Introduction
Shorthanded (6-max) texas holdem is a different animal than ten or nine handed poker. Low limit shorthanded poker has a few more wrinkles than the higher limit variety. Much of the literature regarding shorthanded poker is aimed at the higher limits, where many post-flop battles are heads up. We will focus on games similar to the 1/2 6 max games at Party Poker
Starting Hands
As at any level of poker, starting hands are the foundation of your holdem game. On the 1/2 6 max tables, you will frequently be facing 2 or 3 opponents with VPIP’s (voluntarily put $ in the pot…see Poker Tracker Guide for more detail) of 50 percent or more. Now, just because many of your opponents will be starting with shaky hands doesn’t mean you should stoop to their level. Texas holdem at any level is about playing starting hands with positive expected values. The other poker players’ looseness combined with the fewer number of opponents will allow you to play more hands, but it is still optimal to keep your VPIP below 30.
In general, playing 6 max, raise with any Ace with a kicker of ten or higher, King-Queen and King-Jack, and Queen-Jack...