6 Holdem Poker
★★★★★ Six-plus hold 'em (also known as short-deck hold 'em) is a community card poker game variant of Texas hold 'em, where the 2 through 5 cards are removed from the deck.
- Oct 26, 2018 Six Plus Hold’em is an exciting and fun poker variant based on Texas Hold’em where the game is played with a deck of 36 cards as opposed to the usual 52 cards in traditional hold’em. Deuces through fives are removed from the deck giving the game its name Six Plus Hold’em/6+ or Short Deck Poker.
- TEXAS 6+ (6+ Holdem) Poker - Variant of Texas Holdem Poker Games. Texas 6+ Poker (six plus Holdem) Texas 6+ is a variant of Texas Hold’em which makes use of only 36 cards from a deck (i.e. From 6 to Ace hence the name Six Plus).
6+ Hold’em is a popular 'short deck' poker format that plays much like Texas Hold’em, but with a few exciting differences:
- All cards lower than a six are removed from the deck
- Everyone posts an ante and only the button posts a blind - known as the 'button blind'
- A flush beats a full-house and Ace, 6, 7, 8, 9 is classified as a straight
Available exclusively at PokerStars 6+ Hold’em is your chance to play an action-packed variant loved by high-stakes players around the world.
The Rules of 6+ Hold’em
All 6+ Hold’em games use a 36-card deck (with all cards lower than a 6 removed), which is shuffled before every hand is dealt. Games also use a 'button blind' structure: every player posts an ante, and the player seated at the button position is the only one who posts a blind – meaning there is only one blind per hand, rather than traditional small/big blind format.
The action starts with the player seated to the left of the button. Each hand then plays out according to Texas Hold’em rules, with pre-flop, flop, turn and river betting rounds.
6 Holdem Poker Games
If you’ve played Texas Hold’em games before, the rules of 6+ Hold’em are easy to follow.
But don’t forget: contrary to regular Texas Hold'em games, in 6+ Hold’em a flush beats a full-house. A five-card hand consisting of Ace, 6, 7, 8, 9 (any suit) is also deemed a straight. All other hand rankings remain the same.
Learn How to Play 6+ Hold'em for Free
If you want to learn how to play 6+ Hold'em, then download the PokerStars software and join any of the free poker games where you can play online against other players. Unlike our real money poker games, since there is nothing at stake, you can be comfortable learning the ropes of the game and all the rules of 6+ Hold'em. We hope to see you in our poker room, and good luck at the tables!
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Introduction
The following table ranks the top hands in a 6-player game. This table assumes that all players stay in until the end.
Explanation of column headings:- Cards: Initial two-card hand.
- Probability of win: Probability that this hand will win, or tie for the win.
- Average win: This is how much the player will win on average, including his own bets, if the player does win. This is less than 6 because sometimes the player will have to split the pot.
- Expected value: This is how many units the player can expect to win (positive) or lose (negative) with this hand. For example if the player had a pair of aces and contibuted $1 to the pot then the player could expect to have a net win of $1.95.
- Probability: Probability of getting this hand to begin with.
- Additive probability: Probability of getting this hand or any stronger hand to begin with.
