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You will find that when the game gets very short handed, some of your opponents start showing down some pretty scraggly hands. Don’t be surprised to encounter hands like or this is part of the changed mind set in short-handed games. Many players have only half a notion of short-handed play and believe that they have to start playing very “loosely”, perhaps playing anything with a tiny bit of high card value.
They therefore play many more hands than they would in the analogous full game situation mentioned above in tip number one. Be aware that this is their thinking so that you will know what’s happening if you find that even in a three or four handed game you are playing more tightly than your opponents.
3.Stay aware of how your opponents are perceiving you.
While this is important in a full game as well, it becomes crucial when playing short-handed against the same players for any length of time. These players are playing a great many poker hands against you and are often far more tuned in to how you are playing than they would be in a full game. Thus, for example, even move than usual, if you’ve just been caught bluffing a couple of times, you may need to sit back and wait a bit until you have some sort of real hand, before pushing it again. Still, you certainly don’t need a monster. But you’d better have some sort of pair, and be prepared to get played with by an opponent who may think you are stealing yet again.
Likewise, if you do make a big hand in this spot, be less inclined to slowplay it, as you will likely get more than full value for it from your suspicious opponents. On the other hand, if you’ve shown down nothing but high cards for a while it might be a good time to come in for a raise with that 7ª 5ª or other similar hand. (Note that short-handed something like may qualify as high cards). Such a hand should now have better iplied odds for you, as your opponents are less likely to put you on it if you hit something.
4.Use more deception.
Because the pots are smaller and usually heads-up, you can afford to put a little more deception in your game. For instance, you might slowplay a set (or even as little as top pair) on the flop, that you would raise with in a multiway pot, so as to make it expensive for drawing hands. In the short-handed setting, it is less likely that the draw is there against you, and letting your opponent catch up a bit or perceive you as weaker than you are may well be worth the increased risk.
5.Play aggressively and semi-bluff frequently.
Do this against most opponents; but don’t forget who you are up against. If your opponent is a calling station, then just as in a full game, you must semi-bluff less often, and use less deception.
6.Balance your aggressive play with some passive calling as well.
As your opponents will usually be playing aggressively, let them hang themselves sometimes by checking and calling with a hand like one pair, much as you would against a habitual bluffer.
7.Be aware that heads-up play is unique.
It is a mistake simply to equate heads-up play with, three or four-handed play. The drop from three down to only two players is significant. While your skills from general short-handed play help in playing heads-up, the latter does have a unique character. In my experience the swings are noticeably greater as well. Give it thought and study, and get some solid experience before opting to play heads-up with anyone who is experienced and likely to be skilled in that arena of play.
8.Be sure to get a rake cut.
In a short handed game a normal rake (say, about $3 taken out of most pots ) is too much. Depending on the limit, it may be insurmountable. Make sure the cardroom substantially reduces or eliminates the rake for you as long as the game is short-handed. After all, you are holding the poker game together for them until more players come along. They should be happy to give you this break. I hope I have convinced you that you should often stay to play when your game gets short- handed. Perhaps the tips I have provided will help reticent players feel more comfortable pursuing this very lucrative area of play. Learn about playing short-handed, and look for opportunities to get inexpensive experience, or to play against opponents who will not be too challenging. For an excellent and much more thorough treatment of the topic of short-handed play, on both the theoretical and practical levels, see Holdem Poker for Advanced Players: 21st Century Edition.
"The Best Player I've Ever Seen " / The Hit and Run Follies / An Illusory Winner /
On Randomness, Rushes, Hot Seats, and Bad Luck Dealers / Bad Beat? Think Again
Why Learn to Beat Tougher Games? / Practicing Game Preservation
Short-Handed Play: Don’t Miss out / How I Learned Poker: Part I
How I Learned Poker : Part II