Dont Let Bad Poker Ruin Your Life

Shorthand Play

Learning to play shorthanded games will significantly boost your online skill. The advantage is lost when taken offline but the skills you pick up will be invaluable

Let's say you are in the middle of a game of poker – the game is limit shorthand.

When in preflop and you just realize you have been dealt a pocket pair, a small one then you must think if your pot is a large one. If you are indeed in a multiway pot, then your pocket pair might just work, even if it is one less than seven. If you are in a blind position and all others just called the big blind, then you should just check to enter the flop cheap. But, if you are on the button and before you there are one raise and a fold, then the best thing to do is to force the blinds by reraising.

Once you get yourself on the flop you should just do the justifiable thing: fold if you didn't hit or continue if you did hit.

In a shorthand game, if you want to bluff on the flop then you might consider bluffing when you are up against one or two players tops. Simple bluffing here, you have nothing because of a weird flop, and the thing is that when few players are involved they will probably have nothing also, so you should just go ahead with it, it might work.

Some don’ts for a Shorthand game

  • Never go for the draw when you have just an Ace and there are others that went in. They might have a pocket pair or a better kicker and you will surely lose.
  • Always try to play within your bankroll. Don't risk losing a hand and then have no more money to wait for the winning pot since these games take long to win.
  • Don't just play your hand. Always remember what the other player is thinking. Don't always bank on the chance that he's bluffing because most of the time he's not. Instead pay attention to others and try to play their hands also - it is a crucial part of shorthand strategy.