Playing short-handed in texas hold'em poker requires different strategies to be effective. Because the number of potential players in any given hand is reduced the starting hand requirements must be adjusted. Also the way to effectively play hole cards against a short-handed table also must be reexamined.

First of all lets explain exactly what short-handed means. Short-handed means a texas hold'em table with 3-6 players seated at it in total. The reason the differentiation is made is that so many of the strategies and tactics that work at a full table don't work or won't work as effectively at a short-handed table. This is because both the mathematical and psychological aspects of the game of texas hold'em poker change quite a bit as players are removed.

With fewer players at the table in texas hold'em poker as with any poker game your chances of winning go up. This is obvious, but there are a few less than obvious reasons for it. The obvious reason is that there are less opponents so less players you have to beat; however, also because there are less players starting hand strengths change. The reason is this. Say there are ten players seated at a table playing texas hold'em poker. With 5 cards in the community and 2 hole cards to every player the chances of someone being dealt a good starting hand is pretty high. This is what is reflected in the starting hand strengths. Now as more and more players are removed from the table the chances of someone's starting hand being one of the typical high starting hand strength hands is much lower. In addition to this first mathematical change then when the community cards are added the probability again is lower of the players remaining in the hand having improved their hand.

Lets examine a few hands that would be played differently at a short-handed texas hold'em poker table as opposed to a full texas hold'em poker table.

Example #1: Your hole cards are a pocket pair of 10's. A very good starting hand strength at a full table; however, at a short-handed table it is much more powerful. You should play it for a raise of about 3 times the big blind amount. This way any ace, rags can be chased off preflop. If you don't force the over hands off the hand early you run the risk of one of them hitting. At a full table you couldn't do this because there is a much higher probability an opponent will have a starting hand strength high enough to warrant a call or even reraise.

Example #2: Your hole cards are ace - 6 of spades. A mediocre at best starting hand strength at a full table; however, at a short-handed table a suited starting hand containing an ace is much stronger. Play it as if it was an ace and another face card off suit preflop. If you miss on the flop look to get out or take down the pot quickly. An ace with a low kicker is easily beaten if it is played to the river. If you hit your six on the flop make a continuation bet and try to continue to apply pressure.

Example #3: Your hole cards are a pocket pair of 4's. Not a great starting hand strength, but if it connects you make three of a kind and have full house draws if the board was to pair. At a full table pocket fours would be pretty quickly folded or you would attempt to see the flop for as cheap as possible hoping to hit your 4 on the flop. At a short-handed table playing these middle to low pocket pairs is quite different. At a full table if you push with a low to mid pocket pair you are likely to run in to a set of hole cards that can and will push back; however, at a short-handed table pushing with a low to mid pocket pair is a much better play. You are more likely to get someone with a drawing hand to call at a shorthanded table and they will be likely to miss on the flop. A simple continuation bet and you can usually take down the pot.

Because the dynamics of the game change so much at a short-handed table it will be harder to guess your hole cards and harder for you to guess your opponents hole cards. This is because a wider variety of starting hands will be played more aggressively than they normally would be. It is at these times that your skill at reading your opponents is tested. Much more often players will have to bluff there way out of situations simply because of the nature of short-handed play. The key is knowing when your opponent has you caught and to cut your loses, or to push despite a reraise feeling your opponent is trying to bluff you.

In the end all tournaments come down to short-handed play, and throughout the tournament you will occasionally be in short-handed situations. Knowing how to proceed in these situations makes all the difference in the world. Players who can play well in short-handed situations can often win the hands in the key situations when it counts the most.