There are many different variants of offline and online poker for you to enjoy, including games like Texas hold’em, Omaha, and seven-card stud. One of the newest poker variants gaining popularity worldwide is short-deck poker, but what is it about this variant contributing to its popularity?

In this blog, you can learn what short-deck poker is, the rules of the game, and why it’s becoming more popular. There are even some tips to help you get better at this exciting variant. Carry on reading to find out more.

What Is Short-Deck Poker?

Short-deck poker is an innovative poker variant where all 2, 3, 4, and 5 numbered cards are removed from a 52-card deck. This leaves 36 cards in the deck — the ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, and 6. 

What Are the Short-Deck Poker Rules?

While this variant plays very similarly to Texas Hold’em, the poker game rules in this version have been adapted to cater to the removal of cards from the poker deck. 

Firstly, in this variant, the ace is also valued as a 5, which allows players to build a straight consisting of an ace, 6, 7, 8, and 9. 

Also, due to certain cards being removed, hand rankings may vary depending on which version of the game you play. For example, some versions rank the three-of-a-kind higher than a straight since the probability of landing a three-of-a-kind has decreased in short-deck poker. A flush is also ranked higher because it’s harder to land. However, this is not the case in all versions of the game, so be sure to double-check the hand rankings for the version of the game that you’re interested in.

When playing short-deck poker, players still receive two hole cards and five community cards, allowing them to build a five-card hand from a total of seven cards. The rounds play out the same as in Texas Hold’em, with three community cards revealed on the flop, an additional community card revealed on the turn, and a final community card revealed on the river.

Why Is Short-Deck Poker Becoming More Popular?

Short-deck poker might not be as popular as Texas Hold’em yet, but interest in the game is steadily growing. But why is this the case? Here are three reasons why this variant is becoming more popular:

1. Players Can Land Higher-Value Hands

There are fewer cards in a deck, which leads to higher-value hands. This, in turn, results in fewer players folding, more betting, and more excitement overall (just like three-card poker). This makes it a very appealing game for players who enjoy betting and for spectators who enjoy watching poker with a lot of action.

2. It’s Easier For Newer Plo its Higher Variance

Any game of skill can be frustrating for new players, as more experienced players will quickly figure out that a new player’s skill level doesn’t match their own and take advantage of that. In games like poker, where there’s money on the line, players with greater skills make short work of these “fish” (weaker players).

However, short-deck poker increases the variance by removing the weaker cards in a deck. This makes it easier for newer players to land high-value hands, giving them more of a chance against players who might be better than them, even if it’s just down to sheer luck.

3. Offers Pokers Plays Something New

As the saying goes, “variety is the spice of life,” so even if you are a die-hard Texas hold’em fan, or you love playing seven-card stud, you may want to mix things up once in a while with a new poker variant. Short-deck poker is a fun and easy-to-learn poker variant that still has all the benefits of other poker games but doesn’t stray too far from the rules of most of the popular versions of the game.

Tips for Playing Short-Deck Poker

Playing short-deck poker requires a different approach from your typical game of poker. Incorporate these tips into your short-deck poker strategy to improve your chances of winning:

1. Fold Less

In short-deck poker, removing lower-value cards means players have a greater chance of landing high-value hole cards. Combine this with the fact that you are likely to land higher-value community cards and that most short-deck poker games are ante (not blind) games, meaning you should fold less so that you can at least see what the flop reveals.

2. Straights Are Easier To Land

The chances of landing a straight are higher than in other poker variants, so if you have a solid foundation in your hole cards, you’ll want to see what the flop has to offer. 

3. All Players Are Likely To Have Stronger Hands

Remember that while certain hands might be considered the nuts in variants like Texas Hold’em, other players in the game are likely to have monster, or at very least strong, hands as well. Adjust your playstyle accordingly.

4. Aggressive Play Is Better

Due to the smaller deck size in this variant, it’s a good idea to adopt a more aggressive playstyle. This is because there’s a higher chance that the flop, turn, and river will reward you with a game-changing card in this action-packed poker game. 

5. Don’t Forget To Check the Hand Rankings

As previously mentioned, different short-deck poker variants have different hand rankings. Make sure you check the rankings for the version you’re interested in playing.

Play Online Poker at Borgata Online

If you’re interested in playing exciting poker variants, sign up at Borgata Online. Players can enjoy Texas Hold’em and pot-limit Omaha when playing cash games and poker tournaments. Cash games are available around the clock, and poker tournaments are hosted daily, allowing poker players to enjoy exciting poker 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
And if you enjoy more than just poker, you can also try your luck at other games of chance, including slots, bingo, live dealer games, and even sports betting. There’s a whole range of exciting gambling experiences available to people when you register at Borgata Online.