If You Know What You're Doing, It's Good To Be Short
A common hole in the game of many poker players is that they don’t play well short-handed. There’s an enormous difference between playing against a full table or versus just a few opponents.
Most people are accustomed to playing Hold’em nine or ten-handed and are generally inexperienced at shorthanded play. As a result, they often fail to properly make the adjustments necessary in order for them to be successful. Not only does this make them easy pickings at short cash games, but winning tournaments becomes incredibly difficult.
First of all, it’s important to recognize when your game has become shorthanded. A table is generally considered to be short once there are six or fewer players. Although this may be quite obvious to everyone when playing a tournament, it can often go unnoticed at a cash game. Both live and online players come and go all the time sometimes they just miss a hand, other times they miss a couple rounds. What’s important to notice is that the dynamic is constantly changing; one hand you could be facing eight opponents and the next only five. It can be difficult to immediately adapt unless you are constantly on the lookout.
There are several key considerations that should help you adjust to playing shorthanded.
The range of playable hands increases. Starting hand values increase as the number of players decrease. The fewer players there are at the table, the more hands you can and should be playing.
Hand values change. Suited connectors decrease in value, while big cards increase in value. Marginal hands that would be considered “trouble hands” like ace-ten and king-jack are now much more valuable.
Early position is much less of a factor. If you are fi ve-handed and one player folds to you, you’re now in the cut-off seat (one off the button). Hands that you would play in late position at a full table can now be played from anywhere.
There are more opportunities for mistakes. Shorthanded play requires both you and your opponents to play more hands and therefore make more decisions. By making better decisions than your opponents, you can gain a substantial edge.
More focus is necessary. Playing more hands optimally requires greater concentration. Tired or distracted opponents will be at a significant disadvantage.
Aggression is king. The most important factor is by far aggression. When you flop top or middle pair, it’s frequently the best hand. Play it to win.
Like with everything in poker, practice is the key. You shouldn’t be encountering new situations for the first time at a final table or with a huge pot on the line. You should already have tons of experience and be very comfortable playing shorthanded. Six-handed cash games and sit-n-goes are always available on the internet, as are heads-up games. Online poker can provide the perfect anytime learning environment necessary to master shorthanded play.
It’s important to immediately notice when your table has gotten short, so that you can capitalize on the situation. You’ll be amazed at how often your opponents fail to properly adjust to the new table dynamic. Remember: Good players adjust their game, but great players punish their opponents for not adjusting.
“Nicky Numbers” is a top Internet poker pro, instructor for WPT Boot Camp and a private coach. To learn more visit www.wptbootcamp. com or contact him at NickBrancato@ gmail.com.
