Poker Tip #7
Playing in shorthanded games will typically favor the
aggressive player. Because there are fewer players to
begin with, hands that are not thought of as premium hands
rise in value. Examples of this are medium pairs and high
cards that you wouldn’t normally raise with in a
full game (A-8, 8-8, 7-7…). If you are raising before
the flop, when the flop comes down and your opponents
do not connect with it you may very well steal the pot.
Drawing hands in shorthanded games are typically not
good hands to play with because of the limited number
of players in the game. It is highly unlikely that you
will get pots large enough to make it worthwhile to chase.
Playing in shorthanded games is also great practice for
playing in tournaments. As your opponents are knocked
out of the game, you’ll be going up against fewer
players. Playing in shorthanded games will prepare you
for these situations.
On a final note, with all the extra hands that you will
be playing in shorthanded games your bankroll can take
large swings. You need to be ready to handle these swings.
Shorthanded games can be very profitable and remember
you will need to know how to play in a shorthanded game
if you ever want to play in and win a tournament.
