Short Deck Poker Rules
6+ Hold'em Strategy Guide
Short Deck poker (also called 6+ Hold'em or Six Plus) is a high-action variant that has taken the high-stakes world by storm since the Triton Poker series popularized it in 2018. By removing all 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s from the deck, the game creates more big hands, more action, and fundamentally different strategy. Here is everything you need to know.
What Is Short Deck Poker?
Short Deck poker uses a 36-card deck instead of the standard 52 cards. All cards below 6 are removed (2, 3, 4, 5 of every suit). This means:
- The deck contains only 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A
- Aces can still be low (A-6-7-8-9 is the lowest straight)
- Hand rankings are modified because probabilities change
- The game uses an ante-only structure (no small blind or big blind)
- All players post an ante, and the button posts a double ante
The result: more connected boards, more big hands, and much more action than standard Hold'em. Folding preflop feels wrong because every hand has more equity in a 36-card deck.
Rules & Setup
Deck
36 cards. All 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s removed. Nine ranks (6 through A) in four suits.
Blinds
No traditional blinds. Everyone posts an ante. The button posts a double ante (acts as the effective big blind).
Hole Cards
Each player receives 2 cards (same as Hold'em).
Community Cards
5 community cards (flop, turn, river) — same as Hold'em.
Betting
No-Limit. You can bet any amount up to your entire stack at any time.
Lowest Straight
A-6-7-8-9 (the ace plays low, wrapping to 6 instead of 5).
Modified Hand Rankings
This is the critical difference. Because the smaller deck changes how often certain hands occur, the rankings are adjusted:
| Rank | Hand | Standard Hold'em Rank | Why It Changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Flush | 1 | Same. Still the best. |
| 2 | Straight Flush | 2 | Same rank, but more common. |
| 3 | Four of a Kind | 3 | Same rank. |
| 4 | Flush | 5 (moved UP) | Harder to make with only 9 cards per suit. |
| 5 | Full House | 4 (moved DOWN) | Easier to make with denser card ranks. |
| 6 | Straight | 6 | Same rank, but much more common. |
| 7 | Three of a Kind | 7 | Same rank. |
| 8 | Two Pair | 8 | Same rank. |
| 9 | One Pair | 9 | Same rank. |
| 10 | High Card | 10 | Same rank. |
Critical rule change: Flush beats Full House
This catches many NLH players off guard. In Short Deck, a flush is harder to make than a full house because each suit only has 9 cards instead of 13. With fewer cards per suit, completing a 5-card flush is less likely than pairing the board for a full house. PlasmaPoker enforces this ranking correctly in all Short Deck games.
Key Differences from Regular Hold'em
| Factor | Regular Hold'em | Short Deck 6+ |
|---|---|---|
| Deck size | 52 cards | 36 cards |
| Blinds | SB + BB | All-ante + button double ante |
| Lowest straight | A-2-3-4-5 | A-6-7-8-9 |
| Flush vs Full House | Full House wins | Flush wins |
| Pocket pair frequency | 5.9% | ~8.6% |
| Set over set frequency | Rare | Common (coolers happen more) |
| Equity preflop | Wider ranges | Hands run closer in equity |
| Action level | Moderate | Very high |
How Probabilities Change
The smaller deck fundamentally changes the math. Here are the key probability shifts:
| Scenario | 52-Card Deck | 36-Card Deck | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getting dealt a pocket pair | 5.9% | 8.6% | +46% |
| Flopping a set (with pair) | 11.8% | 17.2% | +46% |
| Making a straight by river | ~31% | ~47% | +52% |
| Making a flush by river | ~35% | ~30% | -14% |
| AA vs KK preflop equity | 82% vs 18% | 73% vs 27% | Closer |
The key takeaway: hands run much closer in equity. Premium hands like AA and KK are still strong but not as dominant. This is what creates the high-action atmosphere Short Deck is known for.
