ShortHanded Online Poker Tips and Strategy
Shorthanded poker play is becoming more common, especially on the Internet. People like to play shorthanded because they get to play more hands and there is faster action. Additionally, shorthanded play isn’t just for cash games. Shorthanded online tournaments are extremely popular as well. Here are some tips for getting into shorthanded tournaments online.
General Shorthanded Cash Game Tips and Strategy
In cash games, when you are sitting at a table featuring less than 7 people (including you), we call it a short handed poker game. The game is ’short handed’ as game speed is high and there are litterally not a lot of hands at the table. Shorthanded tables require a different approach than full ring tables. As play goes faster and you have less opponents, you have to adjust your online poker game. First of all, you must play generally looser. Second of all, you have to mix up your play as being predictable is far worse in a short handed game than at a full ring table. Position remains an important factor, but is not more critical than in ring games.
Shorthanded Online Tournament Poker Tip No. 1: Know Your Enemy! Online poker sites allow you to observe your opponents before playing. While you can’t jump into a shorthanded poker tournament in the middle, you can watch the players who normally play in such tournaments and make notes on them. You’ll likely encounter these players repeatedly if you play on the same site. If you can sit down with five players whose tendencies you’ve already mapped out, you’ll be in great shape.
Shorthanded Online Tournament Poker Tip No. 2: Find Your Comfort Level! Not all shorthanded tournaments are the same. You can play six handed, four handed, or even heads-up. While you may want to experiment with all of these, you might also find that you are particularly skilled in one area. Try to learn the exact number of opponents that allow you to fully unleash your shorthanded poker skills. Shorthanded Online Tournament Poker Tip No. 3: Defend Your Blinds Defending your blinds in any poker tournament is important. In a shorthanded tournament, it is critical. With so few players to worry about, opponents will be chasing your blinds all the time. If you cannot show opponents that your blinds aren’t up for grabs, they will carve you up.
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