Initial Hold'em Hands in Rank Order for 6-Player Game
| Cards | Probability of Win | Average Win | Expected Value | Probability | Additive Probability |
| Pair of A's | 49.51% | 5.96 | 1.9508 | 0.45% | 0.45% |
| Pair of K's | 43.32% | 5.95 | 1.5775 | 0.45% | 0.90% |
| Pair of Q's | 38.3% | 5.93 | 1.2729 | 0.45% | 1.36% |
| Pair of J's | 34.05% | 5.92 | 1.0142 | 0.45% | 1.81% |
| A/K suited | 32.15% | 5.8 | 0.8641 | 0.30% | 2.11% |
| Pair of T's | 30.44% | 5.89 | 0.7944 | 0.45% | 2.56% |
| A/Q suited | 30.56% | 5.76 | 0.7589 | 0.30% | 2.87% |
| K/Q suited | 29.55% | 5.76 | 0.7015 | 0.30% | 3.17% |
| A/J suited | 29.28% | 5.71 | 0.6723 | 0.30% | 3.47% |
| A/K unsuited | 28.96% | 5.77 | 0.6704 | 0.90% | 4.37% |
| K/J suited | 28.28% | 5.72 | 0.6167 | 0.30% | 4.68% |
| A/T suited | 28.27% | 5.67 | 0.6021 | 0.30% | 4.98% |
| Pair of 9's | 27.11% | 5.89 | 0.5978 | 0.45% | 5.43% |
| Q/J suited | 27.57% | 5.71 | 0.5737 | 0.30% | 5.73% |
| A/Q unsuited | 27.21% | 5.71 | 0.555 | 0.90% | 6.64% |
| K/T suited | 27.32% | 5.68 | 0.5506 | 0.30% | 6.94% |
| Q/T suited | 26.64% | 5.67 | 0.5101 | 0.30% | 7.24% |
| K/Q unsuited | 26.28% | 5.72 | 0.5028 | 0.90% | 8.14% |
| J/T suited | 26.33% | 5.66 | 0.4904 | 0.30% | 8.45% |
| A/J unsuited | 25.79% | 5.66 | 0.4597 | 0.90% | 9.35% |
| A/9 suited | 25.75% | 5.62 | 0.4474 | 0.30% | 9.65% |
| Pair of 8's | 24.51% | 5.88 | 0.4416 | 0.45% | 10.11% |
| K/J unsuited | 24.88% | 5.67 | 0.4097 | 0.90% | 11.01% |
| K/9 suited | 24.73% | 5.64 | 0.3946 | 0.30% | 11.31% |
| A/8 suited | 24.98% | 5.58 | 0.3933 | 0.30% | 11.61% |
| A/T unsuited | 24.66% | 5.6 | 0.3817 | 0.90% | 12.52% |
| Q/J unsuited | 24.26% | 5.66 | 0.3721 | 0.90% | 13.42% |
| Q/9 suited | 24.07% | 5.64 | 0.3565 | 0.30% | 13.73% |
| A/7 suited | 24.27% | 5.54 | 0.3444 | 0.30% | 14.03% |
| T/9 suited | 23.9% | 5.62 | 0.3432 | 0.30% | 14.33% |
| J/9 suited | 23.82% | 5.63 | 0.3408 | 0.30% | 14.63% |
| K/T unsuited | 23.8% | 5.61 | 0.3356 | 0.90% | 15.54% |
| A/5 suited | 24.19% | 5.5 | 0.3309 | 0.30% | 15.84% |
| Pair of 7's | 22.35% | 5.87 | 0.3116 | 0.45% | 16.29% |
| Q/T unsuited | 23.2% | 5.61 | 0.3006 | 0.90% | 17.19% |
| A/4 suited | 23.63% | 5.5 | 0.3002 | 0.30% | 17.5% |
| A/6 suited | 23.5% | 5.51 | 0.2954 | 0.30% | 17.8% |
| J/T unsuited | 23.03% | 5.6 | 0.2895 | 0.90% | 18.7% |
| K/8 suited | 22.97% | 5.58 | 0.283 | 0.30% | 19% |
| A/3 suited | 23.05% | 5.51 | 0.2705 | 0.30% | 19.31% |
| Q/8 suited | 22.24% | 5.59 | 0.2436 | 0.30% | 19.61% |
| K/7 suited | 22.37% | 5.55 | 0.2406 | 0.30% | 19.91% |
| A/2 suited | 22.39% | 5.52 | 0.2357 | 0.30% | 20.21% |
| T/8 suited | 22.12% | 5.58 | 0.2345 | 0.30% | 20.51% |
| J/8 suited | 22.01% | 5.59 | 0.2298 | 0.30% | 20.81% |
