How to Play Short Deck (6+) Hold'em
A 36-card Hold'em format without ranks two through five, with venue-specific forced bets and altered rankings.
Learn the rules ↓What is Short Deck (6+) Hold'em?
Make the best high hand from any five available cards, while applying the posted short-deck rankings.
Short Deck or Six-Plus Hold'em removes all twos through fives from a standard deck; exact house implementations differ.
Dealer, forced bets & starting cards
Players receive two private cards and see flop, turn, and river, as in Hold'em. The cited PokerStars game uses antes and a button blind instead of the usual two-blind structure.
Forced bets: PokerStars uses all-player antes and a button blind; other venues differ. Deck: 36 cards: six through ace in each suit.
Betting rounds & legal actions
Betting schedule: 4. When action reaches you, fold, check if no bet is pending, bet, call, or raise within the table's betting limits. An all-in wager is possible when your remaining stack is smaller than a full bet; side pots can result.
Betting limits: Often no-limit; verify the table. Always confirm the posted stake and raise rules before play.
Showdown & pot award
At the cited PokerStars table, a flush beats a full house. A-6-7-8-9 is a straight. Other short-deck venues may change additional hand rankings.
See the rule at the table.
A♠ 6♦ 7♣ 8♥ 9♠ is a nine-high straight in the cited six-plus format even though 2–5 are absent.
The mistake to avoid
Assuming standard Hold'em rankings and blinds carry over unchanged. Check the specific room's straight and flush rules before playing.
A sound starting approach
Fewer ranks alter draw frequencies and hand values. Learn the room's exact ranking chart before adapting starting-hand and betting plans.
Venue and format variations
Flush-over-full-house is documented by PokerStars, while some houses also alter trips versus straight ordering. Ante and blind structures vary by operator.
Game mechanics, tournament procedures, and local house rules are different layers. Poker TDA publishes tournament procedures; the table operator's posted game rules decide the exact version you play.
Follow one hand, step by step.
Remove all ranks two through five, leaving 36 cards.
This fixed sequence teaches the deal and betting order. It does not simulate an actual hand.
Check your understanding.
QUESTION 1 / 2How many cards are in a standard six-plus deck?
Read the correct chart.
For the cited PokerStars 6+ rules, a flush ranks above a full house. Check the house chart: some short-deck venues also differ on other categories.
- A♠J♠9♠7♠6♠FlushBeats a full house in the cited 6+ rules.
- K♠K♥K♦8♣8♥Full houseBelow a flush in this operator example.
- A♠9♦8♣7♥6♠Lowest straightA-6-7-8-9 counts as a straight in 6+.
Frequently asked questions
What cards and deck does Short Deck (6+) Hold'em use?
36 cards: six through ace in each suit. Cards received over the hand: 2; community cards: 5.
How is the pot awarded?
At the cited PokerStars table, a flush beats a full house. A-6-7-8-9 is a straight. Other short-deck venues may change additional hand rankings.
Which rules should I check at a real table?
Flush-over-full-house is documented by PokerStars, while some houses also alter trips versus straight ordering. Ante and blind structures vary by operator. Confirm the venue's betting limits, forced bets, and tournament or cash-game procedures.
Related poker terms
Continue exploring
Playing this game in a tournament? Explore tournament formats and rules ↗
Source documents
These original explanations were reviewed 2026-10-15. The linked organizations publish the underlying rules; Flawless Poker is an educational guide, not an official ruling body.
- PokerStars 6+ Hold'em rankings ↗Published room short-deck ranking example
- Poker TDA 2026 Rules v1.1 (Sept. 21, 2026) ↗Tournament procedures; not a universal rulebook for every game