Short Deck poker has quietly taken over some of the biggest cash games in the world. If you’ve tuned into Triton Poker streams, you’ve seen massive pots explode under a format that looks familiar but plays very differently. It feels like Texas Hold’em at first glance. Then you realize the math has changed.
The deck is smaller. The action moves faster. Hands collide more often. And the rankings? They can flip what you thought you knew.
If you already understand basic Hold’em, you’re much closer to playing Short Deck than you think.
What Is Short Deck Poker?
Short Deck, also called Six Plus Hold’em, removes all the 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s from a standard 52-card deck. That cuts the deck down to 36 cards, running from 6 through Ace in each suit.
Everything else looks familiar:
- Two hole cards per player
- Flop, turn, and river
- Four betting rounds
But once those low cards disappear, probabilities shift. Straights connect more often. Big hands show up more frequently. Preflop matchups tighten.
The game keeps the structure of Hold’em while quietly changing the engine underneath it.
The 36-Card Effect
With only 36 cards in play:
- The lowest card is a 6
- Each suit has 9 cards instead of 13
- Made hands appear more often
- Preflop equities run closer together
You will see more sets. More strong draws. More boards that smash multiple ranges. Top pair, which often dominates in regular Hold’em, loses some of its authority here.
Short Deck rewards players who adjust quickly.
Hand Rankings: What Changes
Here is where many new players get surprised.
In most major high-stakes versions, including Triton’s commonly used rules, a Flush beats a Full House.
Yes, that’s reversed from standard Hold’em.
Why? Because with fewer cards, full houses occur more often. Adjusting the ranking helps rebalance hand values.
Always confirm the house rules before playing, since some private games keep traditional rankings.
A widely used Short Deck ranking looks like this:
- Royal Flush
- Straight Flush
- Four of a Kind
- Flush
- Full House
- Straight
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- One Pair
- High Card
Once you internalize this change, hand reading becomes much clearer.
The Ace Straight Rule
In Short Deck, Ace can act as both the highest card and as the low end of a straight.
Since 2 through 5 are removed, the lowest straight becomes:
A-6-7-8-9
If you hold an Ace and see 6-7-8 on the board, you have real straight potential.
It’s a small rule tweak that creates very different runouts.
Strategy Adjustments
Short Deck is not about memorizing new charts. It’s about recalibrating instincts.
- Sets appear more often, so one pair loses relative strength.
- Preflop equity gaps shrink, meaning more hands can continue.
- Suited hands gain importance, especially when Flush outranks Full House.
- Aggression patterns shift in ante-heavy structures.
The game rewards pressure and disciplined hand reading. If you cling to standard Hold’em assumptions, you will overvalue marginal hands.
Ante-Only Dynamics
Many high-stakes Short Deck games run without blinds, though structures vary by venue.
- Every player posts an ante
- The button often posts a larger ante
- The button typically acts last preflop
This structure creates immediate action and discourages passive play.
Some rooms still use blinds, so confirm before sitting down.
Why Players Love Short Deck
Short Deck feels volatile in the best way. Strong hands collide more often. Equity runs closer. Big pots build naturally.
That’s why elite professionals like Tom Dwan, Patrik Antonius, and Bryn Kenney continue to battle in this format.
If you know Hold’em, you already have the foundation. Short Deck simply asks you to rethink value, trust the math, and embrace a faster pace.
Once you adjust, it becomes addictive.