| 9/8 suited | 21.72% | 5.6 | 0.2165 | 0.30% | 21.12% |
| A/9 unsuited | 21.93% | 5.53 | 0.2136 | 0.90% | 22.02% |
| Pair of 6's | 20.59% | 5.85 | 0.2054 | 0.45% | 22.47% |
| K/6 suited | 21.75% | 5.52 | 0.1996 | 0.30% | 22.78% |
| K/5 suited | 21.29% | 5.49 | 0.1692 | 0.30% | 23.08% |
| K/9 unsuited | 20.98% | 5.56 | 0.1659 | 0.90% | 23.98% |
| A/8 unsuited | 21.07% | 5.47 | 0.1533 | 0.90% | 24.89% |
| Q/7 suited | 20.65% | 5.54 | 0.1434 | 0.30% | 25.19% |
| K/4 suited | 20.75% | 5.5 | 0.1406 | 0.30% | 25.49% |
| 8/7 suited | 20.39% | 5.57 | 0.1367 | 0.30% | 25.79% |
| Q/9 unsuited | 20.41% | 5.55 | 0.1334 | 0.90% | 26.7% |
| T/7 suited | 20.46% | 5.54 | 0.1333 | 0.30% | 27% |
| T/9 unsuited | 20.44% | 5.54 | 0.1322 | 0.90% | 27.9% |
| 9/7 suited | 20.30% | 5.57 | 0.1299 | 0.30% | 28.21% |
| J/7 suited | 20.38% | 5.54 | 0.1293 | 0.30% | 28.51% |
| J/9 unsuited | 20.28% | 5.55 | 0.1248 | 0.90% | 29.41% |
| K/3 suited | 20.25% | 5.51 | 0.1154 | 0.30% | 29.71% |
| Pair of 5's | 19.05% | 5.84 | 0.1118 | 0.45% | 30.17% |
| Q/6 suited | 20.19% | 5.5 | 0.1109 | 0.30% | 30.47% |
| A/7 unsuited | 20.25% | 5.42 | 0.0981 | 0.90% | 31.37% |
| K/2 suited | 19.76% | 5.52 | 0.0909 | 0.30% | 31.67% |
| A/5 unsuited | 20.15% | 5.37 | 0.083 | 0.90% | 32.58% |
| Q/5 suited | 19.72% | 5.48 | 0.0806 | 0.30% | 32.88% |
| 7/6 suited | 19.31% | 5.56 | 0.0736 | 0.30% | 33.18% |
| 8/6 suited | 19.11% | 5.54 | 0.059 | 0.30% | 33.48% |
| Q/4 suited | 19.22% | 5.49 | 0.0547 | 0.30% | 33.79% |
| A/4 unsuited | 19.51% | 5.37 | 0.0484 | 0.90% | 34.69% |
| A/6 unsuited | 19.43% | 5.38 | 0.0458 | 0.90% | 35.6% |
| K/8 unsuited | 19.04% | 5.48 | 0.043 | 0.90% | 36.5% |
| T/6 suited | 18.95% | 5.49 | 0.0407 | 0.30% | 36.8% |
| 9/6 suited | 18.82% | 5.53 | 0.0402 | 0.30% | 37.1% |
| J/6 suited | 18.92% | 5.49 | 0.038 | 0.30% | 37.41% |
| Pair of 4's | 17.76% | 5.84 | 0.0369 | 0.45% | 37.86% |
| Q/3 suited | 18.69% | 5.5 | 0.0281 | 0.30% | 38.16% |
| 6/5 suited | 18.45% | 5.55 | 0.0233 | 0.30% | 38.46% |
| A/3 unsuited | 18.87% | 5.38 | 0.0148 | 0.90% | 39.37% |
| T/8 unsuited | 18.5% | 5.48 | 0.0138 | 0.90% | 40.27% |
| J/5 suited | 18.56% | 5.46 | 0.0131 | 0.30% | 40.57% |
| Q/8 unsuited | 18.43% | 5.48 | 0.0104 | 0.90% | 41.48% |
| Q/2 suited | 18.25% | 5.52 | 0.0063 | 0.30% | 41.78% |
| J/8 unsuited | 18.31% | 5.48 | 0.004 | 0.90% | 42.68% |
| 7/5 suited | 18.1% | 5.53 | 0.0007 | 0.30% | 42.99% |
| 9/8 unsuited | 18.14% | 5.5 | -0.0013 | 0.90% | 43.89% |
| K/7 unsuited | 18.38% | 5.42 | -0.0036 | 0.90% | 44.8% |
| 5/4 suited | 17.82% | 5.54 | -0.0125 | 0.30% | 45.1% |
| J/4 suited | 18.03% | 5.47 | -0.0139 | 0.30% | 45.4% |
