How to Play Short Deck Poker

Short Deck Poker has grown more popular in the last few years with cash games and tournaments in this format now played around the world. The game features a unique deck setup and some different rules from traditional Texas Hold’em. The game offers players a shot at nice action and plenty of big hands.

Big name pros like Tom Dwan have taken to the game and the World Series of Poker even offered the first Short Deck bracelet even in 2019. The game can be an exciting alternative to Texas Hold’em and this guide will offer all the ins and outs of this interesting form of poker.

What is short deck poker?

Short Deck Poker, also known as Six Plus Poker, is a game played like traditional Texas Hold’em but with only a 36-card deck (a “shorter” deck as the name implies). This means all deuces, threes, fours, and fives are removed from the deck.

The shorter deck creates some major differences in strategy and even in hand rankings. From there, the game follows the format Hold’em players have grown accustomed to with two cards to each player with betting as normal as well on the flop, turn, and river.