Limit 6 players

Basic strategy for shorthand Texas Limit Holdem

On the internet shorthand Texas limit Holdem (6 players or less) is by far the most played poker game. In order to earn money with playing poker online poker it is therefore very important to understand how to play the shorthand version. The best style to play shorthand is different from the best style to play the longhand version:

Starting hands before the flop

When playing shorthand the hands you should play are different from longhand. Below we give you a short overview. For a more extended overview we refer to the basic strategy of longhand. The strategy for shorthand is similar, however, differs on a number of points. One point of interest is that at shorthand the value of suited cards and low pocket pairs (77 and lower) decreases. a second point of difference with longhand is that with shorthand it is often better to raise or to fold instead of calling. The last point of difference is that at shorthand the value of your cards always depends on your position at the table and of what the other players do. In case, for example, there is a raise before the flop followed by a re-raise and someone else calls, you should fold everything except for the top hands AA, KK, QQ, JJ and AK. Every time you should ask yourself whether or not you have the best hand before the flop before deciding to fold or raise.

Hands to raise or re-raise
AA, KK, QQ, JJ and AK.
With these cards you should raise or re-raise. This is because at shorthand there are 6 players max at a table, which means the risk that someone else also has AA or KK is lower.

Hands to raise
AQ, AJ, A10, KQ, KJ, QJ, J10,1010, 99 and 88.
In case nobody has raised yet, you should raise with these hands.

After the flop

When playing shorthand, if you have a good hand after the flop (top pair or better) you should always raise. Because the chance that someone else has a better hand than you is much smaller compared to when playing longhand. In case someone raises, you should re-raise. The reason for this is that players often try to get a free card on the turn by raising. Players bluff more often when playing shorthand. Whatever the reason might be, it is almost always the best to raise or re-raise with a top pair (with a good kicker) or better.

The situation is different if you have a pair but not a top pair. You then have to make an estimation of how strong your hand is with respect to the hands of the other players, which strongly depends on the circumstances. If you have for example A6 and the flop is 762, you can take the risk that nobody else has 7. You should then raise in case everyone checks. In case you have for example J10 and the flop is AKJ, you have a weak hand. That is because the chance is high that someone has an a or K. You should therefore fold. In situations like that it is always the best to fold as early as possible. Don't try another draw it will not be profitable in the long run.

Bluffing

When playing shorthand bluffing is way more important than when playing longhand. Bluffing at longhand on the low limits in general doesn't make much sense, because there will always be someone who will call (with very divergent hands). At shorthand however there are less players and it is therefore more likely that all the other players will fold.

There are several ways to bluff:

Bluff on the flop - In case you have raised before the flop, it is sometimes a good idea to also raise after the flop irrespective of whatever the flop is, though especially if there appears an a at the flop. Of course it is better not to re-raise if someone else has already raised and you have nothing. You should also be very careful for check-raisers!

Semi-bluffing - In case you have nothing, though a good draw (for example chance on a flush), it is often sensible to raise. This is because you then have two chances of winning the pot: Either everyone folds or you actually draw a flush. Moreover, when playing in this manner you can frequently get a free card on the turn (= fourth card to appear on the table).

Other ways of bluffing - In general other ways of bluffing do not work at the limit versions of poker.