| A/2 unsuited | 18.15% | 5.38 | -0.0235 | 0.90% | 46.3% |
| 8/5 suited | 17.73% | 5.5 | -0.0244 | 0.30% | 46.61% |
| Pair of 3's | 16.69% | 5.85 | -0.0245 | 0.45% | 47.06% |
| J/3 suited | 17.57% | 5.48 | -0.0365 | 0.30% | 47.36% |
| T/5 suited | 17.62% | 5.44 | -0.041 | 0.30% | 47.66% |
| 9/5 suited | 17.41% | 5.48 | -0.0458 | 0.30% | 47.96% |
| K/6 unsuited | 17.72% | 5.38 | -0.047 | 0.90% | 48.87% |
| 6/4 suited | 17.17% | 5.54 | -0.0484 | 0.30% | 49.17% |
| J/2 suited | 17.11% | 5.5 | -0.0589 | 0.30% | 49.47% |
| T/4 suited | 17.19% | 5.44 | -0.0643 | 0.30% | 49.77% |
| Pair of 2's | 15.87% | 5.85 | -0.0708 | 0.45% | 50.23% |
| 7/4 suited | 16.66% | 5.52 | -0.0809 | 0.30% | 50.53% |
| 5/3 suited | 16.59% | 5.54 | -0.081 | 0.30% | 50.83% |
| K/5 unsuited | 17.18% | 5.34 | -0.0829 | 0.90% | 51.73% |
| 8/7 unsuited | 16.76% | 5.47 | -0.0841 | 0.90% | 52.64% |
| T/3 suited | 16.72% | 5.46 | -0.0871 | 0.30% | 52.94% |
| 9/7 unsuited | 16.61% | 5.45 | -0.0953 | 0.90% | 53.85% |
| T/7 unsuited | 16.71% | 5.41 | -0.0962 | 0.90% | 54.75% |
| Q/7 unsuited | 16.7% | 5.4 | -0.098 | 0.90% | 55.66% |
| J/7 unsuited | 16.51% | 5.41 | -0.1073 | 0.90% | 56.56% |
| 8/4 suited | 16.25% | 5.49 | -0.1085 | 0.30% | 56.86% |
| T/2 suited | 16.27% | 5.48 | -0.1089 | 0.30% | 57.16% |
| K/4 unsuited | 16.59% | 5.34 | -0.114 | 0.90% | 58.07% |
| 4/3 suited | 15.9% | 5.56 | -0.1162 | 0.30% | 58.37% |
| 9/4 suited | 16.05% | 5.46 | -0.1237 | 0.30% | 58.67% |
| 6/3 suited | 15.77% | 5.54 | -0.127 | 0.30% | 58.97% |
| Q/6 unsuited | 16.17% | 5.35 | -0.135 | 0.90% | 59.88% |
| K/3 unsuited | 16.03% | 5.35 | -0.142 | 0.90% | 60.78% |
| 9/3 suited | 15.67% | 5.47 | -0.143 | 0.30% | 61.09% |
| 7/6 unsuited | 15.62% | 5.43 | -0.1512 | 0.90% | 61.99% |
| 5/2 suited | 15.19% | 5.53 | -0.1593 | 0.30% | 62.29% |
| 7/3 suited | 15.25% | 5.51 | -0.1605 | 0.30% | 62.59% |
| 9/2 suited | 15.22% | 5.49 | -0.1644 | 0.30% | 62.9% |
| Q/5 unsuited | 15.66% | 5.31 | -0.1685 | 0.90% | 63.8% |
| K/2 unsuited | 15.49% | 5.36 | -0.1695 | 0.90% | 64.71% |
| 8/6 unsuited | 15.35% | 5.41 | -0.1698 | 0.90% | 65.61% |
| 8/3 suited | 14.94% | 5.47 | -0.1832 | 0.30% | 65.91% |
| 4/2 suited | 14.68% | 5.56 | -0.1836 | 0.30% | 66.21% |
| 9/6 unsuited | 15% | 5.38 | -0.193 | 0.90% | 67.12% |
| T/6 unsuited | 15.06% | 5.33 | -0.1972 | 0.90% | 68.02% |
| Q/4 unsuited | 15.08% | 5.31 | -0.1987 | 0.90% | 68.93% |
| 8/2 suited | 14.58% | 5.49 | -0.2 | 0.30% | 69.23% |
| 6/5 unsuited | 14.71% | 5.41 | -0.2045 | 0.90% | 70.14% |
| J/6 unsuited | 14.94% | 5.32 | -0.2053 | 0.90% | 71.04% |
| 6/2 suited | 14.37% | 5.53 | -0.2056 | 0.30% | 71.34% |
| 3/2 suited | 14.02% | 5.58 | -0.2171 | 0.30% | 71.64% |
| Q/3 unsuited | 14.52% | 5.33 | -0.2267 | 0.90% | 72.55% |
