| When it comes to playing shorthanded games online, | | | | against a single caller you will probably be a favorite. |
| one size definitely does not fit all. Certain concepts, | | | | However, this play is a loser at low limit shorthanded |
| aggression being the most important, are paramount | | | | holdem. You will not be able to bully your way to pots |
| no matter WHAT level you are playing; but the low | | | | very frequently. When you have raised with your big |
| limit games with its preponderance of loose, passive | | | | cards and missed the flop, position becomes most |
| opponents mandate a slightly different style of play be | | | | important. Frequently you will be up against three or |
| used to maximize profits. | | | | more opponents. If you've missed the flop and are last, |
| As at any level of poker, starting hand selection is key. | | | | take a free turn card if possible, or fold to an |
| At Party Poker's lowest level, the six seated tables | | | | opponent's bet. Against two opponents, bet the flop |
| are littered with players who see 60 to 70 percent of | | | | and use your judgement on future streets as to |
| flops. We advocate that you keep your percentage | | | | whether you think you can bet them off the hand. Low |
| somewhere around 30. While you are ditching your | | | | limit players will generally call you down with any pair, |
| long term losers, most of your opponents will be | | | | so bluffing them on the river is a long term losing play. |
| bleeding money by playing negative expected value | | | | If they've stuck with you that long, checking (and then |
| hands. | | | | folding) is probably your best course of action. |
| While position is important in Texas Holdem, it is much | | | | If you've hit your flop, whether you raised or limped |
| less important in low limit shorthanded play. Pre-flop | | | | pre-flop, you must be extremely aggressive. Your |
| raising is infrequent, so you will rarely be "punished" for | | | | starting hands are more solid than everyone else's. |
| limping with a hand of moderate strength. We | | | | The low limit players' tendency to chase to the river |
| advocate the following starting hands | | | | with poor holdings must be punished. Bet and raise with |
| recommendations: Raise with pairs down to Nine, | | | | impunity. If you are in the blinds and flop top pair, even |
| Ace-King to Ace-Ten, King-Queen, King-Jack and | | | | with a weak kicker, by all means check raise. Punish |
| Queen-Jack suited. Limp with any suited Ace, Ace-nine | | | | other players for trying to steal pots or betting their |
| and Ace-eight, Queen-Jack, King-Ten, Queen-Ten and | | | | middle pair. This will pay off handsomely, as they will |
| Jack-Ten. King-nine can be played late, and | | | | remember being check raised and give you free cards |
| Queen-Nine and Jack-nine are optional in late position. | | | | later on. Remember also that top pair is a stronger |
| Play pocket sevens and sixes anywhere. Lower | | | | hand in shorthanded games than it is in ten player |
| pocket pairs can be played if there are two limpers | | | | games, so treat it as such. If you've flopped top pair, it |
| ahead of you. Suited connectors down to seven-six | | | | is unlikely that one of the other two cards to make top |
| should also be played in an unraised pot. Other suited | | | | pair landed in the other ten cards dealt to the table. |
| hands to be played are Queen-Nine, Queen-Eight, | | | | Raise any bettors with top pair, regardless of the |
| Jack-Nine and King-Nine. Jack-Eight and Ten-Eight can | | | | kicker, unless there was a preflop raiser. One last note |
| be played late. | | | | on post-flop play: If you are heads up with someone, |
| Beware of playing too many hands in the blinds. Even | | | | throw in a bluff raise occasionally. Many of your |
| tight players get caught limping in the small blind with | | | | opponents are inexperienced and will drop their hands |
| poor hands. This is a long term money loser. Stretch | | | | in the face of a raise. |
| your opening hand list only slightly in the small blind, and | | | | With the plethora of poor players at the lowest limits |
| don't be too eager to call raises in the big blind. | | | | of shorthanded poker, the game is ripe for the picking. |
| Remember, most of these players raise only with | | | | Aggression, while still very important, must be toned |
| top-notch holdings, so you'll probably be at a | | | | down a bit, however, in the face of the numerous |
| disadvantage if you call a raise. | | | | calling stations you're likely to find at these tables. So |
| Shorthanded Poker is typically characterized by raising | | | | remain tight, play VERY aggressively when you've hit |
| and aggression. However, this is often less effective at | | | | something, but don't try to bully your way to too many |
| the lowest limits. Your pre-flop raises will typically be | | | | pots and you'll build a big bankroll by swimming with the |
| called in several places. At higher limits, raising with | | | | fish. |
| hands like pocket sevens is an effective strategy, as | | | | |