6+ Hold’em
6+ Hold’em is a short deck poker variant based on Texas Hold’em, with a smaller deck and a few key differences to the traditional game.
Here’s what you need to know before you take your seat:
- A 36-card deck: all cards lower than a six are removed.
- A button blind structure: every player posts an ante, and only the player on the button posts a blind.
- Different hand rankings: a flush beats a full house, and Ace, 6, 7, 8, 9 counts as a straight.
Available exclusively at PokerStars, 6+ Hold’em offers an alternative to traditional Texas Hold’em for players looking to explore a different poker format.
The Rules of 6+ Hold’em
6+ Hold’em follows the core rules of Texas Hold’em, with changes to the deck, blind structure and hand rankings.
The deck and blinds
Each hand is dealt from a shuffled 36-card deck, with all cards ranked below six removed.
Every player posts an ante, while the player on the button posts the only blind. This replaces the traditional small blind and big blind structure.
How a hand plays out
The action starts with the player to the left of the button. The hand then follows the familiar Texas Hold’em betting rounds:
- Pre-flop
- Flop
- Turn
- River
If you’re familiar with Texas Hold’em, you’ll recognise the basic gameplay. The main differences are the shorter deck, the button blind and the adjusted hand rankings.
Hand rankings
Two important differences apply in 6+ Hold’em:
- A flush beats a full house.
- Ace, 6, 7, 8, 9 (any suit) counts as a straight.
All other hand rankings remain the same.
Cash game seating rules
In 6+ Hold’em cash games, a minimum number of hands may need to be played before you can sit out or leave without a time penalty. These penalties are cumulative and are designed to discourage players from repeatedly joining and leaving tables to select preferred seats.
Learn to Play 6+ Hold’em for Free
New to 6+ Hold’em? You can learn the rules by downloading the PokerStars software and joining a free poker game.
Free games let you practise against other players without wagering real money, giving you the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the format before deciding whether to play for real money.
Please remember to play responsibly and make use of the tools available to help you stay in control of your play.
Explore More Poker Games
Want to try another format? Explore the range of poker variants available on PokerStars on Betfair.
Visit our Poker Games page to discover more games and learn how to play.