06-25-04, LearnTexasHoldem:

Short Handed Strategy

Question: Thank you for the information you've written on your site. I was wondering if you had any information about the strategy used when playing short handed. Most of what you read is for full tables of 9 people. But what happens when there are 3 or 4 players, or just heads up? Has anyone come up with statistics for which cards are best to play then? It would seem to me that going for straights and flushes would be less profitable in such situations for example. Are there any books on this subject that you know of?

Also, I have looked all over for a hand held pocket poker game that you could play holdem on but havn't found any. Do you know where I can buy one?

--Thanks

Top 3 Beginner Rooms

Answer: No, I haven't seen a pocket poker game yet but if you find one do me a favor and let me know.

I've read a couple articles about short handed play but I haven't seen any books dedicated to it. Holdem For Advanced Players has a chapter in it.

First off, aggression pays in short handed play. Bet, keep betting and then when you are sure you are beat, bet again. LOL That's the truth though. Every hand will start off by someone raising and then someone either calling or three betting. From there the person with the last raise preflop has the initiative and they will keep betting until someone takes the initiative away from them. Slow playing will not work in a game like that. You won't get enough cards to compete with them blinding you to death. You'll need to mix it up with them.

The first concept you need to understand is that you aren't playing a numbers game anymore, it is a person game. If you check, they bet. That means that you aren't concerned about odds; you're only goal is to beat the person you are in the pot with. If a hand is almost worth a call, then it is definitely worth a bet in shorthanded play. Always be the bettor or raiser. Pay attention to who you are playing and try to get a handle on what they raise with and how they play their hands after the flop, on the turn and river. Will they raise from late position everytime and bet religiously unless you reraise? Will they check raise on a bluff? Will they raise or reraise with no pair on the flop or draw? These things help you out a little; you'll be able to save a few bets.

Next, expect some fluctuation in your stack. That's normal. You'll be winning and losing a lot of hands. You will inevitably pay off some good hands but you can't let that stop you. How loose you play post flop depends on how loose the other guy is playing. If he is betting nothing you may raise even bottom pair. You'll go farther with your overcards and you need to be capable of a check raise bluff or semi-bluff on the turn card. That's a very powerful move in shorthanded games. Occasionally check raise with middle pair on the turn. It only costs you another big bet or two and you'll get much more value on your next hand when it is a monster. Lastly, for hand selection you'll want to play middle cards, pairs and above.

Avoid hands with low cards like 2, 3 and 4 (unless with an A). You want to be able to draw to either card and hit a pair to win. Hands like J8 and T7 are playable against really aggressive loose players. You'll also throw in hands like K6s Q5s etc. You'll also be raising a lot from on the button as well as reraising with the hands above. Remember it only costs you one more small bet preflop but then you have the initiative. Playing poker shorthanded is nothing like in a full game. Many of the moves you do at a table with 3 or 4 people would be totally wrong at a full game. Short handed games are fun because you get to play way more cards and it is a much faster pace.

Your rating:

Click on the clover of your choice

User Rating: (2 Votes)

  • Share on Facebook
  • Print
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us