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 Limit Hold'em Shorthanded Play
Poker is a fluid game and the opponents in the game determine the mathematics of correct play. Most poker books take an average game played at a large 10-player table and base their math and charts off average game statistics. There is nothing wrong with that especially at lower limits. What happens in short games and why are there no books to teach shorthanded game play? Shorthanded games get increasingly variable with fewer players, so it depends on what players you are playing against. Look for two types of opponents, those who play too tight and those who play too aggressive. Against opponents who play too tight raise their blinds and bets often, even if they call, you will have position and a chance to outdraw them. Against opponents who are too aggressive you will want to become passive and essentially become a calling station. Avoid check-raising flops, because this will stop them betting and make them drop hands with little chance of winning. Even big hands preflop should be called and a continuity of check calling their bets will let them destroy themselves. This may feel a little unnatural to begin with, but by reraising them you give them the information they need to get away from the hand during the cheaper betting rounds. A recommended play for shorthanded games is to check raise the turn card (4th card on the board) with big hands like 2 pair and trips. Find out if the opponent chooses to continue the hand drawing almost dead in the pot. Continue this strategy until opponents start to fold hands to the check raise on the turn. Once you have established this authority over your opponent that hands should folded when check-raised on the turn, start check-raising drawing hands (example 4 card flush). These hands are no-good unless they hit so you would prefer your opponent to fold. You need your opponent to fold 20% or more to make this play. The lack of books and information on shorthanded play usually means shorthanded games consist of far worse players. Combine that with the fact players in shorthanded games play more hands an hour making it more profitable for experienced players. Higher rate of hands an hour also means a higher rate of rake, so it is important to get a good rake back deal when playing online shorthanded games. Poker8.com offers a 50% instant rake back, which is a good deal often rake back programs take up to 1-month to pay the rake back to you.
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