Last Updated on April 2, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Short Deck Hold’em, also known as Six-Plus Hold’em, is a popular poker variation played with a 36-card deck by removing all 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s. The game follows traditional Texas Hold’em rules but with key hand ranking changes—three-of-a-kind beats a straight, and a flush is stronger than a full house due to fewer suited cards. With more action, bigger hands, and higher variance, Short Deck Hold’em is an exciting, fast-paced poker variant that rewards aggressive play and strategic adjustments.

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How to Play Short Deck Hold’em

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Objective

The objective of Short Deck Hold’em is to win chips by forming the best possible five-card poker hand using any combination of your two hole cards and the five community cards.

Setup

1. Deck: A standard 52-card deck is used, but with all twos, threes, fours, and fives removed. This leaves 36 cards in play.

2. Card Rankings:  Standard poker hand rankings apply, with one exception. A flush beats a full house in Short Deck Hold’em due to the fewer cards available to form flushes.

3. Deal the Hole Cards:  Each player receives two hole cards face down.

4. Blinds and Betting:  Players post blinds (forced bets) before any cards are dealt. A round of betting follows.

Gameplay

1. The Flop:  Three community cards are dealt face up in the center of the table. A round of betting ensues.
2. The Turn:  A fourth community card is dealt face up. Another round of betting occurs.
3. The River:  The fifth and final community card is dealt face up. This is followed by a final round of betting.
4. Showdown:  Remaining players reveal their hole cards. The player with the best five-card hand (using any combination of their hole cards and the community cards) wins the pot.

Strategy

• Starting Hand Selection:  Due to the fewer low cards, prioritize higher-value suited connectors (e.g., J♠️T♣️) and unpaired high cards (e.g., A♥️K♦️).
• The Rule of 3 and 6:  Since there are fewer cards in the deck, the “rule of fours” used in traditional Hold’em to calculate outs (potential cards to improve your hand) becomes less accurate. In Short Deck Hold’em, use the “rule of 3” on the flop and the “rule of 6” on the turn or river to estimate your odds of completing a draw.
• Focus on Straights and Flushes:  With fewer low cards, straights and flushes become more powerful hands.
• Don’t Overvalue Pocket Pairs:  While pocket pairs are still strong, their value decreases slightly due to the increased likelihood of facing flopped sets (three of a kind).
• Be Aggressive with Strong Hands:  The reduced deck size makes strong hands more valuable. Don’t be afraid to bet aggressively when you hold a powerful hand.
• Pay Attention to Pot Odds:  As always, carefully consider pot odds when deciding whether to call a bet or raise.

Notes

• Short Deck Hold’em is a fast-paced game with more action due to the increased frequency of strong hands.
• Adapting your strategy from traditional Hold’em is crucial for success.

With a good understanding of the rules, these strategic pointers, and some practice, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the exciting world of Short Deck Hold’em!