The 6-max no-limit hold'em format is gaining immense popularity among online poker players, sometimes even overrunning the full-ring games. If you're in the mood for more action-packed poker,here are a few poker tips on basic 6-max strategy.
Estrategia Poker Cash 6 Max 6
Our 6-Max Cash Game Poker HUD has been beta tested for almost a year. During this time, thousands of poker players have used it in their everyday grind, testing it under real life circumstances and provided feedback on every step of the way. Big thanks to all the beta testers! How to Beat 6-Max Cash Games $ 49.00 $ 39.00 JustGTO covers GTO preflop strategies, analysis of single-raised pots, 3-bet pots, and 4-bet pots, and hand reviews with solvers. How 6-max poker works 6-max is a format where you have a maximum of six players at the table instead of 9 players allowed in the more traditional full-ring poker games. The three first positions to act, UTG (Under the Gun), UTG+1 & UTG+2 don't exist in 6-max, which means we only have players to act before the two blinds.
This book will cover small stakes online 6 max ring games. All hands will be assumed to be 6 handed, though other situations will be discussed. The focus of this book will be the progression of a hand through preflop, flop, turn, and river. Your hand ranges in general should adjust and be contrary to the way the game is playing.
Those who have already played 6-max cash games know that they're faster, more intense, and more aggressive than what is typically the case at the regular nine-handed tables. More often than not, the 6-max battles are won and lost in position as the shorter-handed table means you're going to spend more time in the blinds and playing from late positions.
It's only natural that the game logic of 6-max NLHE suggests greater success will be enjoyed by the more aggressive players. However, you should still keep your head clear as even here too much does not necessarily mean good play. If you wish to try playing 6-max and stay on the winning side, here are five rather simple strategy tips to consider.
1. Play Tight
Aggressive play is often the right play from late positions. However, you should really know what you're doing as it's going to be really hard to keep up the same level of aggression when playing from the blinds and early positions.
Many new 6-max players tend to start out playing too many hands and playing them too aggressively. You should still fold around two-thirds or even three-fourths of your hands and not get involved in the pot. This means that any suited-ace or suited connectors should be returned to the dealer before the flop if it costs more than one big blind to continue, unless you're on the button. This might sound boring, but when playing from out of position at the 6-max table, tight often means right.
By not playing too many hands you will not only save your chips, but will also have more time to study and get to know your opponents which is also very important.
2. Don't Forget to Be Aggressive
That said, aggression is the key to success in all poker disciplines and 6-max NLHE cash games are no exception. Aggressive players can win with the best hand as well as make their opponents fold. Aggression is such a powerful weapon that a number of pros have built their entire careers on its foundation.
This means you should raise almost every hand you decide to play. It doesn't matter if you're playing a mediocre hand from the button or a monster from the blinds — take the initiative before the flop and oftentimes keep it up afterwards.
3. Play in Position
At the 6-max tables, do try to play the maximum number of hands from favorable positions. This concept is as important as playing aggressive.
Poker is a game of information which can be best obtained by playing in position. Because of this, you should play stronger hands from the early positions and a more wide range of hands from the late positions. In this way before making hard decisions you will be able to observe and better read your opponents.
From the early positions you should narrow your hand range to middle and higher pairs, strong aces, and suited kings and queens. Meanwhile let yourself improvise when on the button.
4. Believe in Your Opponents
Another golden poker rule is that even the weakest players can have a good hand — don't forget that. If your opponent is playing solidly and responsibly, take that player's raises or reraises as a reliable sign and retreat.
If in such situation you're not sure whether you're winning, just fold and move on. This is the right move. Smart bets by your opponents indicate they're looking for value.
5. Isolate the Limpers
There are few pieces of poker advice that begin 'never' or 'always,' but it is more or less the case that in 6-max games it makes sense never ever to let your opponents see a free flop. Don't limp yourself and don't let others do it.
Limpers are usually weak players looking for value with small hands. Don't let them do it even if you have a monster and are looking for easy profit yourself. By leaving the limper in the pot, you will only have yourself to blame.
If you're seriously into poker, these strategy tips should not be entirely new to you. However, some basics are always good to remember.
Estrategia Poker Cash 6 Maximum
And if you're looking for a good place to try 6-max NLHE cash games, we recommend an up-and-coming independent site Tonybet Poker. One huge advantage to playing at Tonybet Poker is that the site charges zero rake from its hold'em and PLO cash game tables. What's more is that being a rather new site it has a solid population of weak players driven by the overwhelming amount of freerolls being offered, which means you'll have plenty of room for learning and putting these tips to a good use.