| 7/5 unsuited | 14.34% | 5.38 | -0.2289 | 0.90% | 73.45% |
| 7/2 suited | 13.97% | 5.49 | -0.2331 | 0.30% | 73.76% |
| J/5 unsuited | 14.53% | 5.27 | -0.2339 | 0.90% | 74.66% |
| 5/4 unsuited | 14.05% | 5.39 | -0.2418 | 0.90% | 75.57% |
| Q/2 unsuited | 14% | 5.34 | -0.2523 | 0.90% | 76.47% |
| 8/5 unsuited | 13.87% | 5.34 | -0.2595 | 0.90% | 77.38% |
| J/4 unsuited | 13.96% | 5.28 | -0.2632 | 0.90% | 78.28% |
| 6/4 unsuited | 13.34% | 5.39 | -0.2814 | 0.90% | 79.19% |
| 9/5 unsuited | 13.48% | 5.3 | -0.2859 | 0.90% | 80.09% |
| T/5 unsuited | 13.63% | 5.24 | -0.2859 | 0.90% | 81% |
| J/3 unsuited | 13.42% | 5.29 | -0.2898 | 0.90% | 81.9% |
| T/4 unsuited | 13.16% | 5.23 | -0.3113 | 0.90% | 82.81% |
| J/2 unsuited | 12.92% | 5.3 | -0.3147 | 0.90% | 83.71% |
| 5/3 unsuited | 12.71% | 5.38 | -0.3167 | 0.90% | 84.62% |
| 7/4 unsuited | 12.78% | 5.34 | -0.3175 | 0.90% | 85.52% |
| T/3 unsuited | 12.62% | 5.25 | -0.3377 | 0.90% | 86.43% |
| 8/4 unsuited | 12.29% | 5.29 | -0.35 | 0.90% | 87.33% |
| 4/3 unsuited | 11.99% | 5.39 | -0.3537 | 0.90% | 88.24% |
| T/2 unsuited | 12.12% | 5.26 | -0.3623 | 0.90% | 89.14% |
| 6/3 unsuited | 11.82% | 5.35 | -0.3672 | 0.90% | 90.05% |
| 9/4 unsuited | 12.01% | 5.24 | -0.371 | 0.90% | 90.95% |
| 9/3 unsuited | 11.58% | 5.25 | -0.3927 | 0.90% | 91.86% |
| 5/2 unsuited | 11.23% | 5.34 | -0.3998 | 0.90% | 92.76% |
| 7/3 unsuited | 11.24% | 5.3 | -0.4046 | 0.90% | 93.67% |
| 9/2 unsuited | 11.08% | 5.26 | -0.417 | 0.90% | 94.57% |
| 4/2 unsuited | 10.67% | 5.37 | -0.4267 | 0.90% | 95.48% |
| 8/3 unsuited | 10.86% | 5.23 | -0.4314 | 0.90% | 96.38% |
| 6/2 unsuited | 10.32% | 5.31 | -0.4519 | 0.90% | 97.29% |
| 8/2 unsuited | 10.45% | 5.24 | -0.4522 | 0.90% | 98.19% |
| 3/2 unsuited | 9.98% | 5.39 | -0.462 | 0.90% | 99.1% |
| 7/2 unsuited | 9.87% | 5.24 | -0.4833 | 0.90% | 100% |
| Total | 18.14% | 5.51 | 0 | 100% | 0% |
Top 20% of Hands in 6-Player Game
6 Holdem Poker Free
- Pair of sevens or higher.
- Suited A/7 or higher.
- Suited A/5.
- Any two suited cards both 9 or higher.
- Unsuited A/T or higher.
- Unsuited K/T or higher.
- Unsuited Q/J.
Methodology
This table is the result of a random simulation and assumes all players stay in until the end of the hand.
The following table shows my power rating for each initial 2-card hand in a 6-player game. The numbers are on a 0 to 40 scale. Use the top table if you have a pair, the middle table if your cards are suited, and the bottom table if your cards are unsuited. Except for a pair,look up your high card along the left and your low card along the top.
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Written by: Michael Shackleford