Strategy Adjustments
1. Play more hands preflop
In NLH you might open 15-20% of hands. In Short Deck, opening 30-40% is normal because the ante structure puts more dead money in the pot and hands have more equity against each other. Folding is more costly relative to the pot.
2. Connected cards go up in value
Hands like JTs, T9s, and 98s are much stronger because straights complete far more often. The removed low cards mean all remaining cards are closer in rank, creating more straight possibilities.
3. Flush draws are more valuable
Flushes are harder to make (only 9 suited cards in the deck), so when you do make one, it beats a full house. If you have a flush draw, you are drawing to a premium hand.
4. Top pair is weaker
In NLH, top pair/top kicker (TPTK) is often good for a big pot. In Short Deck, the dense board creates more two-pair, trips, and straight possibilities. Be cautious with just one pair on connected boards.
5. Overpairs are less dominant
AA vs a random hand is ~63% in Short Deck vs ~85% in NLH. You will get cracked more often. Don't overplay aces on wet boards.
6. Set mining is more profitable
You flop a set 17.2% of the time (vs 11.8% in NLH). Pocket pairs are more valuable because sets happen much more often and get paid by the inflated action.
Starting Hand Guide
| Tier | Hands | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | AA, KK, QQ, AKs | Raise from any position |
| Strong | JJ, TT, AKo, AQs, KQs | Raise from any position |
| Good | 99, 88, AJs, KJs, QJs, JTs, T9s | Raise from middle position+ |
| Playable | 77, 66, 98s, 87s, A9s, K9s | Open from late position |
| Marginal | A6-A8 offsuit, low unsuited | Fold or defend big blind only |
Key insight: Suited connectors are gold
In Short Deck, a hand like T9 suited can make both straights (more common) and flushes (which beat full houses). These hands have massive implied odds and play well in multi-way pots. Don't just play big cards — connected suited hands are where the profit hides.
Where to Play Short Deck Online in 2026
| Platform | Short Deck | Provably Fair | Free to Play | Free HUD | US Players |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PlasmaPoker | Yes (6-max) | SHA-256 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PokerStars | Yes | No | Real money only | No | No |
| GGPoker | Yes | No | Real money only | $9.99+/mo | No |
| Global Poker | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Triton Poker | Yes | No | High stakes only | No | No |
PlasmaPoker is the only sweepstakes platform offering Short Deck with provably fair dealing. The server uses a correct 36-card deck implementation with modified hand rankings (flush beats full house) and A-6-7-8-9 as the lowest straight. All verified with 30+ integration tests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Short Deck harder than regular Hold'em?
Different, not necessarily harder. The fundamentals are the same, but the math changes significantly. NLH players need to adjust their hand rankings, pot odds calculations, and aggression levels. The game rewards action and connected hands more than premium-only strategies.
Why does flush beat full house in Short Deck?
With only 9 cards per suit (vs 13 in a standard deck), completing a 5-card flush from 9 suited cards is mathematically less likely than making a full house from the denser rank distribution. The rankings follow the actual probability of making each hand.
Is A-6-7-8-9 really a straight?
Yes. Since the lowest card in the deck is a 6, the ace wraps down to 6 instead of 5. A-6-7-8-9 is the lowest possible straight (the Short Deck equivalent of the "wheel"). This is consistent across all major Short Deck implementations.
Is Short Deck on PlasmaPoker provably fair?
Yes. Every Short Deck hand uses the same CSPRNG Fisher-Yates shuffle with SHA-256 verification as all other game types. The shuffle operates on the 36-card deck, and the audit hash is published before the hand starts so you can verify the deal independently.
Can I play Short Deck tournaments?
Short Deck cash games are live on PlasmaPoker now. Short Deck tournament support is on the roadmap. The cash game tables use the ante structure with 6-max seating for maximum action.
Try Short Deck on PlasmaPoker
The only sweepstakes platform with provably fair Short Deck poker. Free to play, built-in HUD, and the correct 36-card hand rankings.