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The key difference between full ring and shorthanded cash games involves the number of poker players. Full ring is essentially a standard poker game where nine or ten players are seated. While some poker rooms offer a maximum of five seats in their shorthanded cash games, most are usually limited to a maximum of six seats, which is why they are commonly referred to as '6-max' tables.
The 6-max cash games are hugely popular online. Some poker players prefer these shorthanded cash games simply because they like to play against fewer opponents and they get to see more hands. Others prefer the standard full ring cash games, perhaps because they're more like the cash games that are found in live poker venues.
Strategic Considerations
Even though the only difference between the two formats is the variation in table size, they play very differently.
Starting Hand Selection
Full ring cash games allows a player to play tight by being conservative with their moves and holding out and only committing when a very strong hand comes their way. Since the blinds are paid more frequently and there are fewer players in shorthanded games, starting hand values go up significantly. When you play 6-max cash games you need to play more poker hands and play them more aggressively. Anything that is playable in mid-position in a full ring game is generally playable in any position in 6-max games. You'll also find that you can be the first raiser much more often when in late position, simply because there are fewer players.
Aggression Adjustment
Without a doubt, one of the most important separations between a full ring and a shorthanded game is the level of aggression. If you're making the switch from full ring to 6-max cash games then you already know that you need to open up your range of starting hands. Aggressive play is always important in poker, but even more so in shorthanded games because you must maximize your ability to play and win with marginal and lighter holdings. This does not immediately relegate the more traditional full ring conservative players, but overly tight play will certainly can count against you. In the same vein, shorthanded games can sometimes tempt players to loosen up too much and play too many weak hands, which can lead to their downfall.
Positional Considerations
Position is important in all forms of poker as it is obvious that it is more desirable to act last rather than first. Playing a hand from early position In a full ring cash game is a much bigger disadvantage than in shorthanded games, since there are more opponents who can enter the pot after you've acted. However this doesn't mean your table position should be disregarded when playing 6-max. Players are more likely to miss the flop in shorthanded games which makes position very valuable post-flop. If you're out of position then you're opponents will have more opportunities to exploit you by stealing pots when you miss the flop.
Increased Opportunities
6-max cash games are more profitable for skilled poker players. If you're fortunate enough to be seated with an inferior opponent then you'll be involved in many more pots with them. This means you can exploit your edge over these weak player far more than you ever could in a full ring game, simply because there are fewer competing players. The skilled poker player also benefits from playing 6-max games because of the wider range of hands that are played, and the knowledge of how to play these hands against weaker opponents, who might be clueless.
Bluffing and Value Betting
Although there are increased opportunities in shorthanded games and it is generally easier to bluff, you need to temper this with the realization that your fellow poker players know that aggressive play is the order of the day and you'll get called much more frequently. That is the bad news – the good news is that due to the prevalent mind set in shorthanded games your value bets have a much higher likelihood of being called.
In shorthanded games you may be able to confuse your opponents by making value bets that are larger than normal. These larger bets may seem like bluffs as they appear to be discouraging a call. The contrarian nature of poker (strong is weak and weak is strong) many times makes an opponent even more willing to call. Try betting about one and one half times the pot as a value bet and you might be surprised at how often you'll be called.
Higher Variance
You'll experience larger swings in shorthanded games. This is simply because players will be involved in more pots with weaker hands, and betting them more aggressively. Your style of play will influence how much variance you personally experience. If there is greater variance in shorthanded games, then it stands to reason that handling the highs and lows will require a larger than normal bankroll than full ring games.
What Should You Play?
This will depend on your style of poker and your thirst for action. If it's action you crave then shorthanded play should be your game of choice. By nature of the fewer number of players, you will be forced to play more hands than when at a full table. The playable hand values go up significantly and since there are less players to act behind you, aggressive play is essential. You simply cannot just sit there and wait for premium cards.
If you're starting out then it's generally better to begin by playing full ring games. This will allow you to build a solid foundation and learn the basics of good cash game play with less risk to your bankroll and your ego. Once you've gained the necessary experience and skills you can then progress to the shorthanded 6-max tables and get a feel for what kind of mixture of patience and aggression that's required to succeed.
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By Tim Ryerson
Tim is from London, England and has been playing poker since the late 1990's. He is the ‘Editor-in-Chief' at Pokerology.com and is responsible for all the content on the website.
