Short deck
Hold'em played with the twos through fives removed, leaving 36 cards. Straights are more common and a flush beats a full house. Popular in Asian high-roller series and at Triton events.
Frequently asked questions
What is short deck poker?
Hold'em played with a 36-card deck — the twos through fives are removed. Also called Six Plus Hold'em, it is usually dealt with an ante from every player and a button blind rather than conventional blinds.
How do the hand rankings change?
A flush beats a full house, because fewer cards of each suit make flushes harder to hit. In most versions three of a kind also beats a straight, and the ace plays low as part of A-6-7-8-9. House rules vary, so confirm before you sit down.
Why do high-stakes players like it?
Because equities run much closer together, which produces far more action — everybody connects with the board more often and hands get played to the end. It took hold in the high-stakes Asian cash games and spread from there to high-roller schedules and a handful of online sites.