Two Plus Two Newer Archives - 6 Max Basic strategies

Nah, that's probably why it's so dang profitable!

Maybe I'll start on one for ya.

Here are some basic preflop recommendations (do others agree?)

-Almost never limp. Even if you have AA,KK, AKs. This doesn't make sense in a 6max game. The mentality of the game has changed drastically from full ring. Realize this above all else, in a short handed game, you are "playing poker" more than you are playing good cards. People EXPECT their blinds to be stolen EVERY round. Don't limp with your killer hands, GET VALUE!!

-Realize that the aggression is turned up to twice the usual amount you'll see in a full ring game. People will 3bet KT, 55,44, 33?, A7 is a regular 3bet, AJ is the standard UTG raising hand in this game. Hell AT is a great hand to 3 bet most of the time.

-This leads to another point, never just call a raise, RERAISE!!!! We don't want to let hands in that can beat us with KQo, A9s. The blinds won't usually play the iso 3-bets. If these iso bet don't work in your particular game, then tighten up a bit and squeeze a little more value out of your better hands since those blinds will call.

Other post flop recommendations.

-Expect to call down with a lot of hands that you usually wouldn't in a full ring game (DEPENDING ON THE OPP). Since the action is so aggressive, you have to protect your money when they are bluffing. 66 is a huge hand heads up. Just know when to fold when they get their ace.
-Don't be as afraid of scare cards, know how your opponents might use them against you. (ex: when a 4th low straight card shows on the board after a capped preflop, and you've got a pair of kings or aces, do you think they'd have the low set or a few busted high cards?
-Watch the river I seriously think now that it is the most important round of play in short-handed, get free showdowns when you're hand is extra vulnerable and don't open yourself to check-raises against those tricky players, this has happened to me frequently when I "Think" I'm betting for value, but they are just calling me down to raise me ( Harrington's Hammer). On the other hand, if your opponent is the type to call down with mid-pair time after time, you HAVE to bet on the end with top or mid pair, or hell if he capped and he's got AK, then hell -read him and bet with 22!.

-Mix up the play. Become unpredicable. Don't become a target for constant flop bets and turn bluffs, make yourself into a fog of betting. The short-handed game is a place to make up some rules for yourself for each particular table. So many hands go by so fast that you will soon become adapted to each player within a few minutes (and you will have to!), but keep in mind they will also automatically become aware of your tendencies too. If you sit down at a sweet juicy table and rip it up for a half hour, you'll notice that probably not many people will be limping anymore and the table might tighten up a bit, does this mean you can bluff more? Or should you tighten up more? These are the skills you need to develop in order to beat short handed games.

hehe, ok that was a bit of a ramble, but I hope you are able to take something away from that. Let me know how your game goes.