How To Win at 6-max Limit Texas Hold’em

As you evolve as a poker player, you will find yourself wanting to venture out from those multi-table tournaments, or full ring cash games. One game that has come to extreme popularity on Everest Poker are the 6-max cash game tables, and these have become a big favorite of the no limit players, however limit players are starting to find joy in the 6-max game as well. When you log onto Everest Poker, you will at times find more 6-max tables than full ring games. These tables do require some adjustments in your play, however if mastered these tables can be highly profitable.

Something players often encounter when playing a full ring limit game is that they get bored. You wait and wait and then pick up a hand only to not hit the flop, and then it’s back to waiting. For a lot of players, this can lead to tilt, playing to many hands, or not folding when you do make a hand. At a Everest Poker 6-max table, you will see more flops, have a chance to take down more pots, and due to mathematics, will see more premium type hands per hour. This will actually help you in avoiding going on boredom tilt, and keep you from playing away from your strengths.

For most players, reading opponents and keeping track of their play at a full ring game can be very tough. This is one great thing about short handed tables, as opposed to having 8 players to try and get a read on; you only have to battle with 5. You will see players getting involved in more hands than at a full ring game. This makes it a little easier to get a read more quickly. Knowing how your opponents play is crucial to being profitable in a Everest Poker 6-max game, as you will be playing with a wider range of hands, and be raising more often than at a full ring game. It is very important to know what hands your opponents are raising and three betting with before the flop. This allows you to adjust your play according to there style.

Your game will require some definite adjustments when moving to a 6-max limit game on Everest Poker. The first thing to adjust is going to be your starting hand selection. At your average 6-max table, you are going to have between 2-3 players seeing every flop. Something to remember is that because of the shorthanded play, 6-max limit is a game of having over cards, and in the long run, those small suited connectors are not going to be profitable. You just don’t get the odds with so few people in the hand to be playing cards such as 56s, because even when you do hit, it will not be a big enough pot to make up for all those times you missed the flop. You will often see hands win at showdown at a 6-max table such as top pair with a medium kicker, and keeping this in mind, there are some hand groupings you want to remember.

The first group, or premium group of hands, are hands you want to raise or re-raise with from any positions. Unless you are being played back at by someone who is very tight and have only seen them do so with aces or kings, then it is the right play to go ahead and cap the betting with these hands. The hands you want to play this way with are AA, KK, QQ, JJ, TT, AK, and AQ.

The second grouping of hands can be played from any position at the table, and if the action comes to you in an un-raised pot, you can raise.  If you are in early position, you can play for a raise, and against certain players, if you have late position, these hands will sometimes warrant a re-raise. These hands are AJ, KQ, 99, 88, AT, KJ, and A9

The third grouping of hands can be played from any position, but in most situations do not play strong enough to be comfortable putting in a raise. If you are in late position and the pot had been raised, you can play, however in early position with a raise and more than one caller, you should fold. The hands in this group are A8, A7, KT, QJ, QT, JT, K9, 77, 66, 55, 44, 33 and 22.

Hands in the fourth group are very marginal. These hands can only be played in late position, or in the perfect situation if out of position. You really are looking to get good pot odds to be able to play these hands, wanting at least three limpers into the pot before you act. Having three or four callers maker playing a hand like 89s viable, because when you hit, you are going to get well paid. Also, if the player to your left has been doing a lot of pre-flop raising, then folding these hands is a good option, as playing for a raise out of position is a bad idea. Your weak king can be played here, but realize if there is a raise put in, you are likely dominated. You just need to be able to get away from these hands if you do not hit the flop. The hands in this group are Axs, K8, Q9, J9, T9s, 98s.

Playing to many hands is the downfall for many players who play limit 6-max on Everest Poker. Yes, ATC has a good chance at being the best hand since the game is short handed, however if you are looking to gamble like that, the slot machines might be more your style. The biggest thing to remember is play your strong hands very strong, and toss away any draw that does not hit. You will see a huge range of hands calling you when you have top pair, and will often go to showdown to find someone with an under pair playing against you. It is exploiting plays like this that will make you a profitable 6-max limit hold em player on Everest Poker.