Intermediate Strategies for Playing Deep Stacks in Short Deck URL has been copied successfully! To succeed in deep-stack Short Deck games, balance patience with selective aggression Playing deep stacks in Short Deck (also known as 6+ Hold’em) presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities. With a smaller deck and more frequent strong hands, deep-stacked strategy requires players to stay flexible, patient, and aware of shifting equity dynamics. Here are several core strategies that can help players navigate deep stack play effectively. First, understand that hand values shift in Short Deck compared to traditional Texas Hold’em. Straights are harder to hit, flushes become rarer, and sets become more valuable. With deeper stacks, this means you should often look to play small and medium pocket pairs for set-mining, especially in multiway pots. The implied odds can be huge when your opponent is willing to stack off with top pair or an overpair. Position also becomes even more important. When you have 200+ antes in front of you, being in position allows for better pot control and more informed decisions across multiple streets. Late position aggression is valuable, but with more chips behind, you can also widen your preflop calling range and mix in suited connectors and gapped hands that have multi-street potential. Don’t overlook the need to build pots when you have strong draws. In Short Deck, open-enders and combo draws hit more often than in full-deck Hold’em. When you’re deep, semi-bluffing with these holdings can apply real pressure and win you big pots either by showdown or forcing folds. Finally, be cautious with one-pair hands in large pots. Even though Short Deck is action-heavy, deep stack scenarios often come down to who connects stronger by the river. Overcommitting with marginal top pair hands can be a leak if you’re not careful.