Short Deck (6+) Hold'em Calculator

Calculate Short Deck poker odds with 36 cards. Flush beats full house, A-6-7-8-9 is a valid straight.

Formula:36-card deck: Equity varies from standard Hold'em

Short Deck (6+) Rules

  • 36 cards: No 2s, 3s, 4s, or 5s
  • Flush beats Full House (it's harder to make!)
  • A-6-7-8-9 is the lowest straight (wheel)
  • Flush draw = 5 outs (not 9 like regular Hold'em)

Cards that improve your hand

Cards left to come

31 (flop) or 30 (turn) in 6+

Try These Examples

Quick-start with common scenarios

Understanding Short Deck Poker

Short Deck (6+) Hold'em removes all 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s, leaving a 36-card deck. This dramatically changes hand equities and rankings.

Key Rule Change: Flush beats Full House because with only 9 cards per suit, flushes are mathematically harder to make. The A-6-7-8-9 straight (wheel) replaces A-2-3-4-5.

Strategic Adjustments: Flush draws are weaker (5 outs vs 9). Sets are more common (~17% vs ~12%). Connected hands gain value. Be careful with dominated hands as the deck is more connected overall.

Antes Structure: Short Deck often uses antes instead of blinds, creating more action and different positional dynamics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does flush beat full house in Short Deck?

With only 9 cards per suit instead of 13, flushes are mathematically harder to make than full houses. Hand rankings are adjusted to reflect true rarity. A flush in short deck has only 5 outs ($100 pots can be massive when flush draws hit).

How does the A-6-7-8-9 straight work?

In Short Deck, the Ace can play low to complete the lowest straight: A-6-7-8-9. Since there are no 2-5, this replaces A-2-3-4-5 as the wheel. The Ace still plays high for T-J-Q-K-A.

Why are sets so common in Short Deck?

With 36 cards instead of 52, pocket pairs flop sets approximately 17% of the time (vs. 12% in regular Hold'em). This makes playing big pairs more volatile and tricky.

How should I adjust my strategy for Short Deck?

1) Value flush draws less (only 5 outs). 2) Be cautious with sets when flush possible. 3) Straights are more common due to connected board textures. 4) Big pairs are less dominant preflop.

What are the best starting hands in Short Deck?

AA is still best, followed by connected broadway cards (AK, KQ, QJ). Suited connectors like JTs, T9s gain value. Small pocket pairs lose value (can't flop straights with 2-5 gone).