How to win
Make the strongest five-card Short Deck hand or win by folds. Cards 2 through 5 are removed, leaving ranks 6 through ace.
Deal and forced bets
Every player posts an ante, the button posts a button blind, and each player receives two private cards.
From deal to showdown
Short Deck Hold'em rules step by step
- 01
Build the 36-card deck
All 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s are removed. The lowest available rank is 6.
- 02
Post antes and the button blind
Every seated player contributes an ante. The player on the dealer button also posts the button blind.
- 03
Deal two hole cards and bet
Each player gets two private cards. The preflop round uses no-limit betting.
- 04
Deal the flop
Three shared cards are dealt after a burn card, followed by a betting round.
- 05
Deal the turn and river
One shared card is added on each street after a burn card, with betting after each.
- 06
Apply Short Deck rankings
A flush beats a full house, and a straight beats three of a kind. A-6-7-8-9 is the lowest straight.
- 07
Settle the showdown
Players may use any combination of their two hole cards and the board to make the best five-card Short Deck hand.
Showdown reference
Short Deck hand rankings: strongest to weakest
-
RANK 1
Royal Flush
A-K-Q-J-10 in one suit: the highest possible straight flush.
-
RANK 2
Straight Flush
Five consecutive ranks in one suit. Compare the highest card.
-
RANK 3
Four of a Kind
Four cards of one rank, plus one kicker.
-
RANK 4
Flush
Five cards in one suit. In this Short Deck game, a flush beats a full house.
-
RANK 5
Full House
Three of a kind plus a pair. It ranks below a flush here.
-
RANK 6
Straight
Five consecutive ranks. A-6-7-8-9 is the lowest straight and a straight beats three of a kind.
-
RANK 7
Three of a Kind
Three cards of one rank plus two unmatched cards.
-
RANK 8
Two Pair
Two cards of one rank, two of another, plus one kicker.
-
RANK 9
One Pair
Two cards of one rank plus three unmatched cards.
-
RANK 10
High Card
No made hand above; compare the highest cards in order.
Practical decisions
Short Deck Hold'em strategy and best tips
General starting points for casual play—not a promise of results.
Relearn familiar hand values
Because low cards are absent, pairs and connected cards appear more often. Do not copy Hold'em assumptions without adjusting.
Value straight connectivity
Many remaining ranks sit close together. Open-ended and wrap-like straight possibilities are common.
Treat flushes as premium made hands
There are only nine cards in each suit, so making a flush is harder and it outranks a full house in this game.
Account for the ante pot
Antes put more chips in the middle before cards are dealt, improving the immediate reward for contesting a pot.
Check the low straight
Remember that ace can join 6-7-8-9. Missing this rule can lead to folding a straight or misreading an opponent’s hand.
Common Short Deck mistakes
- Ranking a full house above a flush.
- Ranking three of a kind above a straight.
- Forgetting that A-6-7-8-9 is a straight.
- Using standard Hold'em draw expectations without accounting for the reduced deck.
Host Short Deck Hold'em on Poker Friends
- Open the table setup. Use the create-table button below. Short Deck Hold'em is selected for you.
- Choose your table settings. Enter a nickname and table name, review the virtual-chip settings and player limit, and set a password if you want one. Then select Start Table.
- Invite your friends. Share the resulting table link or six-character game code. If you set a password, share it with your invited players too.
All chips are virtual and have no cash value. No deposit or download is required.
Keep learning
Related poker guides
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Two private cards, five community cards, and four betting rounds.
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Read the complete guide →Five-Card Omaha
Five private cards create more combinations, draws, and redraws.
Read the complete guide →Play Short Deck Hold'em for free
Create a play-money table with Short Deck Hold'em already selected, then invite your friends. No rake, deposit, payment, or credit card is required.