | 4.50% | $3.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 |
| $20,000-$30,000 | $200.00 | 4.50% | $3.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 |
Can Players Choose Their Own Table or Seat in 6+ Hold’em?
No. Just like in the previous cash game novelties, 6+ Hold’em too has adopted “Seat Me” (also called blind-lobby functionality). Under this system, players choose the game and stake and the software automatically finds a seat for the players. If no seat is immediately available, players join a waiting list.
Is the Game Available in My Region?
6+ Hold’em is available for real money in global dot-com, European Union (EU), United Kingdom (UK), Sweden (SE) client, Denmark (DK) client and the Estonian (EE) client. The game is not yet available in Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, European shared network (France, Portugal, and Spain), Greece, India, Italy, and New Jersey.
However, players from all these regions (including the United States) can play the game for play-money in NET client.
Are there any strategies on 6+ Hold’em available?
Yes, we have written two strategy articles on this game.
1) Six Plus Hold’em/Short Deck Poker Odds and Probabilities
2) Beginners Strategy/Five Tips about Six Plus Hold’em
Will it be a Temporary Offering or Permanent?
There is no mention by PokerStars whether 6+ Hold’em will be available indefinitely or if it will be available for a limited time offering. However, if history is of any indicator, it seems that 6+ will also be a temporary offering like the previous cash game novelties.
But given the fact that the game has turned out to be very popular across both live and online field, 6+ could well be made available permanently, much like Fast Fold format (aka Zoom) or Jackpot based Sit & Go’s (aka Spin & Gos).
Latest News on Six Plus Hold'em:
PokerStars Launches 6+ Hold’em Spin & Gos
Games are spread at five buy-ins from $1 to $100.
GG Network Will “Probably” Launch Short Deck Poker in 2019
The stripped deck version of Texas Hold’em continues to surge in popularity as GGNetwork is set to add this action-packed variant to its game offering.
6+ Hold’em MTTs to Debut on PokerStars as SCOOP Side Events
Starting May 17, Short Deck tournaments will become available at PokerStars in both tournaments and Sit & Go formats.
PokerStars and partypoker Continue to Emphasize the Importance of Twitch
The competition between the two online poker giants intensifies as both look to expand their reach via the popular live-streaming platform with new signings.
Exclusive: 6+ Hold’em, Showtime and Fusion to Return to PokerStars in Tournament Format
Both Hold’em and Omaha versions of Showtime are among the games that will soon make their debut as MTTs.
Seating Scripts Now Completely Banned on PokerStars
Unexpected consequences of previous restrictions caused increased difficulties for players looking to get a seat.
Partypoker Launches Short Deck Hold’em
Two months after PokerStars launched Six Plus Hold’em, partypoker has joined the short deck craze with its own stripped deck cash game.
PokerStars Rolls Out 6+ Hold’em in Italy, 6+ Tournaments Set to Debut
The Short Deck variant will be the first new novelty poker game by PokerStars to be offered in a tournament format.
Exclusive: PokerStars Readies Split Omaha
In its continued attempt to keep poker fresh, PokerStars is planning to launch yet another new novelty variant based on the game Double Board Omaha.
6+ Hold’em to Debut in Italy and it Could be Permanent
6+ will be the only variant in the recent wave of new games from PokerStars to go live in a segregated market.
Read more on Six Plus Hold'emPlay Short Deck Poker Online Games
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PokerStars appears to be bringing the popular new poker variant, Six Plus Hold’em or Short Deck Poker, to its platform soon, according to a report at PokerFuse.
In recent months, the game has gained some traction in cash games and on the tournament scene in southeast Asia among high rollers. Some of the most well-known players in the world have gotten in on the Six Plus (Short Deck) bandwagon, including Tom Dwan and Phil Ivey, who began playing the game in 2015 in Macau.
It appears PokerStars is now bringing the game to the masses and began utilizing a Six Plus graphic recently to promote the new offering.
What is Six-Plus Hold’em?
For the uninitiated, Six Plus is quite a bit different than traditional Texas Hold’em. Deuces through fives are taken out of the deck and then the game follows the traditional hold’em format. The removal of those low cards makes for only a 36-card deck, and even changes the math of the game.
In fact, the deck’s alteration also changes the ranking of hands, with straights now ranked higher than flushes in Short Deck. With so many higher cards now, players’ odds to make much stronger hands increase – creating more action and some say a bit more gamble than traditional hold’em. Ivey said as much to PaulPhuapoker.com last year.
“There’s a lot of gambling involved,” he said. “The equities run pretty close, so it’s pretty easy to get your money in the middle and be 50/50 or somewhere near that. It suits a more gambling style of player.”
What Is Short Deck Poker
Will the short deck action attract a following on PokerStars? Time will tell, but the site has been looking to expand its offerings in recent months, trying to offer more variants to entice more players to the tables with fresh games.
The site recently launched three new games: Unfold, Split Hold’em, and Showtime Hold’em. Here’s a look at the theory behind those three games:
- Unfold Hold’em – PokerStars’ newest offering for cash game players, Unfold gives players another chance to win – even players who have folded their hands.Before the hand, each player pays an Unfold ante to form a side pot. All players who folded pre-flop are given the chance to “Unfold” when the flop is dealt, but must pay the Unfold bet – the sum of the side pot with no further betting. The winning “folded” hand after the river wins the side pot.
- Split Hold’em– Also available in cash games, this form of hold’em calls for two flops, two turns, and two rivers. Players must make the best hand on both boards to win the whole pot, thus the “split.”
- Showtime Hold’em – This game is also played like traditional Texas Hold’em except when a player folds a hand, it’s showtime – those are revealed for everyone at the table. Folded hands remain face up and visible throughout the rest of the hand. The revelations could alter strategy and information available on other players at the table.
Short Deck Poker Online
Six-Plus becomes just the latest in the ever-expanding stable of PokerStars hold’em games. However, no timetable has been offered yet on when Six Plus will make its debut on the site.