Poker Strategy How to exploit opponents’ tendencies in Six-Plus Hold’em Americas Cardroom March 12, 2024 Take advantage of the table movement to gain an edge Six-Plus Hold’em, also known as Short Deck Hold’em, introduces a dynamic shift from traditional Texas Hold’em by removing cards valued two through five from the deck. This alteration significantly affects hand values, changing the strategies you need to employ. Firstly, observe opponents’ tendencies in Six-Plus Hold’em. Note their starting hand requirements, aggression levels, and tendencies towards particular plays, such as bluffing or value betting. Identifying patterns in their gameplay provides valuable insights into their strategies. Exploit opponents who overvalue traditional hands. In Six-Plus Hold’em, certain hands gain prominence due to the reduced deck size, such as pairs and high cards. If opponents cling to strategies from standard Hold’em, they may overestimate the strength of hands like top pair or two pairs, neglecting the increased frequency of straights and flushes. Exploit this by playing aggressively with hands that have strong straight or flush potential. In addition, exploit opponents who overvalue draws. In Six-Plus Hold’em, draws become more enticing due to the increased frequency of straights and flushes. However, overvaluing draws can lead to costly mistakes. Exploit opponents who chase draws too aggressively by charging them a premium to see additional cards or by applying pressure with strong made hands. Additionally, exploit opponents who play too passively post-flop. Due to the higher probability of hitting strong hands in Six-Plus Hold’em, passive play becomes riskier. If opponents consistently check or call without showing strength, exploit this by betting or raising aggressively to pressure them into making mistakes or folding strong hands. Furthermore, exploit opponents who fail to adjust their preflop raising ranges. With fewer cards in the deck, the likelihood of being dealt premium hands increases. Exploit opponents who stick to narrow preflop raising ranges by widening your own range and aggressively attacking their weaker holdings post-flop.