6 Card Poker

If you play online poker at all you know that there are a number of different single and multi-table tournaments and cash games available. One of the most popular multi-table formats is six-handed poker. The rules are no different than any other single or multi-table poker game or tournament. However, the style of play changes significantly. If you weren’t sure about why your game needs to be adjusted based on the number of players at your table you will be after reading this.

Faster Game
The first thing you will notice about a 6 player poker tournament is the speed of the game. By nature poker is usually played at tables of 8 or 9 players. This is considered the normal makeup of the game and the speed of the game is reflected in this configuration. However, when the table has only six players the dynamics of the game change considerably. With only 6 players at the poker table you immediately feel a sense of urgency due to the blinds crashing down on you even faster. What used to be one orbit is not two-thirds of an orbit before the blinds hit you again. Depending on how many chips you start with this can affect your approach considerably. Also, when you are sitting with skilled players you will see more attempts at stealing the blinds for the same reasons. Taking a survival approach will end in an untimely and fast poker death.
The Aggression Factor
If you are going to play six-handed you must adopt a more aggressive approach to the game for your own good. The fact of the matter is that you cannot sit around folding hand after hand and expect to prosper at a six handed table. You will be eaten alive by both the players and the blinds. Any show of weakness in the face of raises or flat out blind stealing will be duly noted by your opponents. This means your hand selection has to be broader than normal. The [K][Q] that you would have folded in early position in a full ring is now a playable hand. The [J][T] you would likely fold to a raise is not as bad a hand as it may seem and may be playable depending on the situation and number of players involved in the pot pre-flop. All of these kinds of things are more reason to take a more aggressive approach with those speculative hands. They are also more likely to pay off when the flop hits you too. Remember, everyone is in the same boat in a six-handed game as the sense of urgency exists for everyone.

Countering Aggression
Just as you must increase your aggression when playing at short-handed tables you also must be capable of countering that same aggression. Don’t think that you are the only player at the table that knows they have to become more aggressive. On the contrary, these days’ players have access to the same knowledge both online and in print and video. That means you need to know how to deal with that knowledge when it is applied against you. For me counter aggression means re-raising when you are confident a person is on a blind steal. It also means re-raising with hands like [A][9], [A][T] and [A][J]. You may not win every single hand or pot. However, you will be sending a clear message to your opponents that you are not afraid to mix it up when the situation dictates.
Short-handed play makes you a better player overall. We all need to continue improving our short-handed play. Remember, every final table you make will eventually play out as a short-handed table. Will you be ready?